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Show Lawrence larry' Bye Park City denizen Lawrence Edwin "Larry" Bye died on Oct. 27 at the age of 77. Bye died in a Heber rest home, where he had resided in recent years. Before that, he was a lifetime resident of Park City. Residents recall him as a colorful character from the town's pre-resort days. Record historian Bea Kummer said, "When he dressed in his sailor suit and corncob pipe to march in the parades, he looked just like Popeye the Sailor." Bye was born June 1, 1906, to Charley and Annie Jones Bye. Kummer said he served in World War II, and from injuries received then, received a pension in the years afterward. He performed many odd jobs around town. "He was always ready to give you a hand at anything," said Kummer. "But he wanted to be independent and do things his own way." When Bye left Salt Lake Veterans hospital after a stay there in the 1970s, doctors asked Kummer is she would provide him a room. She agreed, but Bye moved instead back to his cabin on Pacific Avenue. (The road, an eastern extension exten-sion of Empire, was the old Bachelors' Row in town, Kummer Kum-mer said.) Richard Martinez said Bye was a great volunteer fireman. "He was usually one of the very first at a fire. He'd be on the run from one end of town to the other." Martinez said when he ran the old Cozy tavern (on the ' present location of the Carbide Lamp) Bye was the first person per-son in every day. "We used to hold his checks and give him so much a day to help him manage his money." About four years ago, Bye went to live in the Heber facility. Kummer said, "He was a great one for kissing the girls there every morning." Graveside services took place Monday at the Park City Cemetery. |