Larry Lee Nettleship was born on January 21, 1939, to Clyde Lee Nettleship and Montie Irene (Maxcey) Nettleship in San Saba, Texas. Larry was raised on his family’s ranch in the Locker community in north San Saba County with his older brother, Clyde Maxcey Nettleship, and his younger sister, Peggy Joy Nettleship Boeke. In 1945, his older brother Clyde Maxcey was thrown from a horse and died as he laid in the lap of his 6-year-old brother, Larry. The following months and years were difficult for the family after Clyde Maxcey’s death. Through their faith in Christ, they overcame this tragedy. Larry and his sister, Peggy, enjoyed summers and holidays with their first cousins, Mac Danner Maxcey, Jim Maxcey, Bob Maxcey, Nancy Maxcey Hankins, Jill Jackson Landon, and Jack Jackson. The cousins were exceptionally close and regarded each other more as siblings.

Larry graduated from Richland Springs High School in 1957. From there he continued his education at the University of Texas and then at Howard Payne University. He was an outstanding athlete and threw the shot put and discus for Howard Payne University. While at Howard Payne, Larry won the Lone Star Conference Championship in discus throwing. After graduating from college, Larry began a distinguished career as a coach, teacher, and counselor.

On December 21, 1963, he married the love of his life and “best friend”, Allison Kay Smith, of Chilton, Texas. After their marriage, the couple resided in San Saba. One year after their marriage, Larry and Kay were in a major automobile accident that left Kay in critical condition with an uncertain outcome. After months of recovery and through their faith in Christ, Larry and Kay resumed their life together and started a family. Larry and Kay resumed their life together and started a family. The couple lived in Brownwood, Lubbock, Seymour, and Coleman before coming back to Larry’s place of birth in San Saba in July of 1976. Larry continued to coach and teach until 1977 when he became the counselor for San Saba ISD, Cherokee ISD, and Richland Springs ISD. He retired in 1993 to devote himself to his ranching business and to his family. With the aid of his trusted and loyal cowboys, Raul Bautista, Carlos Garcia, and George Salinas, Larry kept his properties pristine and well-mowed. One could often see him mowing the highway in front of his home.

Through the years following his retirement, Larry spent his time traveling the world with his family and overseeing his ranching properties. His favorite time of day was in the evening when Larry and Kay would sit down and enjoy the sunset. His favorite views were from their back porch and from a scenic hilltop on Flat Rock Ranch called “Buena Vista”. Larry also loved sitting on the patio at the Hubberd family ranch, Las Overas, and visiting with the foreman and his friend, Cali Resendez. Over the past year, Larry was focused on revitalizing and improving his family’s historic homestead, Rafter Cross, on the Colorado River in the Locker Community. This was his version of “heaven on earth”.

Larry Lee Nettleship died on Christmas morning 2022. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kay Nettleship. He is also survived by his son, Clayborne Lee Nettleship; his granddaughters, Allison Nettleship and Madeleine Nettleship and their mother, Susan Smith Stewart; and his daughter, Leah Allison Nettleship Oehrlein and her husband Timothy Joe Oehrlein; his grandsons, Jacob Lee Oehrlein and John Russell Oehrlein; niece, Dawn Boeke; niece, Chante’ Tilden and her husband Kevin and their children; niece, Kelly Walters and her husband Dave and their children; and his daughter adopted by love, D’Ann Hempel Callison and her husband David and their family. He is also survived by his cousin, Jim Maxcey and his wife Julie Maxcey and their sons; cousin, Jill Landon and her husband Marvin Landon and their children; cousin, Bob Maxcey and his wife Carol Maxcey and their children; and cousin, Nancy Hankins and her husband Danny Hankins and their children, and Wes Jackson and Brit Jackson. Larry is also survived by special friends, Roy Dean and Sharon Alston, Johnny and Karen Dodds, David and Janie Potts, Tommy and Patsy Oehrlein, and Alta Cromer.

Funeral Service for Larry will be held at 3:00 p.m. Monday, January 2, 2023, at San Saba’s First Baptist Church with Brother Sam Crosby and Alvino Valdez officiating; private family interment. Arrangements are under the direction of Blaylock Funeral Home of San Saba.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, Community Foundation of San Saba for the benefit of Locker Community (P.O. Box 331 San Saba, Texas 76877) or to San Saba’s First Baptist Church (208 West Wallace St. San Saba, Texas 76877). Online condolences for the family are welcome at www.blaylockfuneralhome.com.