Obituary of Larry E. Marnes

Larry E Marnes, 76, of Mooers NY passed away peacefully at his home on June 15, 2023. He was born in Plattsburgh NY, on September 26, 1946, to Edward and Lois Marnes. Larry graduated from Mooers High School in 1964 and started his secondary education at North Country Community College where he majored in Business Management and Photography. Larry proudly served in the United States Army from 1969 to 1975 as a Specialist. During that time, Larry was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service while serving in Korea. Larry was a superior photographer and received several accolades and awards for his work from the United States Army during his honorable military career. After returning to the United States, Larry was a part-time mail carrier for the United States Post Office in Mooers. Larry worked as a Customs Broker at A.N. Deringer’s for over 30 years. He later transferred to Livingston International until his retirement. He will be remembered as a mentor to many entering the brokerage business and was considered one of the best in the business. Larry served as Historian for the Town of Mooers for many years, a position he was extremely proud to hold until his recent passing. Larry was an avid gun collector and a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association, Bridge Line Historical Society and his favorite group, the Rutland Railroad Historical Society. Larry enjoyed his extended family at Watson Senior Housing, and we thank all the residents and board members who aided in Larry’s care, especially over the last few weeks. Larry also praised his coworkers at the Mooers Town offices who he shared many humorous stories with. In 1987 Larry finished his first book “Doubling Over” which provided a colorful and humorous story of railroading. In 2011 Larry re-wrote the earlier historical work by Orville McKnight titled “Mooers Junction Memories” for publication. Larry’s greatest accomplishment and lifelong dream came true in 2003 with the purchase of the Mooers Junction train station that was built in 1865 by the Northern Railroad. Larry spent a lot of his youth at the old Rutland Railroad/Delaware and Hudson Railroad station in his hometown of Mooers. With help from his lifelong friend Chris Trombley and utilizing his memories of the station when he was a youngster, Larry and Chris transformed the crumbling structure into a facsimile of the building in its heyday. In 2012 Larry and Chris were honored for their work by the Adirondack Architectural Heritage (AARCH) for the stewardship of the preservation of Mooers Junction. Larry’s interest in locomotives, cabooses and anything connected to the railroad blossomed from those early visits into a lifelong hobby of collecting railroad memorabilia for which he is best known for across much of the North County and beyond. Larry is predeceased by several relatives and two special friends, Steve Mumley and Ken Linahan Sr. who both passed away earlier this year. Larry is survived by many friends and acquaintances including lifelong friends Chris Trombley and Kirk Castine and their extended families and friends who provided Larry the care he needed to live his life with great dignity and pride until the end. Chris and Kirk would like to thank many people that aided in Larry’s care including the professional staff at Hudson Headwaters in Champlain, Champlain - Mooers EMS crews, Town of Mooers employees, and most especially the board and residents of Mooers Senior Housing. A celebration of Larry’s life will be held on Sunday, July 9 at 10:00 am at “Mooers Junction” located at 109 Maple Street in Mooers, NY. A reception will be held after the service at the Mooers Fire station. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Rutland Railroad Historical Society, Champlain-Mooers EMS, or the Mooers Volunteer Fire Department.