Larry Verhei

Larry W. Verhei, 68, passed away, at his home in Sagle, Thursday evening March 19, 2015. Memorial services will be conducted at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 11, 2015 in Coffelt’s Funeral Chapel. Potluck to follow the service at The Community of Christ Church 1024 Sagle Rd, Sagle, ID 83860 and everyone is invited. A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 25, 2015, in the Sandpoint Eagles Lodge, from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The lodge will open at 12 noon. Born September 29, 1946, the youngest of three children of Donald A. & Phyllis E. Verhei. He is preceded in death by his sister Sharon and his brother Donald R. and all previous generations of his family. He is survived by his special friend and Spouse of 45 years, Wayne La Vigne-Verhei. He had 5 nieces and nephews and numerous cousins. Larry attended Bonner County Schools and graduated in 1964. Her attended North Idaho Junior College and earned an AA Degree in Liberal Arts. He transferred to ISU and earned a BA in Secondary Education. He worked for the History Department, as a Teaching Assistant, during his last two years at ISU. Larry moved to the Puget Sound area and during the next 40 years held a variety of career positions. He was a Field Director of Adult Education for Olympic College. He lived on Guam for a year and established a High School completion program for Marine/Navy enlisted personnel. He established a similar program for Concordia College at 12 Military bases across the U.S.A. After living on the road for 6 years Larry changed careers and worked as a motivational speaker and trainer specializing in working with low income long term unemployed. He was recognized as being very effective as over 80% of his students were working at regular jobs within 90 days. At the same time Larry held a Washington State Vocational Teaching Certificate and taught Life Management Skills at an inpatient Drug and Alcohol facility. Larry developed an interest and skill in working with persons with disabilities. He became a job placement counselor and worked for over twenty years helping to educate employers and open doors for persons with physical, sensory and mental disabilities. He was promoted to Marketing Director for the Hearing, Speech and Deafness Center in Seattle. Due to his expertise on Disability Issues, he was named Chair of the Health Care Task Force for the Seattle/King County Advisory Council on Aging and Disability Issues. He worked on Public Accommodation issues as a member of the 504/ADA Advisory Committee for King County. Governor Locke named Larry to the Washington State Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment. He was selected to join the Coordinating Committee to help set the agenda for discussion for specific issues. He provided expert testimony to the Washington State Department of Health and to the Health Care Committee of the Washington State Legislature on hearing aid legislation. He met with both Governor Locke and Governor Gregoire to discuss various legislative bills. After several years of providing care to his mother during her decline and final illness, Larry decided to move back to Idaho into the home he had helped his parents build while he was a child. He became the first Founding Member of the Aging Services for North Idaho Endowment Fund and an active member of Eagle’s Aerie 589 and worked on charitable fund raisers and community events. He greatly enjoyed meeting and talking to people, telling stories. Larry took particular pleasure in comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. Larry loved to travel and visited Canada, Mexico, Panama Canal, Australia, New Zealand, 17 countries in Europe, Great Britain, Ireland, Guam, Okinawa, nine countries in Central and South America; 16 Caribbean and various Micronesian Islands. Larry requests no flowers since he had allergies. Please donate to the Aging Services for North Idaho Endowment Fund (www.aaani.org), or Charity of your choice. In Memory of Larry W. Verhei Be happy for me, now I’m free, Free of pain and misery I could not stay another day to Laugh, to dance, to work or play If my parting has left you sad, Fill it with remembered times. Laugh when you remember my Jokes, dance when you hear My favorite songs, smile when you Remember our good times. For these are the things that will Always stay Good family, good friends, loved Ones too. I have had it all Now it’s up to you.