Larry Taylor Devers of Cerro, New Mexico died in his sleep of natural causes on August 8, 2021. He was born February 14, 1943, in Longview, Texas.
Larry did some living in his 78 years. At an early age, he started drumming on everything around him, keeping time to the music in his head. Later he became a great musician. Larry was well known for his “shuffle beat,” which probably started on his chair and table in the kitchen. When he was seven years old, he looked at a portrait of himself and told his grandmother, “I look like a movie ’tar.” And he was a star performer. He had a “License to Party” and everyone was invited.
Larry spent most of his school years in Snyder, Texas. He was a member of the Snyder Black and Gold Marching Band and the Stage Band and was an Eagle Scout. He graduated from high school in 1962 in Winnsboro, Texas, living with his gracious aunt and uncle, Ed and Burnell Hutcherson during his senior year. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University for a short time, and left in order to put a band together because the music was calling him. He hit the road in search of the beat.
Larry’s musical career was as varied as they come. He had his own bands and played with some famous people. Lodestone, Sod, and LZ Shaker were a few of his own bands. Others he played and recorded with were Bobby Darin and Andy Williams. His name is in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Las Vegas and he will forever be in the hearts of those that knew him and played with him over the years.
Having a deep love for the Questa/Cerro area and the mountains where they had once lived, Larry and his soul mate, Vicki, moved to their forever dream home in 2019 in Cerro.
Larry will be missed by his wife, Vicki Devers, his mother, Eloise Pauli, his sisters, Deanne Sims (Bill), Christie Clark (Rick). His children, Sean Devers, Somare Matson (Jim), Tori Curry (Levi), and Scott Richter, including eight grandchildren; Taylor Devers, McKean Matson, Cole Matson, Kate Matson, Christian Curry, Kaysha Curry, Cash Richter, and Lilli Richter.A niece and a nephew plus many cousins and friends in every place he lived will miss him along with the wonderful friends of Questa, Cerro, and Red River.
A memorial will be held later in September. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Stray Hearts Animal Shelter in Taos, New Mexico.
