Lisa Jo Larkin

Lisa Jo Larkin

Lisa Jo Larkin was born Oct. 13, 1966, at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott, Kan., to parents Bob and Judi Larkin. She grew up with one sister, Laura, one foster brother, Dwayne Craig, and one cousin, Kenny Hively, who was more like a brother to her.

She had a happy childhood, growing up mostly on the farm. She loved life, music, animals, and all of her grandparents. She especially liked high school where she participated in debate and forensics, and anything that involved school plays, or the theater. She was editor of the high school paper and always created a certain amount of controversy.

Her life changed dramatically on Dec. 5, 1984, when she was injured seriously in a car accident. That was the beginning of a lifelong battle with medical issues. She graduated from Fort Scott High in 1985. She had lots of wonderful friends, many of whom stayed in touch with her all of these years.

She married Michael Antony on July 24, 1994. They lived almost all of their married life in Las Vegas, Nev., where their son, Macoy, was born in 2001. Lisa and Michael both enjoyed the theater and they usually had season tickets to the Smith Center in Las Vegas where they could see current Broadway plays. Michael and Macoy both helped take care of Lisa at home these past few years as her health declined.

Her mother, Judi, lived close by and helped with Lisa’s healthcare. Lisa and her dad were very close and talked on the phone almost daily. He tried to make sure she had whatever she needed to fight the various health problems she endured.

Lisa died at Nelson Adelson Hospice Center in Las Vegas on June 19, 2023, after a lengthy illness. Most of her family and her dear friend, Karen Curran, were with her in the days before and at the time of her death.

Lisa is survived by her husband, Michael Antony, son, Macoy Antony, and mother Judith Larkin (Glenn), all of Las Vegas; also her father, Robert Larkin (Jan) of Fort Scott, sister, Laura Peterson (Frank) of Erie, cousin, Kenneth Hively (Jan) of Loveland, Colo., and uncle, Don Larkin (Sue) of Phoenix, Ariz. She has many other uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends, whom she loved dearly. She will be missed by all who knew her.

She was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Bill and Alma Larkin, and maternal grandparents, Lewis and Bertha Baucom, and foster brother Dwayne Craig.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 14, at the Cheney Witt Chapel. In honor of Lisa’s favorite color, pink attire is encouraged. The family wishes memorial contributions be made to SEK Humane Society, as Lisa loved animals, and may be left in care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, P.O. Box 347, 201 S. Main St., Fort Scott, KS 66701. Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.