Larry Leeper of Ouray, CO passed away June 7, 2020 with his wife Alice lying at his side.
Larry grew up in Farmington, II, graduated from the University of Illinois and headed west with a goal of warm California beaches in mind. He stopped in Colorado to ski and decided that would be his home. He became skilled as a cabinet maker and general contractor. He met Alice when she yelled ‘single’ in the ski line and married her 2 years later He carried her over the threshold of a small cabin with no running water on the North Star Ranch outside of Aspen, Colorado in 1976.
Their adventures through the years took them to work and play in Aspen, the Bahamas, Ouray, Hawaii, Bigfork, MT, and Jackson Hole, WY. They were each other’s best friend, and did everything together. They were married 44 years.
Larry was a member of the Aspen Fire Department for 8 years and became chief before moving to Ouray in 1994. He was Fire Chief of Log Hill and a member of the Ouray Fire Department. He was a member of the Ouray Historical Society, Ouray Trail Group, on the Cemetery board and Fire District board. Larry had a strong, quiet faith and love that demonstrated itself in acts of service towards others.
Larry has 3 ‘kids’ but many others think of him as their 2nd father or great uncle. Jeremy and wife Lindsey and their two daughters live in Victor, ID and Janelle and Mark Smiley and their daughter and Owen live in Jackson, WY. Larry loved nothing better than playing with his granddaughters and spending time with the ‘kids’. Larry put the kids to work whether they wanted to or not. Nov they are grateful for all those skills he taught them.
As a builder, he loved to buy and fix up older properties. He and Alice bought the Wright Opera House in 1995 and spent 16 years upgrading the historic 1888 building. Not one to sit still, he was always shoveling snow, trimming bushes, cutting down dead trees, and helping friends and neighbors.
At 70 years, Larry lived his life to the fullest. His daughter asked him a few weeks ago what was left on his bucket list and he said nothing. ‘I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do: God allowed him to complete his life here and now Larry is probably fixing up heaven to be an even better place.
We will miss him, but our memories are overflowing. Donations in his memory can be made to your church, food bank, or Habitat for Humanity.
A celebration will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday outside the Leeper house. Limited seating will be provided.
