Lawrence Richard McCain Jr. Obituary
Lawrence "Larry" Richard McCain, Jr., age 73, passed away peacefully at home in Great Falls, Montana, on May 10, 2022, after a long battle with melanoma. Larry was born on March 9, 1949, in Ventura, California and was raised in Whittier, California, where he attended grade school and high school. He also studied art at Rio Hondo College.
Larry met the love of his life, Mary Christine "Chris" Gillis, in 1966. They married in November 1969, when he was age 20 and Chris was 18, and they had two loving daughters, Laura and Jeanine. In 1979, Larry followed his dream to move his family to Montana, where he had spent summer vacations near his mother's hometown of Havre throughout childhood.
Larry was a US Army Veteran, serving for two years stateside during the Vietnam War. Upon honorable discharge in 1971, he used his artistic talents to begin his long career in the advertising business. He eventually started his own successful advertising agency in Great Falls, where he designed local print media, radio, and television ads for nearly thirty years.
Larry was a musician at heart. He was a very talented guitar player and singer, playing in numerous bands over the years. He and his wife, Christine, formed a duo and specialized in dance music at clubs, weddings, private events, and parties around the region from 1993 to 2013. Also, a very talented songwriter and video editor, he wrote and recorded a catalogue of his own songs inspired by family, "Larry McCain Musings" on You Tube. He generously shared his passion for music with his family, which helped inspire his children and nieces and nephews to pursue their own musical talents.
All who knew Larry loved him and his contagious laugh, which came easily and often. He led his life with generosity, kindness, and a wonderful sense of humor. He was a man of many talents and loved working with his hands on any type of project. He loved woodworking and made many pieces of furniture for his own home. He also enjoyed sports, westerns, traveling with his wife, and visiting family and friends. Larry loved God and Jesus, and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior many years ago.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Christine McCain; daughters Laura McCain of Great Falls and Jeanine McCain of Colorado; sister Pam Reithmeier of Corona, California; many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews; and numerous cousins. Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Mary McCain, Sr., and brother, Michael McCain.
There will be a viewing on Sunday, May 15, 2022, from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. followed by a rosary vigil from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Hillcrest Lawn Memorial (1410 13th Street South). A funeral Mass will be held on Monday, May 16, at 1:00 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church (201 44th Street South), followed immediately by graveside burial service at Mount Olivet Cemetery.
