Larry Colton Rawlings

Our dear husband, dad, grandpa, brother and friend, Larry Colton Rawlings, left this mortal existence on Monday, October 9, 2023 at the age of 88. He was born April 25, 1935 at his Grandmother Colton’s home in Provo, Utah to Wesley Phillip and Bernice Colton Rawlings. He was raised in the Orem and Vineyard area with his siblings Monte, Farrell, Reed & Marilyn. He attended Union Elementary School and Lincoln Junior/ High School for grades 7th-12th, graduating in May 1953. In high school he played the Cornet and Baritone in the Pep Band as well as participated in the Ski Club and FFA.

As a young boy he worked side by side on the family farm in Orem with his father and grandfather. He learned the value of hard work and has farmed most every day of his life since he was 9 years old, always giving 110%. He worked hard for 88 years, only slowing down in the last few weeks as his body began to fail him.

Shortly after graduating high school, he began his career at Geneva Steel in Vineyard. Beginning as a laborer he worked his way up to the position of Superintendent over the Rolling Mills. He worked hard and made many friends that he still talked about, even during his final days. He retired in 1985 after a 32 year career as our “Man of Steel.” He briefly worked for a year helping to build the Glen Canyon Dam in Page, Arizona while on a layoff from Geneva.

At the young age of 18 he married LaDawn Perry in the Salt Lake LDS Temple on August 19, 1953. They started their lives together in Orem welcoming Laurie in 1954, Connie & Carole in 1955, Corey in 1960 and Darcey in 1972. While living in Orem he enjoyed playing golf, fishing, boating and traveling with his family.

In 1976 Larry, LaDawn, Corey & Darcey moved full time to the family ranch in Freedom, Sanpete County. Larry first visited Freedom in 1952 with his father and brother Monte and the Rawlings family began its history in his beloved Freedom.

For 9 years Larry commuted to Geneva while working the farm in Freedom. He raised horses, sheep, cows and his precious goats. Once he retired, he was able to devote his full attention to the farm. He said he worked twice as hard on the farm but was twice as happy. He cut and baled hay for himself as well as many others in the Sanpete Valley. He served as Water Master for the M & M Irrigation Company for almost 20 years, as the Sanpitch River Commissioner for 13 years and as President of the Freedom Irrigation Company. He had a mind as sharp as a tack and could remember dates, names and information like no one else.

After LaDawn passed away in 1998 he was single until he met his sweet Pat at the Moroni Senior Citizen lunches. They were married on September 10, 2010 and have enjoyed 13 wonderful years together.

Larry was a wonderful example to many family members and friends. He helped anyone he could with their hay and cows. He always made sure to take apples from his orchard to the elderly in town. He was a man of knowledge and integrity and has left a hole in the hearts of many with his passing.

Larry is survived by his wife, Patricia Cundiff; his children, Laurie Sorensen, Connie & Glen Haynie, Carole & Mick Evans, Corey & Mary Lou Rawlings and Darcey & Jason Williams. He leaves behind 24 grandchildren, 59 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren. Also survived by his brother, Reed (Janice) Rawlings, sister, Marilyn (Wayne) Gurney and sisters-in-law, Linda Rawlings and Carolyn Perry. He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Monte and Farrell, wife LaDawn, son-in-law Terry Sorensen, granddaughter Chelsea Williams and great grandchildren Charlie Cheney & Emery Colledge.

A celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, October 14, 2023 at the Moroni LDS Stake Center, 82 N. Center Moroni, Utah. A viewing will be held from 11:00am until 12:30pm with funeral services following at 1:00PM. Interment will take place in the Moroni City Cemetery.

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