Lt. Colonel (ret), James Larry Cunningham, son of James Roland Cunningham and Ethel Marie Buchanan (Cunningham) was born in Kit Carson, Colorado on August 16, 1934, and died on July 15, 2021, at his home in Willard, MO.

Larry advanced, as a young boy, from a one room grade school to a small-town high school in Morrisville, Missouri and then graduated from Southwest Missouri State where he majored in Vocational Agriculture, Biology and Physical Education.  One spring day, walking alone through the Student Union, Larry noticed a naval aviator standing beside a cardboard cutout.  He stopped to visit and arrived at a fork in the road of his life.  He had never been in an airplane or thought about flying; but signed up on the spot.  He graduated with Navy wings of gold and took his commission as an officer in the Marine Corps.  Larry reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and retired after serving as the commander of an all-weather fighter squadron (VMFA 451).  Larry served in Vietnam and wrote the evacuation plans for the Vietnam withdrawal.

After retiring from the Marine Corps, he owned and operated a cattle ranch.  While ranching, Larry also taught science and coached high school softball.  Larry had a life-long passion for reading and writing.  He immersed himself in writing; ultimately publishing five books and numerous award-winning poems.  He enjoyed teaching others writing skills and was asked to speak at many conferences.  He established deeply meaningful long-term relationships through the writing community.  He was knowledgeable on many subjects and a natural entertainer.   His children and grandchildren loved to listen to his stories and cherished their time with him.

Throughout his life, Larry also enjoyed riding motorcycles.   When his son Colby was young, they rode their bikes all over trails on the east coast, as well as in Missouri.  One of his fondest memories was a trip made through South Dakota and Wyoming with Colby and his grandson Lance.

Larry is survived by his wife, Johanna Cunningham and daughter, Cynthia Berry; as well as five grandchildren; James Lance Cunningham, Sarah Nelsen, Charles Cunningham, Erica Berry and Jackson Berry and five great-grandchildren; James Colby, Finley, Judy, Liam and Ethan, and three sisters; Rolene Reed, Sharon Stephens, and Dianne Blakey.

Larry's son, James Colby Cunningham, who he missed dearly, preceded him death; as did his brother Donald Gene Cunningham.

Services will be held on Tuesday, July 20 ^th at 10:30 am at Gorman-Scharpf Funeral Home at 1947 East Seminole, Springfield, Missouri.  Larry's ashes along with the ashes of his son, James Colby (deceased 2007) will be spread at a scenic outlook on the Glade Top trail.

Larry was passionate about the fight against climate change.   In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Environmental Defense Fund (https://www.edf.org).