Lawrence (Larry) Dwayne Marchant

Lawrence (Larry) Dwayne Marchant, affectionately known by many as “Butch,” of Fairway, Kansas, passed away peacefully on July 22, 2025, at Shawnee Gardens Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, surrounded by his loving family. He was 88 years old. 

Larry was born on December 7, 1936, in Guthrie Center, Iowa, to Max Gerald Marchant, Sr., and Ila Violetta Richards. He was the youngest of three children, with an older brother, Carrol, and older sister, Marcella. The family moved to the Kansas City area when Larry was a young boy, where he grew up and graduated from Westport High School in 1955. Shortly after graduation, Larry married Joan Marilyn Marcus on August 13, 1955. They shared 13 years together and had two sons, Marcus (1960) and David (1964). In 1969, he married Judith “Judy” Stockert of Council Bluffs, Iowa. Together they had two sons, Michael (1974) and Matthew (1977), and remained devoted to each other until his passing. 

Larry is survived by his wife, Judy; his sons Marcus (Pam), David (Susan), Michael (Ali), and Matthew (Rui); nine grandchildren, Marcus (Lisa), Halston, Christopher (Eleanor), Cadie (Matthew), Derek, Holden, Matilda, Agatha, Henry, and several great-grandchildren, along with his half-brother Max (Teri). He was preceded in death by his brother Carroll, sister, Marcella, half-brother Mike, his mother Ila, and his father Max. 

A strong work ethic defined Larry’s life from an early age. As a boy, he delivered newspapers before school to help with family finances. During high school, he worked evenings at Price Candy Company, stocking, shipping, and printing. After graduation, he began his career in the restaurant industry with Putsch’s Cafeteria, rising from manager trainee to regional manager overseeing multiple Kansas City locations. He later managed operations for Canteen, The Hadaad Restaurant Group, and cafeteria services for Ford Motor Company in Detroit and Kansas City, retiring at 62. 

Despite the demands of his career, Larry’s greatest joy and unwavering priority was his family. He was present for ball games, family drives, vacations, dinners out, and countless gatherings at home, often filled with three generations, at times four, where we would gather around the table, eating, sharing stories, playing cards, and laughing late into the night. Known for his quick wit and sense of humor, Larry could entertain for hours, making each person feel uniquely valued and loved. A running joke among his children was that he told each of them, “You’re my favorite—but don’t tell the others,” and each of us truly believed it. 

Larry loved the outdoors, especially the Colorado mountains, where he traveled with his wife and children. He also had a life-long love of Jazz and the Blues, and was frequently drawn to one of Kansas City’s many music venues so he could listen to it live, another joy he cherished sharing with his children. He was an avid reader, loved to engage in spirited political discussions, and surprised many with his love of poetry, which he both read and wrote. A supporter of several charities, particularly Habitat for Humanity, he also held a deep commitment to equality and social justice. 

Even in his later years, as health challenges mounted, Larry never lost his sense of humor or optimism. His happiest moments remained the visits from his beloved family. 

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the staff of Shawnee Gardens Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for their compassionate care, kindness, and support, which brought comfort to Larry and his family during his final days. 

In accordance with his wishes, there will be no burial or formal funeral service. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Habitat for Humanity in his memory.