Larry Winford Dunaway

Larry Winford Dunaway, husband of Ernestine and father of Mark, passed away at 73 years of age, on Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at his home in Bethel Springs, TN, after a valiant battle with cancer. He was born in Memphis, TN, on July 22, 1942, grew up in McNairy County and graduated from Selmer High School in 1959.

After graduation, Larry went to barber college and thus began a 52-year career involving a swivel chair, a pair of scissors, and a love of people. A lifelong resident of McNairy County, Larry spent the majority of his working years in Jackson taking care of his friends – who just happened to be customers – at his barbershop, Stylist III. He retired in 2013.

On March 4, 1963, he eloped with his sweetheart, Ernestine McGee. During 53 years of marriage, they welcomed a beloved son, Mark, and later warmly welcomed a daughter-in-law, Debbie, and three cherished grandchildren Tyler, Nicholas, and Megan. Well known for his sense of humor and his love of family and friends, Larry loved life and the people surrounding him. His (and Ernestine’s) favorite hobby was traveling to any ball field, golf course, or gymnasium where Mark and, later, the grandchildren were playing. In earlier years, he enjoyed flying planes as a hobby and, more recently, he enjoyed playing golf, gardening, fishing, and watching the St. Louis Cardinals and Memphis Grizzlies.

Larry was a member of First United Methodist Church in Selmer and a member of the Purdy Masonic Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Alma Higginbottom and Lannie B. Dunaway; and is survived by Ernestine, Mark, Debbie, Tyler, Nicholas, and Megan. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Lena McGee; a sister-in-law, Donna McGee; a nephew, Jeremy McGee; and special friends too numerous to count.

Larry’s visitation services are 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday, March 4, and 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 5, at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Selmer. His funeral service is at 11 a.m. at the funeral home and burial will follow in Lake Hill Memorial Garden in Bethel Springs. If friends would like to make a donation in honor of Larry’s life, the family asks for memorials to be sent to Selmer First United Methodist Church, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, or their charity of choice.