Lawrence Delaney Byrnes

Lawrence Delaney Byrnes passed away on August 6, 2024 at the age of 88.

Larry was born on March 4, 1936 in Park City, Utah to Kathleen Delaney and Patrick Joseph Byrnes. The family moved to Daly City, California shortly after his birth. Larry and his brothers Patrick and James lived there in their early years. Later, the three boys joined foster parents Melanie and Albert Burr when they moved to a farm in Elk Grove, California. Patrick Joseph served in the U.S. Army in World War II. He died in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines.

Larry attended Elk Grove High School where he played the trumpet in the band, played sports and, together with friends, joined the California National Guard where he served for five years until 1962. He attended Sacramento Junior College then went to work for the Southern Pacific Railroad as a machinist and then Aerojet General Corporation as an inspector of missile parts. During that time, he met and married the love of his life, Patricia Corral of Loomis, California. He embraced her extended family as his own. They settled in Carmichael where they lived for 64 years. There they raised their daughter Merrilee and son Eric and participated in the activities of Glen Oaks Swim and Tennis Club. In 1978, they purchased a lakefront townhouse at Lake Tahoe in Kings Beach. There they enjoyed boating, fishing, skiing, and entertaining friends and relatives. He looked forward to his visits and still hoped to make one this year.

When Aerojet was downsizing, Larry pursued degrees at American River College and California State University Sacramento. During those years of study, he became involved in lifetime interests which included making jewelry,

throwing pottery, photography, and numerous other media. He received awards at the Placer County and California State Fairs for his art work. In 1969, he began teaching at Newcastle Elementary School. There he taught sixth grade, special art programs, coached boys and girls sports, cooked for fundraisers, and started production of the school yearbook. Those were some of the most rewarding years of his life.

Early family fishing trips to western states were the start of a lifelong love of traveling. In 1975, the family traveled to Europe where they spent 67 days visiting 10 countries. Later cruises and land trips took Larry, Pat and various relatives and friends to numerous states, countries and islands, visiting all continents except Africa before time ran out.

Larry was predeceased by his parents, foster parents, younger brother James (Janice), nephews James, Kevin, and Gary, sister-in-law Betty (Patrick), and in-laws Gala and Nicolas Corral. He is survived by wife, children, grandchildren, his eldest brother Patrick of Sacramento and Malcom (Jackie), Clair (Beverly) Groulx of Oregon, and numerous nieces and nephews, cousins and other relatives of his extended families.

Larry was a kind and caring individual who loved life. He is deeply missed by his wife Patricia, daughter Merrilee, son Eric, grandsons Jonathan and Ryan.