Larry Keown Sims

Larry Keown Sims

Larry Keown Sims was born February 8, 1938, in Kansas City, Missouri to Ruth and Otis Sims and passed away December 6, 2025. He lived in Rosedale, Kansas and attended grade school through high school in Rosedale, graduating in 1956. During grade school, he joined the Boy Scouts of America, and while in high school, attained the rank of Eagle Scout, an accomplishment he was extremely proud of. After high school, he attended Central Missouri State University and Kansas City Community College, while working as a carpenter.

In February 1961, he married Cwen Myer Logan at Danforth Chapel on the University of Kansas campus in Lawrence, Kansas. In 1965, they moved to Lawrence, Kansas and he attended the University of Kansas (Rock Chalk, Jay Hawk!).

In 1967, he began working with the Northeast Kansas Community Action Program doing community surveys, he also worked for Topsy’s Popcorn and as a carpenter. In 1970, he received his BA in Sociology and began working for the State of Kansas in the Job Opportunity office. He then worked as an analyst, traveling the state conducting job testing. He was also involved as a Jaycees volunteer and was president of the organization from 1973-1974.

In 1977, the family moved to the farm which had been started in 1903 by his grandfather, George Barnes, where they raised hogs, had cattle and cut hay. He started working at Osawatomie State Hospital in 1979, and retired as a social worker in April 2000. During that time, he always had a large garden and enjoyed trying new plants. In 2001, he joined the Master Gardener Program through Miami County Extension and volunteered many hours. His favorite place to practice his skills was at the gardens at Ursuline, where he enjoyed the peace and tranquility.

He is pre-deceased by his parents, Ruth and Otis Sims, and his wife, Cwen Sims. He is survived by his daughters Suzy (Raymond) Valadez, Lisa K. Sims and Viki (Izzy) Dunn, two grandchildren (Melody [Evan] Ott and Samuel [Hannah] Valadez), and a sister, Glenda Torkelson.

The family would like to express their deepest gratitude for the care given to Dad by all of those at Monarch Hospice, especially, Rick, Katrina and Katie.

Visitation will be held at 9:00 AM and the funeral following at 10:00 AM on Friday, December 12, 2025 at Dengel & Son Mortuary in Paola, Kansas.

To honor his wishes, the family requests donations be made to the Boy Scouts of America or the Glaucoma Research Foundation.