Larry Gale Pearl, 76, Union Star, died Aug. 26, 2026, in a care facility in Stanberry.
Living nearly his entire life in the area, Larry was born June 8, 1950, in Cameron, the son of LaVerne and Doris (Raynor) Pearl. His family resided in several northwest Missouri towns: he attended first grade in Maitland, the remainder of elementary and junior high school at Northeast Nodaway School, then finished his high school career and graduated from King City High School.
Larry attended Northwest Missouri State College, where he graduated with is B.S. in Secondary Education for English Journalism in the spring of 1972. He was a member of the first class to receive ‘University’ diplomas from Northwest. Following a brief period of editing the newspaper in Plattsmouth, NE, he returned to the area and married the love of his life, Belinda Clevenger, on Dec. 23, 1973.
After a four-year stint as English/ Journalism instructor at Lathrop High School, he returned to journalism, selling advertising for radio and print, as well as completing many pieces of freelance writing. Larry published and managed several newspapers in southern Iowa before coming home to Northwest Missouri, where he joined the staff of The Tri-County News in King City and taught English and Journalism at King City High School. A decade later, Larry became owner and publisher of the TCN, and continued as a local journalist until health considerations forced his early retirement in 2010.
In retirement, Larry took great joy from his family, particularly his grandchildren, and enjoyed fishing, gardening and cooking alongside Belinda. Though his health declined over his final years, his favorite times were at home, his family all around him.
Larry was an Elder in the Primitive Baptist Church and pastored churches in Savannah, Maryville and Winterset, IA. He served as a member of the Union Star R-II School board for nine years as well.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sherry (Bill) Ballew, as well as his father-in-law, Kenneth Clevenger. He is survived by his wife, Belinda, Union Star; a son, Matthew (Emily) Pearl, Rea; daughter, Laura (John) Coffey, Harrisonville; siblings, Gerry Pearl and Terry Pearl, Maysville, and Jerry (Kirby) Renshaw, Skidmore; an aunt, Eileen Reed, Cameron; mother-in-law Shirley Clevenger, Stanberry; brother-in-law Kevin (Sherry) Clevenger, Quitman, TX; nine grandchildren, Audrey, Abigail, Mariah, Michaela and Charlotte Coffey, and James, Emmett, Noah and Vivian Pearl; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services was held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, September 1 at Roberson Funeral Home, King City, MO. Burial will follow in Berlin Cemetery, King City, MO. The family will receive friends from 5:00- 7:00 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Larry Pearl Scholarship Fund in care of Roberson Funeral Home, P.O. Box 153, King City, MO 64463. Online condolences may be left at www.robersonfuneralhome.com.
