Larry E. “Chopper” Gatewood

Larry E. “Chopper” Gatewood

Larry E. “Chopper” Gatewood, 73, lifelong Parsons resident, died at 3:50 p.m., Friday, Oct. 18, 2024 at his home.

He was born Dec. 18, 1950, in Parsons, to Henry A. and Maxine (Darkis) Gatewood. He attended Parsons schools and graduated from Labette Community College. From 1968 to 1972 he served with the United States Army, doing basic training at Ft. Leonard Wood and serving overseas in Korea and Japan.

For 47 years he was employed by the City of Parsons Water Department as a water meter reader, retiring in 2012.

Chopper was well known in the bowling leagues in Parsons and surrounding places. He had numerous awards and had bowled many perfect games. He had a tremendous love of animals and took every opportunity to feed as many as he encountered. He mowed over 30 lawns in Parsons for many years. He was a member of the Brown-Bishop Post No. 704, Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Survivors include his daughter, Emily Alba and husband, Ben, and their son, Lincoln Alba of Chanute; longtime companion Mary McLaughlin, of the home and her son Timothy McLaughlin and wife Jennifer of Parsons, and their two children, Jespen and RayLeigh McLaughlin; brothers and sisters Henry Gatewood (Martha) Charles Gatewood (Anita), Emmett Gatewood, James Gatewood (Peggy), Shawnell Reece (Michael) all of Parsons; Maurice Gatewood (Kattie) of Wichita, Debbie Sanchez (Larry) and Marva Lee Cullom of Olathe and Richard Gatewood (Brenda) of Raytown, Mo.

Preceding him in death are his parents, sister-in-law, Viola Gatewood, brother-in-law, Melvin Cullom; nephew Charles “Tuna” Gatewood and great nephew Spencer Gatewood.

The funeral service will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 26, at the Carson-Wall Funeral Home. A private family burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Parsons V.F.W. Post 704 funeral detail.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday. Memorials are suggested to P.A.L.S. the local animal shelter. They may be left at or sent to the funeral home at P.O. Box 942, Parsons, KS 67357. Online messages may be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.