Larry Tomlinson
Larry Tomlinson of Brady, TX passed away October 4, 2021 at a hospital in San Antonio, TX. Larry was born October 26, 1946 in Cleburne, TX to Ervin James Tomlinson and Vennie (Hudgins) Tomlinson and was a lifelong member of the Church of Christ. He lived most of his life in Hood County before moving to Brady around 2011. Larry graduated from Granbury High School in 1965. He joined the United States Army on December 7, 1965 and completed Basic Training at Fort Benning, GA before completing Airborne Training at Fort Bragg, NC. Larry married Barbara Jo Johnson of Groom, TX June 7, 1966. Larry was in the 82nd Airborne during Vietnam and eventually served under General Westmoreland in II Field Force Command. Larry obtained the rank of Sergeant while enlisted and received an Honorable Discharge in December 1971 and several distinguished medals, including expert marksmanship (which doesn’t surprise anyone!)
Larry was a police officer for a period of time before he went to work for Durant Chevrolet where he worked until 1980; he then went to work for the City of Granbury. He was also a gunsmith and worked part-time at a shop on the NE side of the Granbury Town Square called “The Bear Claw,” where he made old-timey muzzleloader rifles, knives, mountain man accessories, buckskin leather clothing, moccasins, you name it. He always said he was born in the wrong era, that he should’ve been born in the days of the “Mountain Man” because he could survive off the land, enjoyed the solitude of woods and mountains, and did not care about money. Larry worked for the City of Granbury for 25 years. After retiring from the city in 2004, he found he couldn’t sit still so he went to work for Acton Municipal Utility District and worked there until 2011.
Larry was the kind of man who could do anything – fix cars, electrical, plumbing, carpentry, tilework, masonry, you name it. He also loved guns, hunting and fishing. His daughters loved going fishing with him on Lake Granbury and watching him slalom ski on the lake when they were kids or attending rendezvous in the woods for the Mountain Man Club of which he was a member. He had so many hobbies it was hard to keep up with him. He trained hunting dogs, did taxidermy, scrimshaw, knife making, restoration of classic cars, gunsmithing, leatherwork, collecting guns and military memorabilia, and so much more. In the late 1990s and early 2000s he restored an old truck and a couple of old muscle cars, a 1968 Chevy Camaro and his beloved 1966 Chevelle that he even painted himself in the paint booth in his garage on his property in Lipan, TX.
Those who knew Larry knew him to be sort of a strong, silent type until you got him talking about guns or politics! He had a great sense of humor, a kind heart, and was always helping other people, and they frequently asked him because of his handyman skills. His country accent sometimes misled people, but make no mistake he was brilliant; he was an artist; and, he had an incredible work ethic until the day he got sick with COVID.
Larry is preceded in death by his loving wife, Jayne Tomlinson, a retired schoolteacher from Brady, his parents, Ervin and Vennie Tomlinson. He is survived by his oldest daughter Kelli Tomlinson Martin (and husband Jamie), and granddaughter Jordyn Stevens of Granbury, loving daughter Kayla Tomlinson of Granbury, sister Barbara Hutchinson of Granbury, brother James Tomlinson of Kentucky, nieces and nephews, several aunts, and numerous cousins.
The viewing for Larry will be Friday October 15, 2021 from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Wiley’s Funeral Home in Granbury and the Celebration of Life will be at the Granbury Church of Christ on Saturday October 16, 2021 at 2:00pm, where he was a member for many years, located at 1905 W. Pearl St. Granbury, TX.
