Lawrence "Larry" Jay Adkinson Obituary (1945 - 2021)

Lawrence "Larry" Jay Adkinson, age 75, of Baker City passed away February 3rd, 2021 at his residence with his loving wife by his side. A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, February 10th at 11:00 AM at Mount Hope Cemetery in Baker City with Pastor Greg Pierce of the Blue Mountain Baptist Church officiating. Larry was born on June 29th, 1945 in Portland, Oregon to Ray Russel Ritzenthaler and Juanita V. LeWellan and was raised by his adopted parents Frank William and Marie Virginia (Stockert) Adkinson. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in Hillsboro, Oregon in 1963. In June of that same year, Larry joined the U.S. Navy. He was entered into active combat in Saigon during the Vietnam War. He served for 4 years before being Honorably Discharged. On July 16th of 1965 Larry married Mary Darlene (Winner) Adkinson in Cornelius, Oregon. He worked for the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter and as Animal Control Supervisor for Washington County in Hillsboro for Twenty-Two years, retiring on June 6th of 2001. Larry was an avid outdoorsman. His hobbies and passions included trapping, fishing, metal detecting and hunting (especially sage rat hunting). And he was a member of the American Trappers Association. He and Darlene shared their lives as foster parents for nine years. Larry also enjoyed helping young men who were interested in trapping. Survivors include his wife, M. Darlene Adkinson of Baker City; a daughter, Lisa Breiland and her husband Travis of Libby, Montana; and a son, Dale Adkinson and his wife Char of Newburg, Oregon; grandchildren, Derek Jay Breiland and wife Harlie of Libby, Montana and Kaleb KaiLynn Adkinson of Cherry Grove, Oregon and Kaden Keen Adkinson of Sheridan, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his biological parents and his adopted parents. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Bonnie Hays Animal Shelter through Gray's West & Co. Pioneer Chapel, 1500 Dewey Ave., Baker City, Oregon 97814.