Larry Douglas Cunningham, 73, of Madisonville KY, passed away on November 6, 2022, at Baptist Health Deaconess in Madisonville.

Larry Cunningham was born April 15, 1949, in Madisonville, KY, to the late Montie Bee Clayton Cunningham and Hughston McCleon Cunningham Sr. Larry was welcomed home by three half siblings, William David Cunningham, Willadean Louise Cunningham, Hughston McCleon, and "Mac" Cunningham Jr. He was later joined by three sisters, Tempie Marlene Cunningham, Lola Bee Cunningham and Ruth Ellen Cunningham. Larry was educated at Waddill Ave., Seminary St., and Madisonville Sr. High School. Larry played football at Waddill and Seminary but had his football career cut short at Madisonville Senior High when at fifteen years old he fell off his aunt's roof while helping to build a back porch and crushed the 1st lumbar vertebrae in his back. Larry was in the Madisonville High School Graduating Class of 1967. In August of 1968, at a dance at the Teen Club in Madisonville KY, his friend Billy Duvall, introduced him to the future love of his life, Virginia Diane Bruce. He and Diane were married at First Baptist Church in Madisonville on May 29, 1970. Over the next eight years they welcomed three children to the family, Shawna Michelle in 1971, Tracy LaShelle in 1975, and Brandon Shane in 1978. During this time Larry had a variety of jobs, including, but not limited to, working in two service stations Sinclair and East Center Tiger, delivering flowers for Exotic Florist, hauling blacktop for Muroc, hauling sand and gravel for Corum Const., delivering furniture for Hale Brothers Furniture, spraying under power lines for Asplundh Tree Experts, working in a grocery store at Teague's ShopRite Foods, delivering oxygen and acetylene and mine supplies for Rice Supply, doing tire work for Firestone, doing tire and mechanic work for Murray Maintenance (Ligon Specialized Haulers) doing Heavy and Specialized Hauling for Thomas Heavy Hauling for eleven years and finally Hauling Explosives for Mine Equipment and Mill Supply Company (MEMSCO) for twenty-five years where he retired in 2011. Larry had many various hobbies in his life, Hunting (both rifle and bow) fishing, boating, reading Sci/Fi and Fantasy Books, Computers, Photography, Amateur Radio where he had an Extras Class License, call sign KE4YDI and KY4LC and was an ARRL Volunteer Examiner. He also held a Commercial License Testing Certificate. Larry played in bands for about thirty-five years, including The Southern Breeze Band, Country Confusion, and The Back Roads Band. Larry played guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums. He also sang in these bands. Larry was a member of The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, an honor bestowed by KY Governor, Wendell Ford. Larry was a sticker collector with over 8,500 mining stickers and decals. Larry was a big NASCAR fan with Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Jr. as his favorite drivers. He also followed The University of Kentucky Wildcats and The St. Louis Cardinals.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of almost fifty-two years, Virginia Diane Bruce Cunningham on January 29, 2022; mother-in-law, Hilda Rae Williams Bruce Gammon; father-in-law, John William Bruce, stepfather-in-law, Willie Herman Gammon; and stepmother-in-law, Jo Evelyn Lutz Bruce; sister, Lola Bee Cunningham Ball; half-brothers,  Hughston McCleon and "Mac" Cunningham Jr., sister-in-law, Debra Ray (David) Cunningham;; brother-in-laws, Roger Dale (Lola) Ball and James Ray (Tempie) Phelps, Sr.; granddaughter, Jessica Nichole Clark; and grandson, Zacharie Lee (Robin) Cunningham

Larry is survived by his children, Shawna Michelle Cunningham Clark (Martin) Garcia, Tracy LaShelle (Amanda Morley) Cunningham, and Brandon Shane (Angela) Cunningham; sisters, Tempie Marlene Cunningham Wells Phelps and Ruth Ellen Cunningham Norris McCarty; half-brother, William David Cunningham, half-sister Willodean Louise Cunningham (Gene) Baggett; sister-in-law, Linda Faye Yell Cunningham; grandchildren, Amanda Michelle Clark (Chris) Fridley, Seauth Paige Cunningham, and Shay Taylor Morley- Cunningham; great-granddaughters, Alexis Michelle Morgan, and Sofia Rose Fridley; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. on Friday, November 11, 2022, in the chapel of Harris Funeral Home in Madisonville with Pastor Andy Couch officiating. A private burial will be at Olive Branch Cemetery in Hanson, KY, next to the love of his life Diane, at a later date. Harris Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Visitation will be from 3 p.m. on Friday until the service hour at the funeral home.