Wednesday, December 23, 2009
(1 Comments)
Posted by: Russ Kinkade
Larry Cayton, dear friend to all who know and love
Shepherds, passed from this life to his eternal home in Heaven on December 19,
2009. A memorial service was held at Spring Creek Church in Pewaukee, WI
(formerly Garfield Avenue Baptist Church of Milwaukee) on December 21. Larry is
survived by his father Lornie Cayton (emeritus Board member of Shepherds
Ministries), his sister Lynn, his brother Marlin, and their families. He was
preceded in death by his mother Arlene.
Larry was nine years old at the time the idea of Shepherds
was born, begun through a question his father posed to the Sunday school class
– can we do something to help children with disabilities. The ministry, which
was begun from this small seed, has now blossomed into what we know today as
Shepherds Ministries, ministering for over 50 years to many hundreds of
children and adults with developmental disabilities as well as reaching out to
families and churches across the United States.
At the age of 15, Larry and his friend Allan lifted the first
shovelfuls of dirt at the groundbreaking service on November 16, 1963 here in
Union Grove, Wisconsin. Since that time, Shepherds has been Larry’s home. We
all miss Larry deeply. His smile, his singing, his wit, his affection – all now
a precious memory to those who loved him and were a part of his extended family
at Shepherds. Larry’s portrait, presented to his parents at the dedication of
the first building on June 6, 1964, still hangs in our lobby, an ever present
reminder that without Larry, Shepherds would not exist today.
Thank you, Larry, for the ministry you have had in our
lives. You have been a faithful servant of Christ, a loving son, brother and
friend. You will forever stay in our hearts until we see you again in Glory.
Muriel Andersen
Administrative Assistant to the President
My wife and I worked with Larry for almost 10 years. We always found him to be happy and concerned for others. He will be missed but to use an often overused phrase he is in a better place. I would have loved to be in heaven when he made his entrance into the presence of God. I can almost hear God say, "Come in in Larry, we've been waiting on you." Larry never met a stranger and greeted everyone with a hug and I don't see any reason to change just because of a change in his residence.
Jerry and Nancy Belton
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