Larry Schatz, 1957-2019

Larry was born the only child of Rueben Louis Schatz and Ella Mae Hoppman in Houston on August 9, 1957. He tragically passed away Oct. 5, 2019.

Many aren’t aware, but as a youth, Larry played the violin with the Houston Junior Symphony. Larry’s great-grandmother, who was a direct German immigrant, also lived with them when Rueben and Ella moved to Houston. Almost every summer when he was growing up, he would work on his grandfather’s farm, which probably served to cultivate his interests in agriculture and the outdoors.

Larry graduated from Sam Houston State University in 1979 earning a bachelor of science in agriculture with an emphasis in animal husbandry. After graduation, he worked as the ranch manager at Moon Lake Ranch in Rosharon, Texas. In 1987, he moved to Liberty, where he resided ever since. While living and raising a family in Liberty, he worked 30 years at LyondellBasell where he accumulated a host of friends.

His time outside the plant was spent working his cattle at Box S Beefmasters, helping raise FFA show cattle, and watching Cody and Rachel’s various sporting events as they were growing up. Larry was an avid reader and loved sitting on his porch swing with a good book and a cold beer.

In the last 11 years, he and his wife, Mary, enjoyed vacationing in the Texas Hill Country where they recently decided to purchase a home in Llano. Many of their travels included following a couple of their favorite artists, Jake and Tommy Hooker, around Texas dance halls to hobble around the dance floor to Larry’s favorite two-step tune “Fräulein” and other country swing numbers. Larry was looking forward to retiring in God’s country where he could watch and feed the deer right off the porches, kick back to watch his Texans and Astros, and try out all the recipes from the many episodes he watched on The Food Network.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Ruben and Ella, as well as numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his wife, Mary Schatz; his son, Cody (Natasha) Schatz; daughter, Rachel (Juan) Alfaro; and step-daughter, Hannah Shoemaker (Max Jolliff). Additionally, he leaves behind five grandchildren, Grayson Estep, Sawyer Alfaro, Rowan Alfaro, Paisley Schatz and Pace Schatz, and bonus grandchildren, Kloee Alfaro, Kyerstin Johnson, Jaxson Gross, Leeland Graham and Kash Sunday. He is also survived by extended family: Laura Schatz, Vickie (Jerry) Thompson and family, Jeff Morse and family, Terry Wayne Cox whom he regarded as a brother, as well as a multitude of friends he considered family.

Larry will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

Friends are invited to visit with the family on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 5 to 8 p.m. in the chapel at Allison Funeral Service, 1101 N. Travis Street Liberty, Texas 77575. Funeral services will be held Friday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m. at Allison Funeral Service.

Serving as honorary pallbearers are Robert Buckhorn, T.C. Caldwell, Terry Wayne Cox, Pokie Mangum, Keith Ming, Jeff Morse, Gary Shilling, Jerry Thompson, Charlie Wakefield and Jimmy Weaver.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made in Larry’s memory to Liberty Young Farmer’s, 2615 Jefferson Drive, Liberty, Texas 77575.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family by visiting allisonfuneralservice.com.