Larry L. Cordell

Funeral services for Larry Cordell, 81, of Lenox, were held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 11, at The Lenox United Presbyterian Church. Visitation was held 3-7 p.m. Monday, March 10, at Cummings Family Funeral Home in Lenox, with family greeting friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Private family burial of ashes will be held at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the family to be established in Larry’s memory. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.cummingsfamilyfuneralhome.com under Obituaries.

Larry Lee Cordell, also known as Cordel to some, was born Oct. 16, 1943, to Carl and Nettie (Evans) Cordell. He was born in Bedford and was the brother to Butch, Donna, Peg and John. Larry attended country school Platte #9 and later attended Sharpsburg and Lenox schools where he met Linda Kay Dukes.

Larry and Linda married in 1965, welcoming their first child Larry Jr. shortly after. In the following years they welcomed three daughters, Leesa, Leslie and Dawne. They later divorced after 27 years.

Larry was employed with Barker Farms for over 20 years, then went on to help his father at the family farm. He was also a member of the Taylor County Sheriff’s Posse and the Lenox Fire Department for many years.

His love for horses led him to attend the Pony Express Ride of Iowa for several years. This landed him on stage at the Val Air Ballroom in Des Moines where he would sing one of his favorites, “The Auctioneer” song. Larry was a proud member of the Lenox Stock and Saddle Club for many years, including becoming the president of the organization for 13 years.

As Larry would say, “Pert’near 30 years ago,” he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Gail Floyd. At this time, Larry gained four more children, David, Dallas, Jimmy and Trisha. In 2008, Larry and Gail had the honor of adopting their granddaughter, Liberty.

Larry loved cooking and baking. During the holiday season he would make a variety of candies as well as his signature peanut brittle, delivering it to family and close friends.

Larry and Gail owned and operated G&L Bar & Grill in Diagonal for nearly eight years. Not only did Larry enjoy spending time in the kitchen, he also had a knack for flowers and gardening, minus the weed-eating.

Left to carry on his memories are wife Gail; sister Peg Brown; children: Larry Jr. (Marti Sue) Cordell, Leesa (Paul) VanGelder, Leslie (Steven) Brown, Dawne (Mike) Bowman, David Giles, Dallas Floyd, Jimmy (Keira) Mitchell, Trisha (Christopher) Mitchell and Liberty Cordell; grandchildren: Takota, Cade and Owen Cordell, Briton, Brylee and Braxton VanGelder, Alex (Chris) Meinders, Halee (Todd) Corbett, Parker Bowman, Travis Floyd, Naomi, William and Elisabeth Giles and Cohen Duncan; six great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.