Laurence Duggan

Laurence Irving Duggan, "Larry," passed away peacefully on Monday, September 29, 2025, at the age of 91 years, while under hospice care at his home in San Angelo, Texas.

Larry lived every moment of his life with unshakable faith and enormous love for his family, his neighbors and the Catholic church. He had a great sense of humor, and loved hunting in the great outdoors. He was dedicated to his country as an Air Force pilot and to the economic security of his many clients as a financial advisor. Larry also was a great storyteller, an avid and extremely competitive card player, and a stubborn, ornery Irishman to the very bone. We are duty-bound to note that Dad succeeded in outliving his mom, Dorothy Ada Darrow Duggan, by 245 days, which was one of his major goals in later life.

Larry was born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, on February 16, 1934, to Dorothy and Frank Duggan. His dad worked in insurance, and he was raised together with his older brother Mickey and younger sister Peggy (born on his 9th birthday, Peggy was the only present Larry received that year). Although the family lived in several places over the years, his favorite was living on the lake in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Dad was an outdoors kid - he hunted with his bb gun, shotgun and, eventually, rifle (becoming a skilled marksman), skated and fished on the lake, golfed, played high school football, basketball and baseball, and sang in the chorus.

Larry graduated in 1956 from the College of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota. While there he had a moment of national fame when he won first place in the Secretary of the Air Force ROTC Marksmanship Trophy Competition in 1955. Larry had the highest score from a field of approximately 80,000 cadets across the United States and two overseas locations. In later life Dad had an almost equally notable athletic achievement (at least as far as he was concerned), scoring two hole-in-ones (both on the same hole) while playing at the Dyess AFB golf course.

On December 28, 1957, Larry married the love of his life, Beatrice Ann Paal (who he met in an Irish Bar on St. Patrick's Day). In the first 10 years of their marriage, Larry & Bea served Air Force assignments in San Angelo, San Antonio, New Hampshire, Newfoundland, and California, having 4 of their 5 children (Kelly, Mary, Kevin and Sean) along the way. Their next assignment was Dyess AFB in Abilene where they stayed, put down roots, made life-long friends, were very active in their church and community, and had their last child, Molly Bea, the beloved surprise baby. Dad always said, "you grow where God plants you."

Dad loved his whole family (including but not limited to the fake Duggans, Minnesotans, von Briesens, and Bennetts) with all his heart. But his children happily admit that he showered his 16 grandkids and three great grandkids with special love and attention. He traveled with them, treated them and always enjoyed their company. Among other things, he played cards with as many grandkids as he was able, turning Marlee into a regular gin card shark. He didn't like her beating him - he didn't like anyone beating him - but he was very proud of his teaching ability. Grandpa knew and loved these kids as a group and, most important, as individuals. They brought joy to his life, and he was beyond proud of every one of them.

Our Dad was a very strong man who lived with severe pain in his later years. Even as he suffered numerous falls and struggled with physical challenges galore, he never lost the will to keep on trying, insisting that he was always ready to take a trip to New York or Maine, take a cruise, visit relatives in Minnesota, go out to eat, go to the movies, go hunting - to do what he wanted to do and live the way he wanted to live. He also was incredibly exasperating, insisting until virtually his dying day that the absolute worst thing he ever did was give up his car keys. We loved him dearly; we will miss him terribly and can only hope to measure up to his example.

We do not think it is a coincidence that Dad departed this life on the Feast Day of the Archangels Raphael, Gabriel and Michael. Instead, we are confident Raphael, Gabriel and Michael escorted him to heaven on archangel's wings, directly into the presence of God and the waiting arms of his loving wife Bea.

Larry is survived by his five children, Kelly and Michael Murray, Mary Duggan, Kevin and Whitney Duggan, Sean and Amy Duggan, and Molly and Jeff Lightsey; 16 grandchildren and their spouses (Laura, Katie, Shannon and John, Melissa and Brian, Liam and Amanda, Frank, Colin, Nora, Clay, Ellie, Hunter, Erin, Mary, Clark, Marlee and Reid); three great grandchildren (Jennifer, Elise and Jolene) and great grandbaby number 4 due in January. He is also survived by his sister and 9th birthday present, Peggy von Briesen; a multitude of extended family members, including his cherished nieces and nephews; as well as many lifetime friends, all too numerous to count. The family also is very grateful for the care and love extended by Larry's caregivers and friends over the last several months, including his caregivers Joseph and Stephanie, his Visiting Angel Reine, his Enhabit Hospice of San Angelo nurses Janet and Jennifer, the staff at Lyndale San Angelo Senior Living, and many others.

Visitation and Rosary will be 6:00pm to 8:00pm Thursday October 9, 2025, at The Hamil Family Funeral Home at 6449 Buffalo Gap Rd. Abilene, TX. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00am Friday, October 10, 2025, at Holy Family Catholic Church at 5410 Buffalo Gap Rd, Abilene, TX. Committal with military honors will be 1:00pm Friday, October 10, 2025, at Texas State Veterans Cemetery at 7457 W Lake Rd, Abilene, TX.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Catholic Charitable Foundation, online at https://www.osvhub.com/catholic-foundation-san-angelo/giving/funds/bea-and-larry-duggan-endowment-fund or by check with a memo that reads "for the Bea and Larry Duggan Family Endowment Fund," mailed to the Catholic Charitable Foundation at 804 Ford Street, San Angelo, TX 79605.