Larry Frank Rigsby age 77 passed away July 18, 2022, at his home in Madill, Oklahoma from a long illness. Larry was born in Van Alstyne, Texas on March 20, 1945, to the late Henry Selton Rigsby and Ruth Kenner Rigsby in a farmhouse South of city on Old Hwy 5. Larry brags he was born in Collin County but was dressed and met his dad and 3 brothers in the next room in Grayson County. Larry was the youngest of 4 boys starting school in 1951 in Van Alstyne, Texas graduating in 1963, a faithful Van Alstyne Panther to the end. Old # 14 was a rough, tough, blood getting middle linebacker Panther Blue football player. When he opened up a hole in the line, the Panthers scored a touchdown. He attended Paris Junior College and Dallas Baptist College. Larry moved to Dallas working for Lone Star Gas and Yellow Freight lines before entering his career job at a gun salesman working for some of the largest Gun shops in Dallas, the famous Buckhorn Trading Post in Downtown Dallas, The Gun and Tackle on Forest Lane and Rays Hardware and Sporting Goods on Singleton Ave. Celebrities and athletes traded with him, his jokes, laughter and general knowledge of guns, and ammunition was widely known. Dirty Harry’s famous 44 pistol came from Buckhorn trading Post and after movies filmed, they were returned to Dallas to be placed with other famous westerm or movie related guns at the Wax Museum, in Grand Prairie, Texas. Larry had a bit part in 2 different episodes of Walker Texas Ranger while working at The Gun and Tackle Store in Dallas, Texas. Larry was an avid hunter and fisherman. He guided hunts for celebrities every April bringing in trophy Turkey for his celebrity hunters and every November bringing in some of the largest Deer in Texas. He personally hunted turkey and deer all over Texas, Canada, Alaska and Idaho as well as Elk in New Mexico, Bear in Alaska and Canada, Moose in Idaho and Canada. A trophy Nilgui from the King Ranch in Texas. His knowledge on the value and history of guns was sought by hunters and fellow gun associates all over the United States. He helped teach Gun Safety Classes and Gun Permit Classes. Larry was a member of the Dallas Safari Club, Woods and Water Club and NRA. Larry also scored for Boone and Crocket for the State of Texas maintaining a certification as a licensed firearms appraiser for State of Texas.
Larry met and married the girl of his dreams Maurine Elaine Hale in Dallas, Texas in 1968. They have one son, Charles Robert “Chuck” Mitchell. Larry brags, Maurine was Larry’s First and Second wife as they remarried on their anniversary November 23, 2006. They were married for some 50+ years. Larry and his family moved to Marshall County in 2006. He worked a short time (7 years) for Lowe’s in Ardmore before continuing his career as a gun salesman selling guns, ammunition, and hunting products for Atwoods when the store opened in Madill, finally retiring for health reasons in 2016.
Larry was baptized into the Baptist Faith in 1954 and remained faithful the remainder of his life.
Larry is proceeded in death by his parents, Henry and Ruth Rigsby, Mother and Father-in-law Kenneth Hale and Louise Hale James. 1 brother, Henry Carroll Rigsby, 3 sister-in-laws Wanda Rigsby, Kathrine Rigsby and Sally Rigsby, 1 nephew Ricky Rigsby, 1 niece Louise Rigsby Bertran, 3 great nephews Mark Rigsby, Timothy Rigsby and Jeffrey Rigsby.
Larry is survived by his wife, Maurine Rigsby and Son Chuck Mitchell of Madill, 2 brothers Leon Rigsby of Houston, Tx., Ralph Rigsby and wife Eileen of Wolfe Point, Mt., sister-in-law Marilyn Stowers and husband Gary of Madill, OK, Brother-in-laws Bud Hale and wife Terri of Madill, OK, Gerald Hale and wife, Janie of Tulsa, OK, Monte Hale and wife Jan of Bartlesville, OK, Leslie Hale and wife Nancy of Long Grove, OK . Lots and lots and lots of nieces and nephews scattered all over Oklahoma, Arkansas, Texas, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Nebraska, and New York.
Funeral service will be 10:00 am, Saturday, August 13, 2022, at Watts Memorial Chapel, Madill, Oklahoma. Todd Mcray and Dalan Larson will officiate the service. Services will be under the direction of Watts Funeral Home, Madill, Oklahoma. Condolences may be sent to wattsfuneralhome.com.
Honorary Pall bearers: Jim Reeks, Miguel Parra, Steve Caballero, Tim Jenes, Don Griffin, Doug Jones, Jerry Billips and Reid Durbin
