Larry Martin Silvey

"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle." Winston Churchill said it. Larry Silvey lived it.

Larry Martin Silvey, age 89, left us on August 28, 2025, in Scott City, Kansas. He was born in Powers County, Lamar, Colorado, on September 1st, 1935, to Melvin (Hap) Silvey and Virgie Marriott Silvey.

Larry's cowboy life began at a very young age. At age 3, the family moved south of Lamar and Larry had already been thrown in the saddle. At 5 and 6 years of age, he was gathering milk cows and driving cattle. He learned very early that men and cowboys are two totally different breeds.

Larry's life always included a horse. From riding a horse or driving a buggy to school, riding pens at sale barns, exercising racehorses at tracks, or working cowboy jobs at ranches.

Larry was an excellent horse trainer and broke horses professionally for 77 years. He has been accused by various owners that he was "part horse." He was a true horse whisperer.

Every sunrise is a new trail to ride, and Larry followed those sunrises to experience the ultimate in a cowboy's life. He was the first handler of Lemon Drop Kid, the World Champion American Saddlebred Harness horse. He solely managed the Bill Deweese Ranch, now known as the Fairleigh Ranch, at the young age of 19 for 23 years.

In 1962, Larry married Coral Lea Marrs in Russell Springs, Kansas. It was always a hysterical true story that the judge was a bit more than tipsy and Coral always said that Larry never said, "I do!" Whether he said it or not, "He did". They were soulmates and partners for 61 years until her passing, November 9, 2023.

Coral was a devoted wife and fit in with Larry's life completely. She always said, "When Larry wants to go somewhere, I just break camp and go." Whether that be their place called "Cow Camp" in Colorado, or "The Tripple Cripple Ranch" in Kansas.

Affectionately known as Podder and Nana, their family included two daughters, Effie & Kevin Zirnheld, Edgewood, New Mexico, and Sherry & Gary Graff, Marienthal, Kansas. Four grandchildren, Autumn Wagener, Tucker Graff and wife Summer, Trinity Vallejo, and the late Tyler Graff. Two great-granddaughters, his little sweethearts, Mavis and Marlow Vallejo.

Larry had two sisters, Lillian Farr of Stafford, Kansas, and Jeanne Cutler of Scott City, Kansas, and one brother, the late Jan Silvey. Along with many nieces, nephews, and longtime friends.

Quoting Larry, "Death is a natural thing, it's just part of the big picture."

Per his firm wish, there will be no funeral. "I'm going to lead my horse to heaven, you can have the halter back. "