Larry Joe Mays

Larry Joe Mays, 64, of Konawa, Oklahoma, lost his battle with cancer and went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 15, 2010, in Dallas, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am, Wednesday, August 18, 2010 at the P.A.C Building at Konawa School under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home of Konawa.  Larry’s long-time friend, Rev. Winston Curtis, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammon, Oklahoma will officiate.  Pallbearers are Van Chew, Gayle Hajny, Marvin Patterson, Wayne Smith, Don Spurgin, and Gary Stidham.  A private family burial will follow. Larry was born in Cushing, OK on December 31, 1945 and grew up in Kingfisher, OK.  He graduated from Kingfisher High School in 1964. Larry received his B.A. in Education from Phillips University and received his M.S. in Education from University of Oklahoma.  Larry married his high school sweetheart, Marilyn Joyce Howell on June 7th, 1968, in Kingfisher. Larry spent thirty-three years as an educator and school administrator in rural Oklahoma schools. In 1968 he began his career at Dover High School as a history teacher.  One year later, Larry became the High School Principal at Dover, and he also worked in that capacity at Mustang High School.   Larry was then called to serve as Superintendent at Lomega Public Schools.   This opened the door to serve as Assistant Superintendent at Konawa Public Schools, Superintendent at Cashion Public Schools and then Superintendent at Konawa Public Schools where he retired in 2001. In retirement, Larry remained very active in his church and community. Larry believed that public education was the “great equalizer” as it gave every student, regardless of race, gender, or economic status, an equal footing and opportunity to succeed.   Larry is survived by one daughter, Amanda Edmondson, husband Travis and granddaughter Harper of Dallas, Texas; one son, Aaron Mays and wife, Nikki of Norman, OK; two brothers, Gary Mays and wife Susan of Bartlesville, OK and Dennis Mays and wife, Susie of Broken Arrow, OK; mother-in-law, Maxine Howell of Tulsa, OK; two sisters-in-law, Danna Wall of Tulsa, OK, Nancy Villanueva and husband, Harry of Checotah, OK; and innumerable loved family and friends. Larry is preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Mays; mother, Margaret Mays, and maternal grandparents Allen and Manda Poulter. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Konawa or the Kennedy Library Foundation of Konawa. Funeral Information: August 18, 2010, 11:00 AM P.A.C. Building at the Konawa School under the direction of Swearingen Funeral Home located at 217 N. Broadway, Konawa, OK 74849