Larry Donald Rutherford, 63, passed away after a period of declining health at The Charles George VA Medical Center in Asheville, NC on December 11, 2023. He was born on Christmas Day December 25,1959 in Morganton, NC to the late Betty Jean ("Jay Bird") Rutherford.  He attended Freedom High School and Willow Tree A.M.E. Church in his younger years. He also served in the United States Army in Fort Dix, New Jersey in 1977, and in Germany from 1978- 1981, as a motor transport operator for two of those years. He received an honorable discharge in 1981.  He was employed in the late 1980's early 1990's at Remarco and Henredon Furniture in Morganton. He loved his children, family, and friends dearly. He also loved cooking, fishing, playing basketball and baseball, playing cards, dancing, drawing, building things and doing some handy work. Larry also loved his pets Sweetie and Lizzo.  He was preceded in death by his mother Betty Jean ("Jay Bird") Rutherford, grandmother Pearl Rutherford Harbison, grandfather Gaither Harbison, aunt Faye Wilson, uncles Frank Rutherford, Clarence ("Chief") Rutherford, Mickey John Rutherford, Wilson Harbison, Melvin Harbison, and Walter ("Bloot") Harbison.

Left to cherish his memory are his children Latouia Sutton Herring(Zack), Latemia O'Neil (Shannon), Larry Sutton, Donald Rutherford (Latisha), Adonis Rutherford; grandchildren Chynajah O'Neil, Kejhion Johnson, I'Yanna Johnson, Amare' Rutherford, Malaya Brooks, Ma'Liah Rutherford, A'lijah Rutherford, Audrina Rutherford, Miyana Rutherford, A'Kiya Rutherford, Lilly Herring, Brayden Morgan; one brother James Harbison(Elizabeth); nieces April Blanton (Kedrick), Heather Harbison; nephew James Harbison Jr. (Monriel); special aunts Barbara Kincaid, Martha Avery, Mary Harbison, Geneva Williams; special friend of ten years Pamela Dashkevich of Asheville, NC, and a host of great nieces, great nephews, cousins and friends.

A memorial service celebrating the life of Mr. Larry Donald Rutherford will be held Monday December 18, 2023 at 2:00 p.m. at New Hope In Christ Church, with Pastor LaTrese Lyerly serving as the eulogist.  The family will receive friends thirty minutes prior to the service.

The service will be livestreamed on the McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook page and YouTube Channel; the links are found below:

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/mccainfuneralhome/

McCain Funeral Home & Cremations YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu4qb7IT7sO-Kc0BRs05J-A