euskalkultura.eus

03/09/2023 - Reno, Nevada, EEUU

(publicado en Reno Gazette Journal)

Larry Gene Staley (Lawrence, L.E., Cousin Larry, Dad, Chi Chi) was born in Winnemucca, Nevada on January 23, 1942, to Lawrence Staley and Tomasa Ansotegui Staley. His early years were spent at The 12 Mile Ranch near the Oregon / Nevada border and began school in McDermitt. Kindergarten on the Oregon side and First Grade on the Nevada side.

He graduated from Elko Grammar school in 1957 and Elko High School in 1961, however, he spent his Junior year at Lowry High School in Winnemucca and drove the school bus from Paradise Valley to Winnemucca every day, while staying at his Ansotegui Uncles' ranch. At just 17, he needed special permission from the State to drive the bus and was employed by the Humboldt County School District.

During school, his summers were mostly spent in Paradise Valley cowboying on his Uncles’ ranches. After high school he worked at Safeway and Slim Olsen’s Gas Station before becoming a Radiotelephone Operator for Bell Telephone Co. of Nevada (Nevada Bell). He worked for Nevada Bell in Las Vegas from 1961 to 1964 when he was drafted by the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam from 1964 through 1965. After his service, he returned to Las Vegas and Nevada Bell where he worked on the Nevada Test Site with a “Q”-level Top Secret Security Clearance. As hard as we tried, he would never tell us what he might have seen in Area 51.

He married Ellen Pusloski in 1966 and they had two sons, David and Richard, before moving to Carson City in 1970, where Loren was born in 1974. Larry worked for Nevada Bell until the Baby-Bell breakup in 1982, when he transferred to AT&T. His work took him to some of the highest and most remote microwave telecommunication sites in Nevada, expanding his love for the high desert, before digital communication technology largely made his expertise obsolete. He retired from AT&T in 1997.

Larry was creative from an early age and was a talented artist specializing in pen and ink, sculpture, wood working, photography and jewelry. He was active in the art community and spent many years attending local art fairs and teaching at the YWCA. Later, he was an early adopter of home computer technology and could do just about anything.

Larry’s mother, Tomasa Ansotegui Staley, passed away in 1950 when he was only 8; her brothers and sisters stepped up to fill that void for Larry and Auntie Vickie, while their father Lawrence worked away from home to provide what he could. Juanita & ‘Shorty’ Areulio Migloretto, Josephine & Dow Gale / Dearing Dixon, Raymond & Irene Ansotegui, Victor & Neva Ansotegui, Bob & Zelda / Jeanie Ansotegui and Santy & Beatrice Ansotegui. Because of their dedication, Larry grew up with 20 cousins, who were more like siblings, and have filled dad’s stories for as long as I can remember.

His Basque heritage was incredibly important. He loved family and was always involved with his sons and extended family. Dad’s interests always aligned with what his sons were doing; cars with Dave, cycling and the stock market with Rich, art work and family history with Loren, and cooking and old movies with Kathryn. His personal attention continued with all grandkids and whatever stray neighborhood kids happened to stop by. He loved cooking and loved cooking for family and friends. He would make his own recipes, modify existing ones and always loved sharing them.

Larry passed away unexpectedly on September 3, 2023. He is survived by his sister, Gayla Victoria Staley Pincolini (son Mitchel Harper), three sons; David (Kathryn), Richard (Rebecca) and Loren (Arlene) and five grandchildren; Tomasa, Adam, Itaxa, Alia and Amaya, along with a large extended family within the Northern Nevada Basque community.

In lieu of flowers, please make a generous donation to the Re-Elect Trump 2024 Campaign. Dad’s one and only true regret is that he will not be able to vote in the 2024 election… or will He?

Larry Staley
Celebration of a
Life Well Lived

2901 Ariel Drive
Reno, Nv 89523

11-2 pm, Sunday
September 10th

Lunch will be served

12:30 The Brothers will speak, anyone who would like to share stories are welcomed and appreciated.

No rsvp is necessary, but if you plan to join a heads up would be helpful for planning.

All Welcome

Goian Bego - May Rest in Peace