Lawrence Dean Mahaffey

Larry was born in Salmon, Idaho on May 8, 1942, to Dean Ireland Mahaffey and Thelma Ilene Hutchison Mahaffey. His beginnings were humble in the truest sense. The middle child between his sisters Sharon and Arlene, Larry grew up tending animals on the ranch, and for a stretch of his boyhood the family lived in a canvas tent with dirt floors. He got around to see his friends on horseback, played every sport he could, and loved basketball most of all. He was one of just eight graduates in his class at Leadore High School in 1960.

After graduation Larry set off to the big city of Boise to attend Boise Junior College, and he took no small pride in reminding everyone that it went on to become Boise State University. Drafted into the Army during the Vietnam era, Larry was stationed in Italy, a country he fell in love with.

Back home in Salmon he married his first wife, Colleen, and welcomed his first child, Tina (1967), before the family moved to Boise in 1968 where Larry finished his degree and started his career with the US Forest Service at the Boise Interagency Fire Center. Children Shannon (1972) and Michael (1974) came soon after. In 1976 the family headed to Marana, Arizona, where Larry worked for the US Forest Service. A promotion later took them to Corvallis, Oregon, so he could earn his forestry degree from Oregon State, the credential that would define his career.

In 1988 Larry came home to Boise, and in 1992 he met the great love of his life, Barbara. They both worked at the National Interagency Fire Center and found a common bond over Larry’s love of aircraft. They were a perfect match, full of fun, always up for a night at the bar, a Boise State game, or a weekend of camping. Barbara came with two young boys, Jason and Matt, and Larry stepped up as a wonderful stepfather to them. Barbara softened his edges, and their family found its footing together.

Through all the moves and chapters of his career, Larry was a father first. Attending and coaching kids’ games - Tina, Shannon and Matt in basketball, Mike in football and Jason in baseball - was a source of enormous pride. Kids sports, fishing, camping and ‘getting wood’ filled his weekends. ‘Getting wood’ meant cramming everyone into the cab of his pickup truck to cut and load wood, bring it home and stack it up. While grueling for everyone, he loved it. Forced, family, fun was always the point.

Larry was kind, loyal and funny with a smile that would light up the room. His sister Arlene was his best friend and confidant. His lifelong friend John Herndon was there through the thick, the thin and the slightly dangerous. When Larry was in his element and having a ball, the family called it the “woo woos.” Usually this was with a gin and tonic, a Salty Dog, or an ice-cold beer close at hand. He filled his days with the things he loved: family, friends, fishing, camping, and cheering on his Oregon State Beavers and Boise State Broncos.

Later in life his grandchildren became the center of his universe: Noah and Abbie, West and Rita, Faye and Halle. Early retirement allowed him and Barbara to spend days and weeks supporting, loving and teaching these kids who have grown to be compassionate and thoughtful humans in no small part due to all of their grandparents. He never missed a chance to watch them play sports or dance.

A MacGyver at heart, there was nothing he couldn’t fix, and ‘Grandpa can fix it’ became a family article of faith. The stranger and more ingenious the solution, the prouder he was of it. He loved passing his skills down, teaching his kids and grandkids how to do things with their own two hands, and he took real joy in the teaching itself.

Larry loved airplanes. He earned his pilot’s license, spent his whole career working around aircraft, and right up to the end, planes were still his favorite thing to talk about. He could tell what type of plane was flying overhead simply by the sound of the engine. A return trip to Livorno, Italy with Tina, her husband Brett, and Barbara, his first time back since the Army, brought back many memories of the military and his service. The visit to Italy, as well as his 80th birthday celebration in Salmon and many trips to Hawaii with his family were highlights of his later years.

Larry is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara; children, Tina (Brett), Shannon, Mike, Matt (Kate), daughter-in-law Laila; his cherished grandchildren; and his sister, Sharon (Speed) Wilson. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Arlene, son Jason, and his faithful dogs Sunny, Abby, Sadie, and Bailey, all of whom he’ll be glad to see again.

The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the amazing humans at Horizon Home Health & Hospice, as well as the caregivers at Table Rock Barber Station Memory Care. We truly appreciate each and every one of you.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, October 17th from 1pm to 4pm at Beside Bardenay, 612 W. Grove St., Boise, Idaho.