John Larry Williams, 83, passed away on Friday, October 2, 2026, at Country Yard Estates in Bondurant, Iowa. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Larry was a man known for his warm personality and his ability to connect with everyone he met. Throughout his career, he served as a dedicated district manager for Vons Grocery Company, where he was widely respected and beloved by staff and colleagues. After retiring from the grocery company, Larry moved back to Moriarty, New Mexico to live on the ranch where he helped his parents and raised cattle for several years before moving to Iowa to be closer to his son.

Even in his final days Larry maintained his trademark humor and kindness, often joking with his caregivers and expressing gratitude to those who tended to him. Larry was a veteran who proudly served his country in the U.S. Army and the National Guard. He was stationed in Hawaii, where he worked in helicopter maintenance.

He was a man who cherished his family and held a deep, enduring love for his late wife, Mary Elizabeth Williams. Beyond his professional life, Larry was a gifted, unofficial horticulturist with a legendary green thumb. He possessed an uncanny ability to breathe life back into most withered plants, often nurturing them far beyond their expected potential, turning three-foot varieties into towering ten-foot specimens. Larry is survived by his loving family: his son Martin Scott Williams and his wife Jessica Williams; granddaughters Brandy Gilmartin, Kiley Beckstrom, Desiree Gilmartin, and Josephine Schuessler; grandson Kai Brunk; his great-grandchildren Cameron Beckstrom, Ramsey Beckstrom, Tyler Beckstrom, and Lando Brunk; and his siblings, Sandra Rosenbaum, Gary Williams, and Debbie Williams. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Johnny Williams; his beloved wife, Elizabeth Williams; and his sisters, Mona Harris and Linda Fisher. A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, October 24, 2026 at the Harris-Hanlon Mortuary in Moriarty, New Mexico with a viewing at 10:00am and funeral service at 11:00am. Following the service, Larry will be laid to rest at the Mountain View Cemetery in Moriarty. In accordance with his wishes, he will be interred with the family cattle brand which includes an "L" with a "W" inside marked upon his casket—a tradition he shared with his father, Lloyd. His wife’s cremated remains will also be placed with him.