Larry Sneed

Larry will always be remembered through the eyes and memories of all who knew and loved him dearly. Larry was born on May 1, 1951, in Houston, Texas, to James E. Sneed and Tillie May Sneed.  He was the only male child among six female siblings and was the sixth of seven children. He transitioned from this life in Pacific, Washington, on  October 27, 2025. 

A dear friend, Steve Ellis, shared fond memories of their time together.  While at Walla Walla College (now Walla Walla University), they sang together in a Quartet called the Churchmen.  They decided to take a class in Horsemanship.  Given the humor of the teacher and horse owner Mr. Klein, he assigned to Larry to smallest horse, and he assigned to Steve the largest horse. When Larry mounted the horse, the stirrups almost touched the ground. Once as they were horseback riding, they were playing tag in the snow while on horseback.  Because Larry had not properly secured his harness before riding, he started sliding down from the horse with his feet hung up in the stirrups. Fortunately, he was able to correct his mishap in time to avoid an unpleasant spill. Larry led everyone in having a good laugh over the incident.

     Larry joined the Les Chanticleers in 1978 and continued to sing until his illness prevented him from doing so, earlier this year.  When I asked Steve to share how Larry came to join the Les Chanticleers, he said it was due to recruitment from the original Director, Mrs. Mildred Tuggle.  They were all teens at the time and not very sure of themselves musically.  Mrs. Tuggle saw their potential and began to train them. Larry and Steve also followed up with taking Voice Lessons while at Walla Walla College. Larry developed into a fine 1st Tenor and sang with Steve, Jack Barrow, and Thomas Lyles II, in the Churchmen Quartet, while students at Walla Walla College. Once when they were performing, Larry hit a very high note while singing “Marvel Not at Man”, which became a key memory of his vocal range and musical repertoire. 

      When Steve was asked to share what he will miss most about Larry, he simply responded: “Footprints of Jesus”.  Larry was a Prayer Warrior who took to heart what the Lord said and lived it.  He went on to say that Larry had the most forgiving heart of anyone he had ever known in life. He could not seem to remember that he was supposed to be really upset, or so he said, for more than two seconds.  You have to love a friend like that.

     Another member of the Les Chanticleers, Myrtle Mitchell, who has known Larry through the years and enjoyed singing with him, summed up his life in this glowingly appropriate manner; “Yes, we will grieve the loss of seeing Larry, singing with him in the Les Chanticleers, and listening to his beautiful 1st Tenor voice.  Larry loved the Lord and faithfully served him many, many years as a Seventh-day Adventist.  But, if we are as faithful in serving the Lord as Larry was, we will see him again in the New Jerusalem!  Praise God for Larry’s life—well lived—and for God’s promise of the First, joyous resurrection of all of the sleeping saints!”  To God Be the Glory for a life well lived in our Brother, Larry Sneed.