Larry Dean Fitzgerald

Larry Dean Fitzgerald, 65, of Independence, MO passed away peacefully December 2, 2023, at his home.  Larry was born September 27, 1958, to J.R. and Pat Fitzgerald in El Dorado, KS. Larry spent his younger years in Kansas City and while attending North Kansas City High School he was being scouted by several professional baseball teams.  He also was on the football team and while playing in a game he damaged both knees, which took care of his baseball career.  While in the hospital having both knees operated on, a friend of the family arranged for Bobby Bell and Buck Buchanan of the Kansas City Chiefs to visit him.  A great thing for a 15-year-old.  Larry was a veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS John King DDG-3 Guided Missile Destroyer. He was stationed off the coast of Lebanon during the Lebanon War.  While in the Navy, Larry earned his GED, of which he was very proud.  

After being discharged from the Navy, Larry drove for Independence Cab (later Checker Cab Company) for 26 years. He then went to work for Western Extralite Company in the warehouse.  After he suffered an injury while working, he went back to the cab company as their dispatcher.  Larry loved to fish.  He would go fishing and sit for hours, even if he wasn't catching anything. Larry was an avid sports nut.  You could call him anytime, day or night, and say, what are you doing? He would say watching golf, or watching college football.  He loved watching his favorite teams: the Georgia Bulldogs, Kansas Jayhawks, St. Louis Blues, KC Royals and, of course, the Kansas City Chiefs. He was a stellar Texas Hold ‘Em player and missed qualifying for a national seat by one hand in 2004.

Larry was preceded in death by his father J.R., brother Richard Eugene, brother-in-law Gerald Stone, and his grandparents, Benton and Lila Clyde.  Larry is survived by his wife Gale Fitzgerald of the home, his mother Pat Evans, Independence, his aunt Pam Wishon, Independence, 3 sons, Brian Cooper (Dawn) Kansas City, MO, Frank Cooper, Covington, GA, Jacob Wade (Margie), Raymore, MO, 6 grandchildren, Dayton Cooper, Delaney Cooper, Dakota Cooper, Deuce Cooper, Dominik Cooper, Martin Wade and many cousins, friends and relatives.