Richard Larry Ashley, 73, of Brownwood, passed away Sunday, April 19. Richard, known to his family and friends as "Larry" was born on November 13, 1946 in Pensacola, Florida to Elsie (Chavers) Adams and Charles Ashley.
From the start of his life to the finish line, Larry was both a miracle and a survivor.
He began his life being born a blue baby thus having breathing issues and wasn't expected to live. When he was a toddler, Larry survived being struck and ran over by a vehicle. Of his childhood, Larry said some of his best memories were eating stew and cornbread from a cast iron pot and skillet, working on the farm with his family and sitting around his grandfather's rocking chair as his grandfather read the Bible to the grandchildren. After completing the 11th grade, Larry left home and set out to find his own way. In his twenties, Larry traveled extensively through the US and to other countries including China, Israel and Europe doing missionary work. He traveled and lived in several states including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee before finally making Brown County, Texas his home. He loved Brown County and would enthusiastically declare "Hey, I might not be a Texas native, but I got here as soon as I could."
Larry's sisters recall that he had the best 'green thumb' and was a great landscaper. One of his nieces recalls soliciting advice on how to keep house plants alive and he would chuckle and say you just have to water them. While another niece reports bee-lining to her Uncle Larry's garden after school, picking and eating his cherry tomatoes while still in his garden. These were the best tomatoes she ever ate.
Larry was quite literally a walking miracle. He spent 28 years working in the healthcare industry as an orderly. He learned many nursing skills as an orderly and loved his work. Though Larry had limitations of his own, he had a huge heart and walked many miles daily to give the best care possible to his clients, most days walking to and from Bangs and Brownwood, Texas. His acts of kindness and the love he had for others was limitless.
At a very young age, Larry accepted Christ as his savior. Later in life, he developed a heart
condition causing him to die three times and all three times he was brought back to life. Larry
loved to give his testimony of the miracle that his life had been and claimed each day as a
blessing from God. He would always say the reason he was still walking this earth was "because GOD isn't finished with me yet".
Larry's final years were spent between two nursing homes in Brownwood, Texas, Brownwood ....; and Songbird Lodge Health and Rehabilitation Center. As a resident there, just as he had been in life before living in a nursing home, he was the kind, optimistic,and had the most positive outlook on life. He was the life of the party, a social butterfly and helped organize events and activities for his fellow residents. Over the years, Larry touched many lives through his work and his testimony. He is already sorely missed.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his three beloved sisters, Joyce Pugh of Early, Sheila
(Don) Hendrix of Floresville; and Charlotte (Byron) Cook of Pensacola, Florida, three nephews,
three nieces, several great nephews and great nieces, one great-great nephew and one great-great
niece.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Taunja Adams.
From the start of his life to the finish line, Larry was both a miracle and a survivor.
He began his life being born a blue baby thus having breathing issues and wasn't expected to live. When he was a toddler, Larry survived being struck and ran over by a vehicle. Of his childhood, Larry said some of his best memories were eating stew and cornbread from a cast iron pot and skillet, working on the farm with his family and sitting around his grandfather's rocking chair as his grandfather read the Bible to the grandchildren. After completing the 11th grade, Larry left home and set out to find his own way. In his twenties, Larry traveled extensively through the US and to other countries including China, Israel and Europe doing missionary work. He traveled and lived in several states including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee before finally making Brown County, Texas his home. He loved Brown County and would enthusiastically declare "Hey, I might not be a Texas native, but I got here as soon as I could."
Larry's sisters recall that he had the best 'green thumb' and was a great landscaper. One of his nieces recalls soliciting advice on how to keep house plants alive and he would chuckle and say you just have to water them. While another niece reports bee-lining to her Uncle Larry's garden after school, picking and eating his cherry tomatoes while still in his garden. These were the best tomatoes she ever ate.
Larry was quite literally a walking miracle. He spent 28 years working in the healthcare industry as an orderly. He learned many nursing skills as an orderly and loved his work. Though Larry had limitations of his own, he had a huge heart and walked many miles daily to give the best care possible to his clients, most days walking to and from Bangs and Brownwood, Texas. His acts of kindness and the love he had for others was limitless.
At a very young age, Larry accepted Christ as his savior. Later in life, he developed a heart
condition causing him to die three times and all three times he was brought back to life. Larry
loved to give his testimony of the miracle that his life had been and claimed each day as a
blessing from God. He would always say the reason he was still walking this earth was "because GOD isn't finished with me yet".
Larry's final years were spent between two nursing homes in Brownwood, Texas, Brownwood ....; and Songbird Lodge Health and Rehabilitation Center. As a resident there, just as he had been in life before living in a nursing home, he was the kind, optimistic,and had the most positive outlook on life. He was the life of the party, a social butterfly and helped organize events and activities for his fellow residents. Over the years, Larry touched many lives through his work and his testimony. He is already sorely missed.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his three beloved sisters, Joyce Pugh of Early, Sheila
(Don) Hendrix of Floresville; and Charlotte (Byron) Cook of Pensacola, Florida, three nephews,
three nieces, several great nephews and great nieces, one great-great nephew and one great-great
niece.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Taunja Adams.
