Larry McCann's Obituary
Thomas "Larry" Lawrence McCann, 88 of Seymour passed away Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at Wayne County Hospital in Corydon.
Larry was born to James & Wilma (Pirtle) McCann on June 22, 1937 in rural Wayne County, Iowa. He received his education from Derby High School, graduating with the Class of 1956. Four (May 15, 1956) days after graduating, Larry was in California at basic training for the United States Air Force. He travelled the world while in the Air Force; South Africa, South Korea, Panama, were just a few places he went. He even got to experience Christmas at St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican City where one of his buddies fainted but didn't fall to the ground due to amount of people in the Basilica at the time. He served proudly and achieved the distinguished rank of Chief Master Sergeant, which is the highest rank an enlisted man could achieve. Larry's military service was a source of great pride, and he retired on June 21, 1997. In total, he dedicated 23 years and 7 months to his country.
On October 8, 1960, Larry married the love of his life, Carolyn Williamson, at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Chariton, Iowa, a union that would span 65 years. Together, Larry and Carolyn built a life filled with love, laughter, and countless cherished memories.
At the beginning of their marriage, Larry worked in a service station in Chariton. He then began work for Hy-Vee where they moved multiple times for his work. They lived in Shenandoah, the outskirts of Iowa City, Villisca, Des Moines, Melcher-Dallas, finally landing in Grinnell. While in Grinnell, he began speaking to a friend who convinced Larry to join the Post Office. The family then moved to Centerville where he worked as a carrier. He applied and became Postmaster for Seymour where the last move was made. Larry was promoted to larger Bloomfield office. He eventually would become Postmaster in Chariton retiring as Postmaster after a dedicated career. He was known for his strong work ethic, loyalty, and unwavering commitment to his role.
In his retirement, Larry and Carolyn were snowbirds for many years. They would travel to Arizona to enjoy the warmth and the fellowship of life-long friends they met while there. He embraced his hobbies and passions with the same energy he brought to every aspect of his life. He enjoyed reading military books and magazines, coin collecting, and attending auctions. His love of games was evident, especially for cribbage, where many a friendly challenge was shared with family and friends. All of his children and grandchildren learned how to count by 15s. Larry was always willing to teach someone how to play. However, it was his time spent with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren that brought him the most joy. Larry's pride and joy were evident at every school play, sporting event, and family gathering.
Larry was also a proud member of the Knights of Columbus, where he achieved the title of 4th Degree Knight. He served many years as a Councilman for Seymour and was a member of Rotary in Chariton. His faith and service to the community were integral parts of his life, and he was deeply respected by all who knew him.
Left to honor Larry's memory are his wife, Carolyn; children, Kandi Hackett, David (Stephanie) McCann, Amy McCann, Tom (Rita) Benke; grandchildren, Samantha Hackett, Christina Hackett (Andrew Salazar), Courtney (Anthony) Clark, Nicklos (Lauren) McCann, and Trent McCann; great grandchildren, Rylie Jo Hackett, Nova Salazar, Myles Salazar, Hazel Salazar, and Linley McCann; his siblings, Mike (Nancy) McCann, Kathy Carlson, and Karen (Wayne) Miller; sisters-in-law, Judy (Ted) Ewing and Kaye Cawthorn; and numerous extended family members.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, James and Wilma McCann; his in-laws Delbert and Elizabeth Williamson; his son-in-law, Rick Hackett; and brothers-in-law, Gene Carlson and Denny Cawthorn.
Funeral mass will be 11:00 am, Thursday, March 5, 2026 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville. Interment will be in Corydon Cemetery. Visitation will be all day Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville with family present from 5-7:00 pm. A prayer service will take place at 7:00 pm on Wednesday. Memorials may be given to St. Jude's Children Hospital or any veteran related organization you prefer and condolences may be shared at https://www.thomasfh.com or https://www.facebook.com/thomasfuneralhome .
To view the livestream of Larry's services, please click the link below or visit: https://my.gather.app/remember/thomas-larry-mccann
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