RIP: Actor Larry Roquemore dies at 78
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — West Side Story
Shadow2700 — 9 years ago(December 01, 2016 11:10 AM)
Larry Rocky Roquemore made his transition to be with our Heavenly Father on Tuesday, October 25, 2016, at his home on Tierra Linda Ranch in the arms of his beloved wife. Many of the locals knew Rocky out on the golf course at Lady Bird Johnson or teaching country western dance lessons. He was born on March 29, 1938 in Mineral Wells, Texas to Marie Van Hoosier Roquemore and Dalnar F. Roquemore. Larry married the love of his life Bettye BetLu Jenkins Roquemore on February 11, 1961 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Following his artistic talent as a dancer, singer, and actor, he pursued a career in New York, where he and his wife performed in Broadway shows including West Side Story, Destry Rides Again with Andy Griffith, Tovarich with Vivian Leigh, Jean Pierre Aumont, and Eva Gabor, Subways are for Sleeping, Anyone Can Whistle, Half a Sixpence, Hallelujah Baby, Kelly, Lil Abner, and received rave reviews as Will Parker at Paper Mill Playhouse. Screen credits include West Side Story. Television credits include Perry Como, Ed Sullivan, and Gary Moore Shows, Bell Telephone Hour, Johnny Carson with Eva Gabor, and the Oscars with Angela Lansbury He was a member of Actors Equity, Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television Artists, Southwest Regional Ballet, Morning Rotary Club of Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg and Kerrville Board of Realtors. In 1972 he and his wife Bettye moved to Corpus Christi, Texas and founded the Corpus Christi Ballet Theatre where he was the choreographer and co-director until retiring to the Texas Hill Country in 1989only to continue sharing his love of dance in a different capacity teaching country-western, ballroom, swing and line dancing. He loved Tierra Linda and truly felt it was Gods country.
Rocky will be mourned and missed, however one thing is certain, his spirit will live on in the countless people whose lives he touched. Our lives (and the lives of many adopted pets) were enriched by his presence. He brought joy to his students as he helped them pursue their dreams and his friends will remember a talented, kind, generous and brave loving soul. Not only was he a loving and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather, anyone who knew him also knew he was a proud Texan who loved his Country.
Larry is survived by his wife of 55 years Bettye Jenkins Roquemore, loving daughter Laurie Lea Roquemore Austin, steadfast son-in law Michael Austin, and cherished grandson Mark Andrew Austin, along with many cousins, nieces and nephews.
He continually thanked Our Father for his family, Church family, Friends, Students, and all that he loved for their support in his fifty year victories over Cancer. He was ever so grateful for Gods Peace facing the challenges and lessons learned.
A memorial celebration of his life will be held on Saturday, November 12th at 2pm at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, 601 West Creek Street in Fredericksburg, Texas. The Rev. Jeff Hammond will be the celebrant. In lieu of flowers, he would be honored to have donations made to St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Peterson Hospice, or the Hill Country SPCA.
http://www.fredericksburg-funerals.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=3988813&fh_id=11009