Larry Allen Staten

Larry Allen Staten passed away peacefully on April 23, 2025, in Salt Lake County, Utah, where he was born on June 22, 1951, and spent the vast majority of his life. His devotion to family was a cornerstone of his life.

Larry was the eldest of six siblings born to Delbert and Carrol Staten. He is survived by his siblings Randy, Debra, Ron, Wendy, and Ryan; leaves behind two sons: Michael and Brandon; and ten grandchildren.

Larry showed love to his children and grandchildren by making them the center of his attentions on weekends and holidays. Weekends were always an adventure, spent visiting his parents and siblings, outdoors, with books and movies, or playing sports. He and his two sons would play 3-on-3 pickup basketball games in local parks and could often win and stay on the court against more athletic competitors thanks to Larry’s impressive consistency hitting three-point shots. Even in his final weeks, one of his favorite discussion topics was his grandchildren. His connection to his family was a primary reason he remained a lifelong resident of Salt Lake County.

Larry was a prolific reader with a wide-ranging thirst for knowledge. He instilled this same curiosity in his children, encouraging them to explore the world around them. Always a Ute, he earned degrees in both history and anthropology from the University of Utah. He volunteered at the Utah Museum of Natural History and Fremont Indian State Park, where he once de-spined, peeled, and fed a cactus to Sean Connery. One of the most significant adventures of his life was the year he spent teaching English in China.

Throughout his life, Larry held a variety of jobs, with his longest tenures at Hercules Aerospace and as a machinist at The Boeing Company. Known for his vagabond practicality, Larry favored squeezing every possible mile out of used cars and shifting apartments every few years. He valued creating new experiences with those he loved much more than accumulating possessions.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, located at 1950 E. 10600 S. in Sandy, Utah. Family and friends are welcome to share stories or memories at that time. All are welcome to a viewing before the funeral from 1:00 to 1:45 p.m.