Everett, WA - Rev. Dr. Larry Speicher

January 31, 1941 - July 1, 2024

The Rev. Dr. Larry Speicher of Everett, Washington, peacefully passed away on July 1, 2024. Larry was born in Barberton, Ohio the son of Fritz and Vivian Speicher and younger brother of Fritz. He was active while growing up starting a business in middle school, playing the coronet in the high school marching band, singing in a gospel quartet, playing fast pitch baseball, and ping pong. He graduated Asbury College, received his Bachelor of Divinity from Asbury Seminary and his Doctorate of Ministry from The San Francisco Theological Seminary.

Larry was accepted to Asbury College in Wilmore Kentucky in 1959. At the start of sophomore year, he went on a blind tennis date with freshman Loretta Fryman. They eloped six weeks later and have been married for 64 years. After graduating from Asbury College, Larry attended Asbury Seminary completing a three-year program with honors in two years, while also serving as a minister for a local church and then Youth Director at Park Methodist in Lexington.

Larry served in the PNW United Methodist church from 1966 to 2003 as the minister of six congregations: Highland Park, Fairwood, Haller Lake, Olympia 1st, Central United Protestant, and Kent. He had the unique ability to personalize his sermons around a scripture with stories and the periodic joke that brought the scripture to life. He often expressed the most important aspect of his work was to care for those struggling.

Larry was an avid fan of Seattle sports, loved to golf, and enjoyed traveling. What he loved most of all was spending time with his family; Larry is forever loved and cherished by his wife, Loretta; their daughters Renee (Bob) Paulson, Michelle (Frank) Carlone; grandchildren Chelsea (Dan) McKinley, Ashley (Wil) Crummer, Connor Paulson, and Anthony Carlone; and great grandchildren Noah McKinley, Owen McKinley, Atlas Maloy, and a Crummer baby boy on the way.

In honor of Larry's memory, a memorial service will be held at Kent United Methodist Church on Saturday, July 27th at 2pm. If you are not able to join in person, the service can be watched via live stream at https://youtube.com/live/XTHJWuzgoB0?feature=share.