Larry J. Reif

Funeral Service: Thursday, Oct. 31, 2013, 10:00 a.m.
                              Place:  Peacock Memorial Chapel

Larry J. Reif, 69, of La Junta, CO, died Sunday, October 27, 2013, while deer hunting with his brother and nephew on the family ranch, north of Kenton, OK.

Larry was born April 22, 1944 in Clayton, NM. He grew up in Folsom, NM and graduated from Des Moines High School in 1962. After graduation, he attended Eastern New Mexico University where he graduated in 1966 with a bachelor degree in education. Before entering the United States Navy, Larry taught at the Springfield Boys School and Mosquero Boys School. After serving four years in the Navy, he was introduced to his wife, Kathleen J. Evans, while teaching and coaching football and basketball at Primero High School. They were married June 23, 1973, in Trinidad, CO. Larry joined the Santa Fe Railroad, on the signal department, June 2, 1973 and traveled all over the southwest. On June 4, 1978, he hired out as a train engineer, settled in La Junta, and worked for the Santa Fe and BNSF Railroads until his retirement in 2004. He was a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers (BLE).

Larry enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his boys and grandchildren. He loved fishing and hunting in various areas throughout Colorado and New Mexico. He could be seen walking around La Junta with his headphones on, doing his “3.2,” or watching the La Junta Tigers play football and basketball. Larry enjoyed tinkering with his boat, working with wood, harvesting crops from his small garden, and going on cruises. He had a mischievous personality and enjoyed teasing and visiting friends. He was always positive and upbeat, never having a bad day. He loved all of his family tremendously. 
 
Survivors include his wife, Kathleen J. (Evans) Reif of La Junta, CO; son, Shad Reif, and his wife, Autumn, and their children, Jocelyn and Sienna, of Wylie, TX; son, Zane Reif, of Denton, TX; son, Steve Hart, and his wife, Laura, and their children, Katie, Faith, Heath, and Thomas, of Garland, TX; mother, Lucile Reif, of Clayton, NM; brother, Dave Reif, and his wife, Beverly, of Trinidad, CO, and their children; brother Donald Reif, and his wife, Cherry Lynn, of Clayton, NM, and their children; and Vernon Reif, and his wife, Cindy, of Dalhart, TX, and their children; and numerous cousins, nephews, and nieces. Larry was preceded in death by his father, D.M. Reif, of Clayton, NM. 

In lieu of flowers, the Reif family asks that you donate to Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) or Colorado Park & Wildlife, in his honor.
 
Peacock-Larsen Funeral Home & Arkansas Valley Crematory is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral service will be at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, October 31, 2013, at the Peacock Memorial Chapel, 401 Raton Avenue, La Junta, CO. Family and friends will then join together for a short celebration of Larry’s life and light lunch at 11:15 a.m. at the North La Junta Community Center, 17 Trail, North La Junta, CO, before he is laid to rest at the Fort Lyon National Cemetery, 15700 County Road HH, Las Animas, CO, at 1:00 p.m.