Lawrence Evans Haines Jr.

LAWRENCE EVANS "LARRY" HAINES JR. Memorial services for longtime Cortez resident Lawrence Evans "Larry" Haines Jr. will be held Friday, November 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Ertel Memorial Chapel. Larry was born the son of Lawrence Elias Haines Sr. and Ruth (Evans) Haines on March 7, 1925 in Palmerton, Penn. He passed away at Vista Mesa Assisted Living Center on Friday, October 25, 2013 at the age of 88. After graduating in 1943 from high school in Ohio, Larry joined the United States Marine Corps. He was Corporal in rank and radioman in task. In 1945, Larry was in the Battle of Okinawa as part of the 2nd AAA attached to the 6th Marine Division. He said his unit shot down about 35 Japanese fighter planes in that battle. His was the first Marine unit to enter Peking, China at the end of the war. After being discharged in 1946, Larry graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1950 with his degree in Physical Education. Moving to Colorado in the early 1960's, he was involved with the Silver Hat Mining Company of Matterhorn, Colo. Larry started with the State Park Service in 1967 and retired after working there for 23 years. Larry was a life member of Mariemont Masonic Lodge No. 0419 in Cincinnati, Ohio and American Legion Post No. 16 in Slatington, Penn. He was also a life member of the NRA. In Larry's free time, he enjoyed camping, hiking and was a rock hound. Surviving Larry are his nephews, Randy Haines and wife, Winnie of Cincinnati, Ohio and Scott Haines and wife, Jean of Gibson City, Ill. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence Haines Sr. and Ruth Haines; and brother, Alvin Haines.