Larry W. Paxson was born March 11, 1942, in Alma, to Wayne and Velma (McNitt) Paxson and passed away Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, at his home in Beaver Crossing at the age of 79.
As a young boy, Larry attended Alma Public School, graduating with the class of 1959. He furthered his education by attending Nebraska Wesleyan University, later receiving a scholarship to attend Stanford. He returned to Nebraska, where he received his Masters’ Degree in Education at the University of Nebraska. On Sept. 1, 1963, he was united in marriage to Jacqueline Wittfoth in Holdrege. Together, they moved to Beaver Crossing, where Larry was a high school math and American Literature teacher at Beaver Crossing and Centennial Public Schools for 36 years, retiring in 2000. Larry and Jacqueline enjoyed traveling and he was an avid golfer and played on the Nebraska Wesleyan golf team. Larry served on the Centennial School Board and the National School Board. He also served on the Ihde Foundation and was a member of the Utica Masonic Lodge #199. Larry was on the Beaver Crossing Village Board for 18 years and was an avid Husker fan of volleyball, women’s basketball, football, track and gymnastics. Larry was a very kind and generous person.
Survivors include his wife, Jacqueline, Beaver Crossing; his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Jan Paxson, Lacey, Washington; sister, Sandra Madden, San Diego, California; sister-in-law, Jan Jennings, Pawley Island, South Carolina; nieces, Holly Paxson and Richard Steward, Lacey, Washington, Beth Paxson; and great nieces, Amasia and Olivia Paxson, all of Lincoln. Larry was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Alan Paxson; and a brother-in-law, George Madden.
A visitation will be held for Larry at the Hope Center Church, Beaver Crossing on Wednesday, Jan. 12, from 2 to 7 p.m. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, also at the church. A family private graveside will be Thursday, Jan. 13, at the Beaver Crossing Cemetery In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family where a memorial scholarship in Larry’s name will be established at Centennial Public Schools.
