Ridgeway - Larry L. Parks, age 65, of Ridgeway, died peacefully in his sleep on Monday, July 2, 2012.

Larry worked many years at Lands end in Dodgeville as a Quality and Sourcing manager and previously at JC Penney's. He was planning on retiring this year and moving back to North Carolina to be with his kids and grandchildren.

Larry served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 13 plus years. He was especially fond of all his co-workers at Lands end and enjoyed his time working there. He especially loved spending time with his grandkids and was a huge NASCAR fan.

He was a great man and he will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

There wasn't a person who knew him that wasn't touched by his wonderful personality and generous nature. He loved racing and spending time with his children and grandchildren. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Larry is survived by his wife, Shirley Parks; his children, Christopher (Julee) Parks and Jennifer (Tim) Meadows, all of Statesville, NC; his grandchildren, Gabriel, Caleb, Zachary, Dylan, Destinee, Brent, Taylor, Sawyer "Poots" and Jameson; his step children, Amy Cody, of Ridgeway, Christina Richter (Justin), of Arena and Ryan Cody(Becky), of Neillsville, WI. He is also survived by his sister, Sandra (Jerry) Lay, of Miamisburg, OH; his nieces, Lisa Wray, of Ohio and Jill (Brandon) Pettit, of Crawfordsville, IN.

Larry was preceded in death by his mother, Betty in 2006 and his father, Walter in 1977, his first wife, Kathy (Finlayson) Parks in 1993, the mother of his children.

A Memorial Service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday, July 6, 2012 at the GORGEN-McGINLEY & AYERS FUNERAL HOME in Dodgeville. Friends may call from 4:00 p.m. until time of services on Friday at the funeral home.