Richard Larry Ashley, 73, of Brownwood, passed away Sunday, April 19. Richard, known to his family and friends as "Larry" was born on November 13, 1946 in Pensacola, Florida to Elsie (Chavers) Adams and Charles Ashley.
From the start of his life to the finish line, Larry was both a miracle and a survivor.
He began his life being born a blue baby thus having breathing issues and wasn't expected to live. When he was a toddler, Larry survived being struck and ran over by a vehicle. Of his childhood, Larry said some of his best memories were eating stew and cornbread from a cast iron pot and skillet, working on the farm with his family and sitting around his grandfather's rocking chair as his grandfather read the Bible to the grandchildren. After completing the 11th grade, Larry left home and set out to find his own way. In his twenties, Larry traveled extensively through the US and to other countries including China, Israel and Europe doing missionary work. He traveled and lived in several states including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee before finally making Brown County, Texas his home. He loved Brown County and would enthusiastically declare "Hey, I might not be a Texas native, but I got here as soon as I could."
Larry's sisters recall that he had the best 'green thumb' and was a great landscaper. One of his nieces recalls soliciting advice on how to keep house plants alive and he would chuckle and say you just have to water them. While another niece reports bee-lining to her Uncle Larry's garden after school, picking and eating his cherry tomatoes while still in his garden. These were the best tomatoes she ever ate.
Larry was quite literally a walking miracle. He spent 28 years working in the healthcare industry as an orderly. He learned many nursing skills as an orderly and loved his work. Though Larry had limitations of his own, he had a huge heart and walked many miles daily to give the best care possible to his clients, most days walking to and from Bangs and Brownwood, Texas. His acts of kindness and the love he had for others was limitless.
At a very young age, Larry accepted Christ as his savior. Later in life, he developed a heart
condition causing him to die three times and all three times he was brought back to life. Larry
loved to give his testimony of the miracle that his life had been and claimed each day as a
blessing from God. He would always say the reason he was still walking this earth was "because GOD isn't finished with me yet".
Larry's final years were spent between two nursing homes in Brownwood, Texas, Brownwood ....; and Songbird Lodge Health and Rehabilitation Center. As a resident there, just as he had been in life before living in a nursing home, he was the kind, optimistic,and had the most positive outlook on life. He was the life of the party, a social butterfly and helped organize events and activities for his fellow residents. Over the years, Larry touched many lives through his work and his testimony. He is already sorely missed.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his three beloved sisters, Joyce Pugh of Early, Sheila
(Don) Hendrix of Floresville; and Charlotte (Byron) Cook of Pensacola, Florida, three nephews,
three nieces, several great nephews and great nieces, one great-great nephew and one great-great
niece.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Taunja Adams.
From the start of his life to the finish line, Larry was both a miracle and a survivor.
He began his life being born a blue baby thus having breathing issues and wasn't expected to live. When he was a toddler, Larry survived being struck and ran over by a vehicle. Of his childhood, Larry said some of his best memories were eating stew and cornbread from a cast iron pot and skillet, working on the farm with his family and sitting around his grandfather's rocking chair as his grandfather read the Bible to the grandchildren. After completing the 11th grade, Larry left home and set out to find his own way. In his twenties, Larry traveled extensively through the US and to other countries including China, Israel and Europe doing missionary work. He traveled and lived in several states including Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee before finally making Brown County, Texas his home. He loved Brown County and would enthusiastically declare "Hey, I might not be a Texas native, but I got here as soon as I could."
Larry's sisters recall that he had the best 'green thumb' and was a great landscaper. One of his nieces recalls soliciting advice on how to keep house plants alive and he would chuckle and say you just have to water them. While another niece reports bee-lining to her Uncle Larry's garden after school, picking and eating his cherry tomatoes while still in his garden. These were the best tomatoes she ever ate.
Larry was quite literally a walking miracle. He spent 28 years working in the healthcare industry as an orderly. He learned many nursing skills as an orderly and loved his work. Though Larry had limitations of his own, he had a huge heart and walked many miles daily to give the best care possible to his clients, most days walking to and from Bangs and Brownwood, Texas. His acts of kindness and the love he had for others was limitless.
At a very young age, Larry accepted Christ as his savior. Later in life, he developed a heart
condition causing him to die three times and all three times he was brought back to life. Larry
loved to give his testimony of the miracle that his life had been and claimed each day as a
blessing from God. He would always say the reason he was still walking this earth was "because GOD isn't finished with me yet".
Larry's final years were spent between two nursing homes in Brownwood, Texas, Brownwood ....; and Songbird Lodge Health and Rehabilitation Center. As a resident there, just as he had been in life before living in a nursing home, he was the kind, optimistic,and had the most positive outlook on life. He was the life of the party, a social butterfly and helped organize events and activities for his fellow residents. Over the years, Larry touched many lives through his work and his testimony. He is already sorely missed.
Left behind to cherish his memory are his three beloved sisters, Joyce Pugh of Early, Sheila
(Don) Hendrix of Floresville; and Charlotte (Byron) Cook of Pensacola, Florida, three nephews,
three nieces, several great nephews and great nieces, one great-great nephew and one great-great
niece.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and his niece, Taunja Adams.
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