Lawrence “Larry” Skiddy Hurley, 70, of Westminster, died on Thursday, January 14, 2016 in a single-vehicle accident in Boulder Canyon.
Larry was born on February 6, 1945 in Syracuse, NY, to Lawrence John and Mary Louise (McEntee) Skiddy. Lawrence John Skiddy was killed in battle in WWII in France a few months before his son was born. Mary Louise later remarried John Hurley, who adopted and helped raise Larry and their nine other children.
The Hurleys traveled from Syracuse to Michigan via Illinois as John’s career took him from behind the wheel of a Kellogg’s delivery truck, ultimately to lead the company as Vice President of Kellogg’s International. Larry attended high school in Battle Creek, Michigan and though exempt from the draft under the Sole Survivor Policy, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps serving in Viet Nam; Larry enlisted to fight in the war so that he might share one experience with the father he never met.
He married Debra Halperin in 1971 in Boulder, Colorado, and they had one child, Orion, in 1974. They were divorced in 1978 but remained life-long friends. He cherished a decades-long relationship with Karen K. Fox, who died in 2014 unexpectedly. Recently, he found love with Janet Harrington and said that he considered himself incredibly lucky.
Larry received his B.A. in English from the University of Colorado in 1985 and worked as a technical writer for Ball Aerospace, Lucent Technologies, AT&T, National Council of State Legislatures, and Sun Microsystems. He retired in 2010, but was never idle.
Larry loved a good book and was always ready with a perceptive recommendation, depending on the reader who was asking. He had a sharp wit that he wasn’t afraid to wield at any time to any one. He had an unwavering loyalty to his family and friends and was quick to defend his ideals with fervor. Larry was a very proud Marine, shaped by the ideals and discipline he learned in the service, and was an expert on rock-and-roll music—beginning with the 1960’s—and could name just about any modern-era tune in under four bars. He was a loyal friend, maintaining connections to his home-town pals no matter where they settled. He was a family man, through and through, devoting his life to Orion; and he was overjoyed at the prospect of being a grandpa to his granddaughter Sophia Grace born 1/2/2016. Adventures in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, long rides down the Boulder Creek Path, day hikes in Chautauqua, frisbee on the Norlin Quad, vacations to visit family, and road trips shared with his son were the light of both their lives.
Larry is survived by his son Orion and granddaughter Sophia Grace, his mother, Mary Louise Hurley; siblings Maureen Morrison, Brian Hurley, Carol Harrison, Marilynn Tenney, John R. Hurley, David Hurley, Patrick Hurley, Michael Hurley; 15 nieces and nephews; his ex-wife Debra Biasca; and his friend Janet Harrington of Castle Rock. He was predeceased by his father, Lawrence Skiddy, step-father John Hurley, brother John Gregory Hurley, and his partner of 20+ years, Karen K. Fox.
No flowers, please. Contributions in Larry’s memory may be made to:
Viet Nam Veterans of America (VVA), Chapter #1071; PO Box 211637; Denver, CO 80221
president@vva1071.org
www.vva1071.org
(303) 870-2428
Larry was born on February 6, 1945 in Syracuse, NY, to Lawrence John and Mary Louise (McEntee) Skiddy. Lawrence John Skiddy was killed in battle in WWII in France a few months before his son was born. Mary Louise later remarried John Hurley, who adopted and helped raise Larry and their nine other children.
The Hurleys traveled from Syracuse to Michigan via Illinois as John’s career took him from behind the wheel of a Kellogg’s delivery truck, ultimately to lead the company as Vice President of Kellogg’s International. Larry attended high school in Battle Creek, Michigan and though exempt from the draft under the Sole Survivor Policy, he enlisted in the US Marine Corps serving in Viet Nam; Larry enlisted to fight in the war so that he might share one experience with the father he never met.
He married Debra Halperin in 1971 in Boulder, Colorado, and they had one child, Orion, in 1974. They were divorced in 1978 but remained life-long friends. He cherished a decades-long relationship with Karen K. Fox, who died in 2014 unexpectedly. Recently, he found love with Janet Harrington and said that he considered himself incredibly lucky.
Larry received his B.A. in English from the University of Colorado in 1985 and worked as a technical writer for Ball Aerospace, Lucent Technologies, AT&T, National Council of State Legislatures, and Sun Microsystems. He retired in 2010, but was never idle.
Larry loved a good book and was always ready with a perceptive recommendation, depending on the reader who was asking. He had a sharp wit that he wasn’t afraid to wield at any time to any one. He had an unwavering loyalty to his family and friends and was quick to defend his ideals with fervor. Larry was a very proud Marine, shaped by the ideals and discipline he learned in the service, and was an expert on rock-and-roll music—beginning with the 1960’s—and could name just about any modern-era tune in under four bars. He was a loyal friend, maintaining connections to his home-town pals no matter where they settled. He was a family man, through and through, devoting his life to Orion; and he was overjoyed at the prospect of being a grandpa to his granddaughter Sophia Grace born 1/2/2016. Adventures in the Indian Peaks Wilderness, long rides down the Boulder Creek Path, day hikes in Chautauqua, frisbee on the Norlin Quad, vacations to visit family, and road trips shared with his son were the light of both their lives.
Larry is survived by his son Orion and granddaughter Sophia Grace, his mother, Mary Louise Hurley; siblings Maureen Morrison, Brian Hurley, Carol Harrison, Marilynn Tenney, John R. Hurley, David Hurley, Patrick Hurley, Michael Hurley; 15 nieces and nephews; his ex-wife Debra Biasca; and his friend Janet Harrington of Castle Rock. He was predeceased by his father, Lawrence Skiddy, step-father John Hurley, brother John Gregory Hurley, and his partner of 20+ years, Karen K. Fox.
No flowers, please. Contributions in Larry’s memory may be made to:
Viet Nam Veterans of America (VVA), Chapter #1071; PO Box 211637; Denver, CO 80221
president@vva1071.org
www.vva1071.org
(303) 870-2428
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