Lawrence Ray “Larry” Burchett III

Lawrence Ray “Larry” Burchett III, passed away on September 12, 2021 after a long and valiant fight against cancer.

Born on September 22, 1953, in Leavenworth, Kansas, to Ray and Ann Bielecki Burchett, Larry was the first of their five children.  He grew up in the Leawood area, attending grade schools at St. Ann’s and Cure of Ars.  He graduated from Rockhurst High School, lettering in football, track and wrestling.  He developed life-long friendships, and fostered his well-honed sense of pranks and practical jokes. He went on to graduate from the University of Kansas with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, while working a full-time job to pay his way, first in the family to graduate college.

Larry married his high school sweetheart Cheri Boone, settling in Overland Park.  He completed his MBA and started working for ARMCO Steel managing a wire rope manufacturing plant.  They were blessed with 2 children, Larry IV and Allie.  A devoted family man, “Roy” coached both kids in numerous sports, and was especially involved with Allie in basketball and little Larry in baseball.  He was further blessed to have 4 grandkids, who loved finding frogs and fishing and playing trains with their “Pa.”

After 32 years in the steel industry, he transitioned to CBM for over a decade where he finished his career.  He was invaluable at solving problems, and treating people right along the way.  He took great pride in and really enjoyed his work in life.

Larry had a great love of the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing with family and friends, and his many highly trained hunting dogs, including Bess, Max, Sam and Moose.  This was cultivated early on by hunting trips with his father to Wyoming and Alaska, and continued with fishing trips to Canada and Alaska with both his kids.  He led the annual pheasant trip to South Dakota for over a decade with friends and family.  In the past year, he got the chance to hunt with his eldest grandson as well.

He was also quite the competitive racquetball player, taking great joy in strategically whipping players much younger and faster than him.

After 24 years of marriage, Larry lost Cheri to cancer in 2001.  He held the family together with weekly family dinners for over a decade.  He was lucky enough to find love again with Debbie Brown, with whom he shared time with grandkids, and wonderful trips to Ireland, St Kitts, Hawaii.

He was a rock for his family, and will be greatly missed.

Larry was preceded in death by his wife Cheryl Boone Burchett, his father Lawrence Ray Burchett II, his nephews Derek Burchett, Ryan Edwall, Michael Palumbo and Liz Busby, and great-niece Brystol Harper. Survivors include his partner Debbie Brown, his children Larry IV and daughter Allie (Ben) Clark with grandchildren Joe, Ellie, Elizabeth and Henry, his mother Ann Burchett, siblings Cathy Burchett, Mark Burchett (Mari Ann), Tracy Orpin (John Fetters) and Scott Burchett (Tammy) as well as numerous nieces and nephews and countless friends.

Catholic funeral services will be held Friday, September 17 at St Ann Catholic church 7231 Mission Road, Prairie Village, KS, 66208 with visitation from 9:30-11am, followed by funeral Mass at 11am and burial to follow at Resurrection Cemetery.  

Donations can be made in his name to the Cheri Burchett Nursing Scholarship: Research Foundation, 2316 E Meyer Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64132, or by going to the website: https://www.theresearchfoundationkc.org/donate/memorialgifts.html

Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC.