Larry Leroy Mayes

Larry Leroy Mayes, 79, of Amarillo, Texas, passed away on September 11, 2026, surrounded by his family.

Memorial service will be at 11:00 AM, Saturday, September 19, 2026 at Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel, 2800 Paramount. Arrangements are by Boxwell Brothers Funeral Directors.

Larry was born on June 9, 1947, in Olympia, Washington, to Kenneth Mayes and Grace Burk Mayes. He graduated from Thurston High School in Lacey, Washington, in 1965 and enlisted in the United States Navy just one week later, on June 30, 1965.

Larry's Navy career would span more than three decades. While serving on staff at the Nuclear Power Training Unit in Idaho Falls, Idaho, he was selected for the Navy Enlisted Scientific Education Program (NESEP) in June 1968. He attended the University of Utah, graduating in March 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Metallurgical Engineering and receiving his commission as a naval officer.

Larry soon discovered a love for submarines - a passion that would remain with him throughout the rest of his Navy career and the rest of his life. He qualified in submarines during his first sea tour aboard the USS Thomas A. Edison (SSBN 610) (BLUE), where he served in several roles, including Assistant Weapons Officer, Sonar Officer, Communicator, Operations Officer, and Weapons Officer.

He later served with the Strategic Systems Programs, working on the TRIDENT I (C4) missile program and missile launches from the USS Francis Scott Key (SSBN 657). In 1980, Larry joined the commissioning crew of the USS Ohio (SSBN 726), the Navy's first Trident submarine, as Weapons Officer. Following the Ohio's first Trident submarine deterrent patrol, he completed his submarine command qualifications.

Larry was then assigned to Commander, Submarine Force Pacific in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, where he served as Force Strategic Weapons Officer. During this tour, he was selected for the Engineering Duty Officer community and attended the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where he earned his Master of Science in Material Science.

His career later took him to the Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic in Kings Bay, Georgia, where he served as Weapons Officer and later Executive Officer. After completing the Program Management course at the Defense Systems Management College at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, he returned to Strategic Systems Programs as Fire Control and Guidance Branch Head.

In June 1993, Larry reached one of the proudest milestones of his naval career when he assumed command of Strategic Weapons Facility Atlantic (SWFLANT). His personal military awards included the Meritorious Service Medal with one gold star, the Navy Commendation Medal with one gold star, and the Navy Good Conduct Award.

In 1996, after 31 years of dedicated service to his country, Larry retired from the United States Navy with the rank of Captain.

Following his retirement from the Navy, Larry and his family moved to Amarillo, Texas, where he went to work at Pantex. Then, in 2009, he accepted his final position - in his recliner - where he remained happily stationed until his passing.

Long before retirement, however, Larry had already found the most important part of his life. In 1967, Larry fell in love with the "girl in the can rollers," Linda Hadley. Linda was the love of his life, and the two married on August 24, 1968. Larry would often say, "Anybody who would stay with you for 58 years must really love you."

They welcomed their first daughter in 1971. With the arrival of two more daughters in 1973 and 1976, Larry quickly realized that he would be forever outnumbered. Larry loved his family deeply. Being a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather was, to him, his greatest accomplishment. That love showed throughout his life in the countless sacrifices he made for the people he cared about.

You could often find Larry sitting around the table playing cards with his family. He wasn't a competitive man - he just didn't like to lose.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Kenneth and Grace Mayes; his sister, Rita Mayes; and his only brother, Frederick Mayes.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 58 years, Linda (Hadley) Mayes; his three daughters, Cynthia (Mayes) Hager and husband Tom, Staci (Mayes) Gailey, and Jaime Mayes; his sisters, Linda Shelton and husband Larry, and Elsie Soard; six wonderful grandchildren, Maci Nettles and fiancé Cody Lewing, Brayden Gilbert, Nikki Hager, Marc Henderson and wife Alexandria, Madisyn Hager, and VeIla Gailey; and his precious great-grandson, Ryken Hager.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Larry's memory to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation or Wounded Warrior Project.