Larry Douglas Hadley, 77, of Amarillo, TX passed away on May 19, 2026, at the VA Hospital in Amarillo, TX.
A celebration of life will be held at Briarwood Church, Pampa, TX on June 5th at 2 PM.
Larry was born on September 20, 1948, to Don and Martha Hunter Hadley in Hays, KS. He was the middle of three boys.
Larry graduated from Pampa High School in 1966 and enrolled in the Navy in 1967. He was deployed on 2 1/2 tours of duty in the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged in 1971 as an Electricians Mate. His first tour was on the USS New Orleans and his second tour on the USS Kitty Hawk. Upon his discharge he returned to Pampa. He had many interests through the years, with electrical work and auctioneering being his mainstays. He auctioneered for Lyndon Loyd for many years and retired from teaching electrical trades at the Jordan Unit with TDCJ.
He married Joyce Ray Betchan Howard, sharing 49 years together. They were blessed with a son, Lance Everette in 1974. Together they raised 3 boys.
Larry was proceeded in death by his wife, Joyce, son Lance Hadley, stepson Jerry Howard, his mother Martha Hadley and his dad and stepmom, Don and Carolyn Hadley, stepbrother Westley Marlar, brother and sister-in-law Eddie and Helen Barnett, sister-in-law Lori Bailey and brother-in-law Fred Betchan, Jr.
He is survived by his brothers, Bob and Bernita Hadley of Salt Lake City, Utah, Ron and Renel Hadley of Amarillo, TX, stepbrother Jason and Jane Marlar of White Deer, Tx, stepsister Lori and Danny McCann, of Duncan, OK, stepsister-in-law Josie Marlar, of Lubbock, TX, great-granddaughter Chloe Howard, of Borger, TX, stepson Rick Howard, of Borger, TX, brothers-in-law Levi and Carla Bailey, Brent and Anna Bailey, sisters-in-law Deb and Jim Parsons, Charlene and Larry Williams, Becky and Richard Campbell, Neva and Scott Sledge, and special niece RaNita and Tom Cook, of Amarillo, TX, along with a host of nieces, nephews and friends.
We would like to thank the VA and Ussery Roan Veterans Home for all the excellent care given to Larry.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ussery Roan Texas State Veterans Home / 1020 Tascosa Road / Amarillo, TX 79124.
I am so glad Greg and I stopped by to see Larry while I was living in Amarillo. Larry was so good at everything he did! He will be missed by all who knew him.
Larry was always professional and kind teaching at the Jordan Unit. He was never inconsiderate or pompous. Humble is an adjective about Larry and his students and me truly respected him. The world is a better place, because of Larry Hadley.