Larry A. Whiteside

Larry A. Whiteside the son of Carl and Helen Whiteside who for several years operated Whiteside’s Pla-Sure Place Resort on the Gravois Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks passed away Monday, July 27, 2026, in Wichita, KS.  Larry was one of the last graduates of Buck Creek Grade School (a one room schoolhouse) in Morgan County, MO and has written two books on a partial history of the school.  His further education included graduating from Versailles, MO, High School in 1958, earning a Bachelor and Master degrees in history and a Specialist in Educational Administration at Central Missouri State University, Warrensburg, MO.  Larry’s careers included four years military service in the U. S. Navy, ten years teaching Social Studies at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia, MO, eventually serving thirteen years as a Jr/Senior High School Principal in Downs, KS, Bishop Carroll Catholic High School in Wichita, KS, and Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro KS.   Following his retirement from education Larry worked twenty years as a Service Representative at the Social Security Administration in Wichita, retiring in 2012.

Larry enjoyed playing competitive tennis and always had great fun playing a round of golf. He was an avid reader and would have several books going at once, pouring most of his time into   history with a little fiction sprinkled in for variety. His library was extensive and he could spend hours in our local used bookstores searching for additional books and music treasures.  Larry loved a good garage sale; it was hard for him to drive by one without stopping to look for the perfect bargain. His family will fondly remember the amusing stories he shared about his youth at the lake, his time in the navy and other life adventures.

Larry is survived by his wife of 38 years Mary Whiteside, daughter Sarah Rehm (Dave), son John Whiteside (Katie), daughter Anne Strandburg (Bryan), two step-sons, Zachary Maze (Jessica), Joshua Maze (Sara), and eleven grandchildren.

A rosary will be held at 7:00 pm, Sunday, August 9, 2026. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Monday, August 10, 2026, both at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church. As a Vietnam Military Era Veteran, Larry will be buried with full military honors in the Kansas Veterans’ Cemetery at Winfield, KS.

In lieu of flowers, memorial in his name may be designated to

St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, 3642 N. Ridge Road, Wichita, KS 67205

Bishop Carroll Catholic High School, 8101 W. Central, Wichita, KS 67212

Friends of the Wichita Public Library, 711 West 2nd St. N. Wichita, KS 67203

Services in care of Downing & Lahey West Mortuary.