Lawrence "Larry" Bookless

Lawrence (Larry) R. Bookless, 90, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, passed away on Saturday, June 6, 2026.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on June 20, 2026, at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church. Please wear K-State attire or purple.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Orville and Ina Bookless; his wife, Bonnie; and his sisters, Wanda Richards and Marilyn Gantz.

Larry is survived by his daughter, Lisa (Kelly) Donley, of Wichita; and brother, John Bookless, of Williamsburg, VA. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Megan (Kevin) Brashears of Chicago, Illinois; Maggie Donley (fiancé Towne Walston) of Wichita; and Zac Donley of Washington, D.C.; as well as his great-grandson, Roman, of Chicago, Illinois.

Larry was born January 4, 1936 in Nickerson Kansas.  His father was a Methodist Minister, so he moved frequently but finally landed in Scandia, Kansas where he graduated high school. He attended Kansas Weslyn in Salina, Kansas where he met Bonnie. He finished his education at Kansas State University.

He and Bonnie were married while he was still in college and lived the first 6 months of marriage apart.  They eventually moved to Great Bend, Kansas and started their life together. Larry worked in the farm equipment business for a portion of his life, but working as a well-site geologist was his true calling. There were many nights when he left in the middle of the night to head to a well site. He would say “wells were like babies — they decided when it was time”.

After retiring and moving to Wichita from Great Bend, he discovered a new passion. He had always enjoyed gardening and “playing in the dirt” with flowers, so the next step was becoming a Master Gardener. Larry took this new hobby seriously and became deeply involved. He spent countless hours at the extension office planting flowers and trimming trees. He also planted multiple trees at the church and worked at Lisa’s house, teaching her how to amend the clay soil on the east side. When life threw him a detour in 2024, he took up paint-by-number painting. He would spend hours at a time working on his paintings, which became gifts for loved ones and decorations throughout his apartment. He even got a few cash offers!

Larry’s greatest joy came from his grandchildren. He spent hours teaching them to fish and helping them plant vegetables and flowers. Unless he and Bonnie were out of town, they attended every sporting event the grandkids were involved in. He was the kindest and most patient man, especially when they asked to “do his hair” with bows and rubber bands. The joy on his face, and the laughter that followed, could be heard throughout the house.

Larry was an avid K-State fan and, up to his final day on this earth, was dressed head-to-toe in purple.

Memorials have been established with the Master Gardeners of Sedgwick County c/o Extension Education Foundation, 7001 W. 21st St. N., Wichita, KS 67205; or Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 1550 N. Chapel Hill St. Wichita, KS 67206.

Services are in the care of Downing & Lahey Mortuary-East.