LARSON, Ranald Ray (Speed)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 09/16/2005 Ranald Ray "Speed" Larson, 91, a long time resident of Taylor died Thursday, Sept. 8, 2005 at the RTA Hospice and Palliative Care Center in Lakeside. Speed was the fourth child born to Mary Sophia Hansen and Hugh Malmstrom Larson. He started school in Joseph City and later moved to Snowflake where in 1932 he graduated from Snowflake Union High School. Speed worked building roads through out Northern Arizona working with the CCC and with his future father-in-law W.R. Hatch. While working with trucks on road jobs, he found he had a great interest and talent for mechanical motors. Speed worked in McNary for Southwest Forest Industries and when the went out on strike in 1945 he moved to Taylor and bought a service station that would be called Speed's Motor Service. Joseph Rogers went into business with him and they had a dealership for International Harvester. In 1960 he closed up his garage and went to work as Shop Supervisor for the Arizona Highway Department in Show Low and at 74 retired from that position. During his working years he would close up his garage to spend many hours doing community service. At that time the Taylor water department did not belong to the town, it was maintained by volunteer labor. Speed installed waterlines and meters throughout the town using a pick and shovel, and cleaning out the water meters when they became full of sand. He built and placed the public address system at the rodeo grounds for the Taylor 4th of July celebrations, installed and maintained it for 30 years. Along with welding the poles, wiring and installing lights for the night rodeos. He served 10 years on the Snowflake Union School District School Board; during his service there the Snowflake and Taylor school were consolidated. The auditorium was constructed at the High School and Show Low was divided from the Snowflake Union Schools and formed their own district. Speed married his boss' daughter, Bernice Hatch in Holbrook and they were the parents of three children, Errol H., Victoria Susan and Corwin Ray Larson and are the grandparents to 13 grandchildren and 20 great-grand children and two great-great-grandchildren. He was a lifetime member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as music director, sports director and as a member of the Taylor 2nd Ward Bishopric. He is survived by his children, Errol Larson, Corwin Larson and Victoria Davis; his grandchildren; one sister, Irma Back of Chandler and his sister-in-law, Carol Larson of Camp Verde. Speed was preceded in death by his dear wife, Bernice H. Larson, his parents, Hugh and Mary Sophia Larson, brothers, Reed, Emmett, Gordon Larson and his sister Ina McNeil. Also preceding him a granddaughter, Marcy Ann Larson and a great grandson, J.D. Lofing. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17, at the Love Lake Chapel in Taylor. A viewing will be held Friday evening from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Owens Mortuary in Snowflake and one hour prior to services at the church. Interment will be in the Reed Hatch Memorial Cemetery in Taylor. For those who have special memories and would like to sign an online guest book or send private condolences, you are invited to visit www.owensmortuary.com.