[nfbwatlk] Fw: I send this along with extreme sadness

[Lauren Merryfield]

Hi,
I knew Larry.  He was a true gem!  He had such a great voice!
Thanks
Lauren
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Freeman" <k7uij at panix.com>
To: "NFB of Washington Talk" <nfbwatlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:01 PM
Subject: [nfbwatlk] Fw: I send this along with extreme sadness


> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Gary Wunder
> To: nfbmo list
> Sent: Thursday, September 06, 2007 3:53 PM
> Subject: [Nfbmo] I send this along with extreme sadness
>
>
> The enclosed obituary is for a man I have known since 1977 and who I
> contracted to do our Blind Missourian. I will miss him very much. He was
> a tremendous friend, a real source of encouragement for me, and for a
> very long time was indeed a major voice in the National Federation of
> the Blind.
>
>
>
> Gary
>
>
>
> LARRY MCKEEVER
> published on September 06, 2007
> Larry A. McKeever, 77, of Windsor Heights, died Tuesday, September 4, at
> Kavanagh House, 56 Street, Des Moines. Larry was well known for his many
> talents including narrating, commercials, recording and acting. He will
> be greatly missed by everyone who knew him. Larry was born in Duluth,
> MN, to Franklin R. and Bernice A. McKeever, both social workers. His
> father was a United Way executive. During Larry's early years the family
> lived in several different cities around the U.S.A. He attended
> Darlington School for Boys in Rome, GA, his last two years of high
> school. In 1951, he graduated from Northwestern University School of
> Speech and Drama. Larry next worked on air for radio and TV stations in
> Albuquerque, NM, Kansas City, MO, and then KRNT/KCCI, Des Moines, from
> 1955 to 1962. In Des Moines, Larry met his partner and wife of 45 years,
> Mariam. They spent a year in New York City and then, at the invitation
> of an Australian friend, moved to Sydney where they worked on stage and
> in TV production. They returned to Des Moines in 1964. Larry managed a
> classical music radio station until requested by Dr. Kenneth Jernigan of
> the Iowa Commission for the Blind to work as his assistant. This was the
> beginning of a 39 year membership for Larry in the NFB, the National
> Federation of the Blind. Larry next spent two years as Technical
> Director for the Des Moines Community Playhouse while Mariam was
> Children's Theater Director. Both often appeared on the Playhouse stage.
> They began doing radio and TV commercials and in 1968 opened Des Moines'
> first professional recording studio and talent agency, Lariam
> Associates, Inc., at 515 28th Street. This was also the year Larry began
> to read the monthly "Braille Monitor" for the NFB. Over 15 years he
> became known throughout the U.S. and the world as the "voice of the
> blind." He recorded NFB Conventions annually through 1986 and in 1996 he
> became Dr. Jernigan's assistant at yearly Conventions until Dr.
> Jernigan's death in 1999. In 2002, he was given the Bonnell Award for
> service at the NFB of Iowa Annual State Convention. He went on to assist
> Mrs. Jernigan at national annual Conventions until 2005. For Books on
> Tape of California, Larry read over 120 unabridged titles. Many of these
> audio books can still be found in local libraries. He also read for the
> Library of Congress, IRIS radio and most recently for the Iowa
> Commission for the Blind. In 2007, the Iowa Department for the Blind
> presented him with an Exemplary Service Award for lasting contributions
> to the 1DB Library-Audio Books. Larry's titles include 21 full length
> and abridged books for Deseret Books, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, and over
> 120 titles of shorter novels and stories for California companies
> providing material for reading impaired students. Until very recently he
> continued to record books, narrations and commercials for businesses and
> organizations. He also produced sound for plays and the music for
> several dance studios and local theater productions. Larry will also be
> remembered as co-owner and producer of over 110 shows at Des Moines'
> first successful dinner theater, Charlie's Showplace. While the
> McKeevers were both operating their recording studio, they were asked to
> produce a play for a "new" entertainment idea - dinner combined with a
> show - by the manager of the Des Moines Golf and Country Club. After
> three sold out shows there, the McKeevers decided to investigate the
> market to open a full-time theater of their own. The result was
> Charlie's Showplace which opened in the remodeled original Orthodox
> Synagogue at 5th and University on September 26, 1973. A professional
> acting company and staff offered 5 to 8 dinners and shows a week until
> December 31, 1984. Mariam was producer/director/manager, and Larry was
> genial host/technical director/wine steward. Both acted in many of the
> shows. When Charlie's closed, Larry returned to full-time recording and
> talent work. He had acting roles in 3 feature films: "Cold Turkey,"
> "Return To Hannibal" and "Gone In The Night." He liked to brag that he
> never retired, and he didn't. His voice will continue to be heard
> through many books read and recordings made. Larry's body was cremated.
> His ashes will be scattered in the Pacific Ocean. His influence and
> accomplishments will be carried in many hearts forever. A memorial
> service is planned for the future. Larry is survived by his wife Mariam,
> pets Punkin, Meerkat and Twinkle Toes and an extended family of
> children, grandchildren and friends around the world. Instead of
> flowers, please contribute any memorials to the National Federation of
> the Blind (NFB), 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD, 21230, or Hospice
> of Central Iowa, 401 Railroad Avenue, WDM, IA 50265.
>
>
>
>
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
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