SALISBURY - Leonard Ray "Larry" Hyre, 67, died at Coastal Hospice at the Lake peacefully Wednesday evening, Jan. 11, 2012. Born April 15, 1944, in Fairmont, W.Va., he was the son of the late Leonard Lincoln Hyre and Alma Jean Watson Hyre. Larry graduated from Washington Irving High School in Clarksburg, W.Va., in 1962. On June 7, 1963, he married the former Nancy Bell. After studying biology at Fairmont State in WV, he worked with various reptiles at the St. Louis Zoo, where he discovered a true passion for animals. Later, Larry returned to WV where he worked for the West Virginia Department of Roads as an assistant project supervisor on the interstate system, owned and operated a hobby and craft shop with his wife, and was a dog trainer at Wheeling Downs in Wheeling W.Va. In 1979, he and his family moved to Cambridge, Md. Larry worked for the Social Security Administration as a Claims Representative for over 20 years before retiring in 2003. Shortly after, Larry and his wife moved to Salisbury, Md. Larry was a member of various genealogy groups. He was passionate about history, genealogy research, and computer programming, writing many articles that were published in early computer magazines. Larry enjoyed playing poker with friends and family and in a local poker league; but above all, he loved telling jokes and spending time with his children and six grandchildren. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Nancy Jean Bell Hyre; two sons, Leonard R. Hyre Jr., "Lenny," and his fiancee, Pamela Delort of Dover, Del., and Allen L. Hyre and his wife, Christina of Elkton; a daughter, Launa C. Cook and her husband Troy of Georgetown, Del.; six grandchildren, Heather Hyre and her fiance Lucas Hanson, Julie Hyre, Kirsten Cook, Leonard Hyre III, "Trey," Damon Cook and his wife Amber, and Sara Hyre; a brother, Gary Hyre and his wife Donna of Clarksburg, W.Va.; two sisters, Louana Holton and her husband, Ray of Bethlehem, Ga., and Connie Currey and her husband David of Clarksburg, W.Va.; and several uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews, and many cousins. A Celebration of His Life will be held on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at 11 a.m. at the Holloway Funeral Home in Salisbury, with a visitation one hour prior to the service. Officiating at the service will be Rev. Sharon Hutchison. A luncheon reception will be held following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Diabetes Association and/or the American Cancer Society. Arrangements are in the care of Holloway Funeral Home, 501 Snow Hill Road, Salisbury, MD 21804. To send condolences to the family, visit: www.hollowayfh.com.