Larry Gerow

Obituary Larry Francis Gerow, 78, of Newport, passed away Wednesday evening, January 24, 2018, at Carteret Health Care. Morehead City. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, January 30, 2018, at 11:00 AM at St. Mildred Catholic Church, Swansboro, with Rev. Donald Baribeau officiating. Larry was born October 15, 1939, in Belleville, Ontario, Canada to Norman Anthony and Olive Mariam Gregory Gerow. As a teenager, Larrys hobbies were many and varied, including showing, competing and winning American Saddlebred horses and Hackney ponies and several other animals, including birds and dogs, giving him the name "Animal Whisperer". In his senior year, he played football and was drafted by the Ottawa Rough Riders to play professional football, however, unfortunately, in his first game he received a concussion that ended his career. He also played hockey, coached adults and junior hockey teams and his claim to fame was that he was on the rink with Bobbie Hall before he became a professional player. He was a sports commentator for Cable TV for hockey. During his teenage years, he obtained the highest order one can obtain in Canada for the boy scouts. Another of his loves were convertibles, and he owned a 1959 black Chevy with red interior and scotch plaid seats. The steering wheel was red and white. He also had a 1963 Pontiac that he let his 13 year old brother (who had never driven) drive one evening, and when Norm ran off the road, and woke Larry, Larry decided to drive himself! There are many funny family stories to tell! Larry became General Sales Manager for Bata Shoe Company, as he went to the Sudan, Africa, to open and run a shoe factory. He traveled extensively with this job. While there, Communist Rebels came in with machine guns and tanks and took over the factory. They took him to his home, and luckily he was able to leave and return to Canada. He ultimately was one of the top 3 officers of Bata Shoe Company. This led Larry to become a very successful businessman, raising more than 250,000 chickens and turkeys in his home town of Belleville, Canada. As he continued to train and show horses, he met Shirley Montana, who owned a 31stall horse farm in Warners, NY. They became soul mates and 4 years later (1992) they were married. Larry became the trainer at Elegant Acres and they showed and trained horses for 13 years, then moved to Clayton, NC to be near their daughter and family. It was then that Larry became "Larry, the Powerwasher", yet, another successful business that he finally retired from in 2016 to enjoy family and life at the beach. Larry and Shirley have a multitude of friends, and the loss of this great man will long be in his friends and familys hearts. The family wishes to thank the caring staff of Carteret Health Care for their care in Larrys last days. He is survived by his wife, Shirley Gerow; a stepdaughter, Cheri Barbare, of Newport; stepson, Michael Montana, and his wife, Joan, of Wichita, KS; 3 brothers, Ron Gerow, Terry Gerow, and wife, Diane, and Norm Gerow, and wife, Marybeth; 1 sister, Diana Malcolm, and husband, Garth, all of Canada; 6 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends after the service at the church. In addition to his parents, Larry is preceded in death by a stepson, Dean Montana. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorials in Larrys name be made to Carteret Health Care Foundation for RAAB and Coleman Clinics, P. O. Drawer 1619, Morehead City, NC 28557 or Carteret Humane Society, 853 Hibbs Road, Newport, NC 28570 Funeral Mass 11:00 AM ,Tuesday, January 30, 2018 St. Mildred Catholic Church 653 Old Hammock Road Swansboro, NC, Onslow 28546 Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Larry Gerow