Larry Allen Parlier

On January 26, 1956, Larry Allen Parlier was born in the old Visalia hospital during the great flood, and exited this life peacefully after a short illness on November 2nd. It's difficult to describe the quintessential Larry through these few paragraphs but those who knew him would know he made his mark in the world through his distinctive style and innovative ways. He lived in Visalia, California his entire life, being graduated from Mt. Whitney High School and then earning his AS degree from College of the Sequoias. His early years saw work at Best Buy Market, L.E Cooke Nursery, Giant Chevrolet and Pitney Bowes. However, when he began his career in maintenance supervision at Linwood Gardens Convalescent Hospital in 1983, he found his true calling. His ability to analyze how and why things worked and fix them when they didn't was unprecedented. When Linwood Gardens' sister hospital, Westgate Gardens was built, he was instrumental in overseeing that the maintenance department was a state-of-the-art affair. When he later was hired to work for the Grumman-Olson Corporation's Tulare plant which made trucks for U-Haul and other companies, his ability to fabricate parts and tools truly came front and center. He eventually returned to his former job at Westgate Gardens where he spent the rest of his career. He truly loved assisting the residents at Linwood and Westgate, making sure that all their "maintenance" needs were taken care of and always doing so with lots of TLC. The many thanks he received over the years from families who had a parent or other relative or friend at one of the hospitals was certainly a testament to his care and dedication. He thoroughly enjoyed the time spent at the Parlier cabin in Dunlap with the scouts, his cousins, aunts, uncles and friends over the years and especially assisting his dad with the ongoing and never-ending improvements. He loved music, playing the trumpet in the Divisadero Jr. High School marching band, and was an accomplished guitar and piano player who could play by ear. He became quite the amateur chef watching Emeril and Alton Brown and could cook pretty much anything on the BBQ. He loved cooking for family gatherings and organizing the neighbors for BBQs on holidays or whenever the urge struck him. He loved to tell a good joke or a funny story and always had one "at the ready" for whomever he might meet. He also enjoyed making rockets and had many exciting experiences with the launches as we never knew where they might touch down. From the time he learned to read, he was rarely without book-in-hand. He always had several going and enjoyed trading books with his mother-in-law who shares his same enthusiasm for the written word. He met his wife, Ruthanne, on a blind date in 1982 and they were married on May 14, 1983. Soon after their marriage, he was introduced by her into the wonderful world (both ups and downs) of watching 49ers football and SF Giants baseball. He became an avid fan and enjoyed many trips to San Francisco to see the teams play. In the "off-season" you would find him watching NASCAR, his 1st sports love. She also gave him his favorite dog, Jerri R. Parlier, who was a constant companion and always ready to go with Larry wherever it might be. Larry is preceded in death by his father, Jasper Parlier, and brother, Roger and brother-in-law Ben Manning. He is survived by his wife of almost 40 years, Ruthanne; his mother Anne Parlier; mother-in-law, Lois; sister, Janet, and brother, Jeff. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, Mat Joslin and Douglas Manning and wife, DeAnn; sisters-in-law, Mary Manning, Martha Knutson and husband, Rick, and Deborah Parlier; his nephews, Scott Joslin, wife, Tara and sons, Brandon & Colton, Max Manning, Nick Tenney and wife, Brynn, Marc Tenney, Michael Manning and fianc�, Sherri and nieces, Jennifer & Holly Joslin, Mary Ellen Parlier and Toni Tenney and many extended family members � aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also being missed by his very spoiled cat, George Lee. We will all miss the great food, the jokes, the music and the crazy inventions. Rest in peace Larry, you're a great guy and we love you. Mass of Christian Burial will be held in St. Mary's Catholic Church, 608 N. Church St., on Monday, November 21, 10:30 a.m.; private burial will take place at a later time. All are invited to join the family at the Elks Lodge, 3100 W. Main Street, following the funeral services. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com. Donations may be made to St. Charles Building Fund, c/o Good Shepherd Catholic Parish, 506 N. Garden St., Visalia 93291 or to your favorite charity.

Larry Allen Parlier

January 26, 1956 - November 2, 2022