Larry Clayton Pfister

Larry Clayton Pfister, of Montrose, Colorado, passed away on June 6^th, 2021 at the age of 67 after a short illness at home.

Larry is survived by his wife, Carolyn Pfister; his children, Terra Janaun (Pfister) Melvin and husband Waco, Stark Lance Clayton Pfister Morrison, Brett Jay Pfister and wife Savannah; step children, Sarah (Gallegos) Herring and husband Nathan, Ian Gallegos, Candace (Gallegos) Smith and husband Garret; and his grandchildren, Autumn and Jonathan Melvin, Joel and Arlie Smith, Avery and Oliver Pfister, and Marc and Ann Herring; a sister Patricia (Pfister) Toles and husband Doyce. He is preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Judy (Pfister) Gourley and husband Larry; and first wife, Vickie (Bellew) Pfister.

Larry was born in Montrose County on December 26, 1953 to Les and Dorothy (Bowker) Pfister. He graduated from Grand Junction High School and became a Carpenter and skilled Craftsman. In time, he went on to create his own company; Rocky Mountain Hardwood Floors. On the 4^th of April, 1975, he married Vickie Bellew and they had 3 children and 33 years of marriage before her passing in 2008. Those children produced 4 grandchildren for Larry to dote on. On the 1^st of June, 2012, he married Carolyn (Berger) Gallegos, a long-time friend of the family, who had also been widowed. With this marriage came the addition of 2 more daughters, another son, and 4 more grandchildren to share his life.

Larry was a devoted father, a loving husband, a fun-loving grandpa, and an Elder of his home church in Montrose. He enjoyed hiking, kayaking and riding his motorcycle in the Rockies, travelling (especially to Israel), drawing and painting, reading (especially about history), wood-working, planning church activities, and was a brown belt in Judo and a third-degree black belt in Shoto-Kan Karate, of which he was also a Sensei. He was baptized into The General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn when he was 14 years old and devoted himself to it for 53 years, until his race was run. He was a spiritual man who believed in hard work and service to his family and others. He will be deeply missed by his friends, family, church, students, and all who knew him.

A memorial service is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on June 28, 2021 at the General Assembly and Church of the Firstborn on 6175 Rd. in Montrose. Norm Nation and Nathan Herring will officiate.