Larry DeMurr Coleman of Houston, Texas | 1933 - 2024 | Obituary
Send Flowers
Order Flowers
for the Family
Send a Card
Show Your Sympathy
to the Family
Plant Trees
In Remembrance
Visitation
Friday, Nov 1, 2024
6:00 PM-8:00 PM
Funeral Service
Saturday, Nov 2, 2024
1:30 PM-2:30 PM
Larry DeMurr Coleman
June 21, 1933 - October 25, 2024
Share this obituary
Larry DeMurr Coleman, 91, a 25 -year resident of Houston, Texas passed away on October 25, 2024, at Heart to Heart Houston Hospice House. Son of Marcus Demurr Coleman, Los Angelos, CA (1904-1964) and Mary Corinne Love Coleman, Belton, TX (1896-1989), Larry was born in Los Angelos on June 21, 1933. He grew up in Belton, Texas where he was an Eagle Scout, a class officer and excelled at basketball, track and tennis. He graduated from Belton High School in 1950. Larry joined the First Methodist Church in Belton at age 13 and was a long-time member of Lakewood Methodist Church in Houston.
Larry received his Associate of Arts degree with honor from Temple Jr. College, Temple, TX in 1952. Larry earned his Bachelor of Business Administration (1954) and Master of Business Education degrees (1958) from Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, TX. In 1968, he received Doctorate in Business Education from University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK.
Larry married Carroll Dean Stephens of Temple on September 20, 1952, in San Marcos. Carroll preceded Larry in death on September 4, 2021. Larry is survived by daughter Debra Lou Cordell, husband Craig, of Freeport, FL; son David DeMurr Coleman, wife Barbara, Tomball, TX; son Daniel Reed Coleman, wife Tamara, Fair Oaks Ranch, TX; Grandchildren, Craig Cochran, wife Rachel, Camden, SC, Christina Picheo, husband Anthony, Pensacola, FL; Elizabeth Caslen, husband Jeffery, Tomball, TX; Austin Coleman, wife Cassidy, Odessa, TX; Brian Cochran, wife Gaby, Aiken, SC; Samuel Coleman, Austin, TX; Katherine Wyatt, husband Brooks, Boerne, TX; Step-Grandchildren, Tyler Cordell, Orlando FL; Chelsey Cordell, Brentwood TN; and ten great grandchildren.
Larry was a teacher, coach and principal in public and private schools in Texas from 1953-1960. From 1960-1965, Larry served as Assistant Professor of Business and Economics at Hardin-Simmons University, Abilene, TX. After completing his doctorate from OU, Larry accepted the position of Chairman/Professor of Business Education Department and Director of Regional Center for Family Financial Education at State College of Arkansas, Conway, AR. For his service to Arkansas, he received the Arkansas Traveler designation from the Governor of Arkansas in 1971. From 1971-1977, Larry served as Professor of Family Economics at Indiana State University, Terre Haute, IN. From 1977-1984, he was an Associate Dean of Graduate College and liaison to the Indiana Congressional Delegation for External Funding, Washington, DC. From 1984-1988, he served as Professor of Management in the College of Business at Indiana State University.
Larry’s interest in risk management and insurance led him to create the first Department of Insurance and Risk Management at Indiana State University’s College of Business in 1988. He then served as the Chairperson of the department from 1988 until retirement in 1995. In 1998, Larry was presented with the Presidential Medal in recognition of exemplary performance as an administrator and faculty member at ISU. He was honored in 2019 by the establishment of the Dr. Larry Coleman/H. Peter Hudson Endowed Professorship of Insurance with a $1 million gift to ISU by H. Peter Hudson.
Upon retirement, Larry and Carroll lived in Sandestin Resort, Miramar Beach, FL while also spending time at their home in Cypress, TX. In 2020, they moved to Solano Preserve Senior Living in Houston.
Larry will be buried next to Carroll in the Coleman family plot at Salado Cemetery in Salado, TX.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Lakewood Methodist Church, Houston or to the College of Business, Indiana State University, Terre Haute.