In Silver Springs and Yerington, Larry Huntt was a pastor. In Carson Valley he was a teacher. But to everyone who met him, he was a friend, according to his son-in-law Ed DeCarlo of Carson City.
Huntt died Monday at the DeCarlo home. He was 83.
"He was the kind of guy who loved people of all faiths," DeCarlo said. "Missionaries would come to the door and they wouldn't leave soon. He would bring them in and make sure they had something to eat."
The Rev. Huntt taught music and history in Gardnerville for 20 years, retiring in 1985. Most students who sang or played music during those years at Carson Valley Middle School took classes from Huntt.
After retiring, Huntt went back to school and obtained a doctor of ministry degree. He was a pastor at Mountain View Christian Church in Genoa for four years and was academic dean and a professor at Northern Sierra Bible Institute for 12 years.
Active over the past 16 years in the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Carson City and Silver Springs, he drove all around Western Nevada.
Huntt moved to Dayton about seven years ago.
"He gave sermons out in Yerington and Silver Springs," DeCarlo said.
When he wasn't preaching the gospel or playing the organ, DeCarlo said, he was touring Nevada in his motor home.
"He visited all the ghost towns in Nevada," DeCarlo said.
DeCarlo married Huntt's daughter, Caryn, about eight years ago. Huntt officiated at the ceremony.
"I was in Toastmasters and I announced I was getting married to Larry Huntt's daughter," DeCarlo said. "One guy said he hunted with Larry. Lots of people knew him."
DeCarlo said Huntt was active until March when he underwent heart bypass surgery. He had a stroke during the surgery and became completely dependent on his family.
The family moved him down to Carson from the hospital, where they took care of him for the past month.
"We were grateful to have him with us rather than in a medical facility," he said. "Grateful we were able to be able to give him the around-the-clock attention he needed."
Huntt was born March 20, 1920 in Washington, D.C., and received his bachelor's of fine arts in music from the National Institute of Music.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mary; a son and daughter-in-law Calvin and Mila of Reno; a daughter and son-in-law Caryn Huntt-DeCarlo and Ed DeCarlo; son Christopher Bowen of Iowa; daughters Anna Bartley, Larrie Patricia Carter and Priscilla Metcalfe, all of Maryland; and 17 grandchildren.
Services are 2:30 p.m. Thursday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 405 E. College Parkway, Carson City. Burial will follow at Lone Mountain Cemetery. FitzHenry's is in charge of arrangements.