Harry Allen Larimore

{Modoc County Record – May 8, 2008}

Harry A. Larimore

Fourth generation Modoc'er Harry Allen Larimore will be remembered as a very
nice man with a great sense of humor and one of the "best backhoe operators
in Modoc County." Mr. Larimore passed away at his home in Alturas, CA, with
family gathered, on January 28, 2008, after a short battle with cancer. He
was 86.

Harry's family has been in Modoc County since the 1800's. He has many
relatives in the area. His great- grandparents Silkerk and Sara Hildebrand
came to Fort Bidwell, CA with the wagon train. Their daughter Cecilia
married George Larimore and had two sons, Christie and Mattheu. Cecilia and
George divorced, and Cecilia married John O'Leary. They had several more
children. Christie married Mildred May Hanks, whose husband Ira Allen had
passed away. The Allens had one son, Rollen. Christie and Mildred had two
children, Harry and his sister, Elsie.

Harry was born north of Eagleville, California, on July 28, 1921 to Christie
Alfred and Mildred May (Hanks) Larimore. At a young age, Harry moved with
his family to Likely, California, where his father owned the Likely Garage.
A few years later they moved to Fort Bidwell where Harry attended school,
played harmonica in the band, and graduated from Fort Bidwell High School in
1939. After graduation he worked for Harry Schadler at Cowhead Ranch for
four years. In April 1943, he married Ethel Vermillion, and to this union
three daughters were born. Harry entered the Army on November 17, 1943. He
performed duties as a rifleman with Company C 104th Infantry in the European
Theater. He used an M-1 rifle in combat, firing upon enemy positions, and
became familiar with the use and care of all small arms and hand-to-hand
fighting techniques while participating in the Northern France and Rhineland
Campaigns. He also served as a truck driver, driving 2 _ ton trucks, hauling
supplies from the beach-head to the front lines. Harry was awarded medals
for Good Conduct, Victory Medal, American Theater Service Medal,
European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge.

From injuries received in France, he was awarded the Purple Heart.

Harry was honorably discharged in April, 1946 and returned to Alturas where
he worked for the local lumber mills, the peat moss plant in Jess Valley and
drove school buses until he purchased his first backhoe and began
contracting backhoe work throughout the county. He was a member of the
Operating Engineers Union. In 1974, he sold his backhoe to Heard Plumbing
and worked there for the next 25 years. Ethel and Harry were married until
1971.

In April, 1972, he married Beatrice Carnahan in Virginia City, Nevada. They
have made Alturas their home since their marriage. Harry was a Life Member
of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the VFW Auxiliary Post 3327. He enjoyed
helping with fund raising events_new_new. Harry and Bea enjoyed watching their
grandchildren's soccer and baseball games, band concerts, and Jilene's many
volleyball and basketball games. They spent every summer at Spalding Resort
at Eagle Lake, enjoying family reunions and lots of fishing.

Harry is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Beatrice Larimore of
Alturas; his sister Elsie and Junior Kinser of Dunnigan, CA, his daughters
Millie and Don Roberts of Rocklin, CA; Mary Fuller and friend Tim Hoshko of
Rocklin, CA; Jane and Don Eaton of Alturas; grandchildren Tony and Gigi
Roberts of Anaheim Hills, CA; Kevin and Megan Roberts of San Francisco, CA;
Melinda and Rick Cole, Fremont, CA; Julie and Maurice Rasgon of Santa
Monica; and Jilene Mastagni of Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota;
great-grandchildren Jeremy Mastagni II and Jacob Mastagni of Alturas, Emily
and Christian Roberts of Anaheim Hills, Addison and Kylie Rasgon of Santa
Monica, step-children Glenn Ely of Cle Elum, WA, John and Marion Ely of Red
Bluff, and Michelle and Charles Young of Alturas, and 11 step-grandchildren,
16 step-great grandchildren, 10 great-great-grandchildren, nieces and
nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Rollen Allen, first
wife Ethel and grandson Jeremy Mastagni.

Services for Harry Larimore will be held Friday, May 23, 1:00 p.m. graveside
at Alturas Cemetery. Fellowship will follow at the Veterans' Memorial Hall,
South Main Street, Alturas.

Donations in Harry's memory can be directed to Veterans Guest House, 880
Locust Street, Reno, NV 89502-0948