Lawrence "Larry" Lee Watral

Lawrence “Larry” Watral, 73, of Pacific, Missouri, left this world on May 31, 2026.

Larry was born in Brentwood in 1952 to Peter and Helen Watral and grew up on White Avenue with 6 siblings. He graduated from Brentwood High School.

Larry became an automotive technician, specializing in heating and air conditioning. He worked around Saint Louis until he and his brother Jim opened their own shop, Auto Temp, in Washington, MO.   Larry retired in 2012.

As much as Larry enjoyed fixing cars, rebuilding engines, and chasing electrical problems, his passions were racing cars, boating, and shooting. From the Meramec River to the Ozarks and the Florida Keys, Larry put jet boats (with engines he had overhauled and installed) through their paces—unless he was waterskiing behind them.

Later, Wednesday skeet shoots with friends became his weekly favorite, where his scores were easy to remember: 100 out of 100.

Larry’s fast-paced life was full of adventure, and even when he slowed, he was full of stories. He captivated listeners with tales such as being stranded at sea or plinking long-range at prairie dogs (whose holes cripple cattle in Wyoming and whose disappearance ranchers encourage). And, no matter where he had traveled or what he had done, he would speak warmly about people he had met because Larry made friends easily and was a ready resource to anyone in need.  

The long list of friends who visited Larry during his final weeks before succumbing to cancer testifies to the rich relationships that marked his full, happy life. Even at the very end, Larry had a ready smile, a clever comment, and a gentle manner.

Larry was preceded in death by his mother, who died while he was still in high school, and his father less than a decade later. He also lost three siblings: Brian, Carol, and Linda (Doisy).

Larry is survived by his longtime significant other, Tammy Robins, three siblings: James of Steelville, Janet (Meyer) of St. Louis, and Joyce (Smidt) of Chattanooga, Tennessee, and eleven nieces and nephews.

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