Larry Ellis Cordray, 81, of Browning, Missouri, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Friday, May 9, 2025, at Kansas University Medical Center in Kansas City, Kansas.
Larry was born on March 1, 1944, in Browning, Mo to his parents, Ellis Francis and Ila Mae (Daniels) Cordray. He grew up in Browning, graduating from Liberty High School in Browning in 1962. He moved to Mexico, Mo for a few years where he worked at MFA. Later he went to work for General Motors in Kansas City for 10 years before moving back to Browning where he worked at Quigley’s. On May 28, 1977, he married Christine (Lentz) Cordray. In 1977, they opened Cordray’s Sundries Drug Store that he operated for 8 years. In 1985, he then opened the Cordray’s Center that he ran for 33 years.
Larry is survived by his wife Christine of the home, four children; Tom Cordray of Browning, Mo, Larry Cordray Jr. of Browning, Mo, Regina (Dwight) Smith of Cadiz, Ky, and Chad Cordray of Columbia, Mo, thirteen grandchildren; Nicole (Levi) Davis, Cydney (Adam) Watkins, Porsha (Eric) Kleinschmidt, Montgomery (Alyssa) Smith, Destinee (Sam) Edwards, Hunter (Anartavan) Cordray, Jackie Flummer, Kylie Flummer, Cole Flummer, Ellis Cordray, Quentin Cordray, Karma Rievley, and Jax Cordray, one great grandson and seven great granddaughters and his best friend Tiny, his dog that went everywhere with him. He was preceded in death by his parents and one stepson, Marty Flummer.
Larry was always working on something. He loved to personalize and modify anything he could get his hands on. He loved to decorate and landscape his yard as well as mow several others. He was well known for his elaborate Christmas decorations that he put out for many years. He enjoyed drawing and doodling on anything, drawing pictures of cars or flames on objects just to personalize them. He learned to do woodworking while restoring the old house. He enjoyed taking care of the farm and cattle, and his special horse “Rocket”. Larry also enjoyed Hot Rods, working on cars, and loud pipes. You always heard Larry coming. Larry also loved to watch Tom race. He most of all loved to spend time with family and his grandchildren.
A funeral service for Larry will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at the Browning First Baptist Church in Browning, Missouri. Burial will follow at the North Salem Cemetery in North Salem, Mo. A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, at Ruschmeier-Smith Funeral Home in Milan, Missouri.
Memorial contributions may be made to the North Salem Cemetery.