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Larry Lyle Granger of Chehalis, Washington, and Anthem, Arizona, passed away following prolonged health issues on Dec. 28, 2025, at home in Anthem, with his wife and sons by his side. He was born Oct. 30, 1948, in Renton, Washington, to Ethel Jeanne Granger and Lyle Albert Granger. The family, including his kid sister, Gayle, moved to Chehalis when Larry was 13.
He spent many summers on Lummi Island playing outdoors alongside his many cousins and extended family. He graduated from W.F. West High School in 1966, where he played football, wrestled, and was a member of Future Farmers of America. After high school, he briefly attended Centralia College before transferring to Washington State University. While a student at WSU, Larry chose to volunteer for the United States Marine Corps and serve in Vietnam.
A proud veteran and Marine, Larry went through basic training in San Diego, California, and later attended Radio Relay School at Camp Pendleton. He served as an infantryman and radio operator in the Vietnam War from March 1969 to December 1970, stationed near Da Nang at Monkey Mountain. Following his honorable discharge from the Marines at the rank of corporal, he served in the Reserves. Larry remained a lifelong supporter of veterans’ causes, including the Marine Raiders Foundation, Soldier’s Angels, and the Gary Sinise Foundation.
After discharge from the Marines, Larry returned to complete his education — first at Central Washington University and later transferring back to Washington State University. It was at WSU where he met Janet Eileen Lorenzo of Tacoma, Washington. While at WSU, he for a time served on football game days as a WSU Butchman, accompanying the live cougar mascot Butch and helping lead cheers and skits at the stadium, all while adorned in a crimson-and-white striped blazer and straw hat. Larry graduated from WSU with a degree in general studies in 1973. He and Janet were married in a ceremony in Tacoma, Washington, in 1972 and remained married until 1997.
Following college, Larry and Janet moved back to Lewis County, where their two sons, Jeff and Grant, were born and raised. Larry went on to run Central Reddi Mix, the concrete company founded by his father, Lyle. Under Larry’s stewardship, Central Reddi Mix expanded throughout Lewis and Thurston counties before later selling to the CalPortland Corporation after 43 years of family ownership. He also served as president of the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association.
Larry’s active membership in the greater Lewis County community included long-standing membership in the Centralia chapter of the Elks Lodge, support of the Providence Southwest Hospital Foundation, and ongoing support of the Centralia College Foundation. He also served as president of Lewis County Work Opportunities, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating and enabling adults with disabilities in the Lewis County community.
For many years, he enjoyed hunting and camping and was an avid (but lousy) golfer. More than anything, he loved people and could often be found at events and community gathering places telling a tall tale or a bad joke.
Larry was remarried in 1999 to Dona Marie Widell of Centralia, Washington, in a ceremony in Kapalua on Maui, Hawaii. Larry and Dona later retired to Anthem, Arizona, where they began a new chapter of their lives and founded many amazing friendships. Together, they spent many years hosting dinners and holiday gatherings, traveling the world (gathering friends along the way), and seeking out great live music.
Larry was known for his quick wit and groan-inducing puns; his love of bringing people together; and his diehard support for his beloved WSU Cougar football team. His friends and family will dearly miss his generous spirit and wry smile.
Larry was preceded in death by his father, Lyle; his mother, Jeanne; and stepfather, Ken Munter. He is survived by his wife, Dona; sons, Jeff and Grant; daughter-in-law, Charlotte Brill; sister, Gayle, and brother-in-law, Steve; step-siblings, Teri Munter and Ben Elmer; sister-in-law, Diana, and brother-in-law, Allen McDowell; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Celebrations of life will be held in both Anthem, Arizona (in late February), and Chehalis (in late April or early May) to give Larry’s vast community of friends and family a chance to share stories and terrible puns. Details on these gatherings will be posted to the CaringBridge site (https://tinyurl.com/6kythbdx)
