Larry Duane Ourada

Larry Duane Ourada, 73, passed away after a 15-year battle with a brain tumor on Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at one of his son’s and daughter-in-law’s home. He went peacefully and was surrounded by his family.

Larry was born on March 19, 1950, in Boise, Idaho, to Duane and Georgia Ourada. He was the fourth of their five children, and their only son. The family moved to Halfway, Oregon, in 1956. In 1962, the family moved again, this time to Pocatello, where Larry would live the rest of his life. Larry attended Alameda Junior High and graduated from Highland High School in 1968. He worked at a few places in town before starting a career as the “parts guy”, first in his very early 20’s at Shaw Auto Parts where he was employed for many years, and then at Courtesy Ford.

In 1974, Larry married Claudia Betts, and three years later, they had their first son, Jason Larry. Their second son, Jake Duane, was born in 1981. Larry and Claudia divorced in 1985. Later in the 80’s, Larry began dating Maxine “Max” Whiteus, and he soon became a second father to three girls: Shy, April, and Kelli. Larry and Max were married in 1999, then divorced in 2005.

As the saying goes, Larry had personality in spades. If you knew him, you also knew you were about to get into some serious trouble when he flashed that huge, mischievous grin. Then there was the hair. That Tony Orlando, 1970’s and beyond, make you green with envy, hair. He was handsome, hilarious, charming, and he fiercely loved his family. He was so many things to so many people, a son, a brother, a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, an uncle, a great uncle, and a friend. Larry was brave, a fighter, and our biggest defender.

He loved to hunt, golf, play baseball, watch sports-particularly the Seattle Seahawks, and especially drag racing. He and his brother-in-law, Andy Ritzman, could be found at the dragstrip most weekends, along with many of us who grew up out there watching them race. Larry O’s-Mobile, was a blue Oldsmobile station wagon. Yes, a veritable Clark Griswold family truckster station wagon. When he approached the starting line in that car, the snickering in the stands would begin, and you could almost hear them thinking things like, “How does that guy think he could win anything except maybe a trip around a grocery store parking lot in THAT car? The snickering never lasted long though because Larry would show everyone exactly how it was done by beating them to the finish line nearly every time.

Most of all, Larry loved his family beyond measure, and none of them ever doubted that they were adored and treasured.

Larry is survived by his sons, Jason (Melissa) Ourada, and Jake (Heide) Ourada; daughters, Shy Whiteus- Fenwick, April (Cory) DeLozier, and Kelli (John) Smith of Idaho Falls; sister Ellen Ritzman of Utah; nieces Gina (Kelly) Hall, and Jody (Alfred) Atkinson-Mudashiru of Californina; grandchildren, Autumn Fenwick, Rylee Fenwick, Ashley Miller, Madysen Miller, Logan Miller, Klarc DeLozier, Kennedy Gravis, Maxwell Smith, Nickolas Ourada, Bella Rose Ourada, William Ourada, and Lexi Ourada; and great grandchild, Nora Soltero; as well as three great nieces, and two great nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father Duane, and mother Georgia; and his sisters Barbara Atkinson, Evelyn “Debbie” Ourada, and Lorrie Lindsley.

The family would like to express their gratitude for Larry’s entire care team, and the staff at Diamond Peak Assisted Living.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, December 18, 2023, at Wilks Funeral Home, 211 W Chubbuck Road, Chubbuck, ID 83202.

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