| Sources |
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 8 Mar 2001.
Ida Lee Proffitt obituary
- [S113] Manes Funeral Home, (http://www.manesfuneralhome.com), 3 Mar 2008.
(September 15, 1918 - March 3, 2008)
U.S. Veteran Raymond D. Large, age 89, of Cosby, passed away Monday, March 3, 2008 at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County.
Raymond was a veteran of WWII having served in both the U S Navy and U S Army. He received the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harrison and Essie Large; brother, Illiff Large; sister, Ima Large Brown.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Susan Cureton Large of Cosby; son and daughter-in-law, Raymond Dennis Large, Jr. and Alison Laird Large, Sylva, NC; daughter and son-in-Phyllis and Ennis Gentry of Cosby; grandchildren, Raymond Dennis Large, III, and John David Large, Sylva, NC; step-grandchildren, Jeff Gentry, Jennifer Gentry and Lisa Talley all of Newport; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, M. L. and Arlene Cureton, Cosby; sister-in-law, Mable Cureton , of Cosby; and a host of other family and friends.
Funeral services will we held 8:00 pm Wednesday, March 5, 2008 in Manes Funeral Home Chapel, with Rev. Chris Bradey and Rev. Bill Murr officiating. Burial will be 11:00 am, Thursday, March 6, 2008 in Waters-Large Cemetery, with L/Cpl Charles C. Roberts DAV Chapter 102 conducting military rites. The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm Wednesday at Manes Funeral Home prior to the funeral services.
- [S24] The Newport Plain Talk, (http://www.newportplaintalk.com), 4 Mar 2008.
Raymond Large, former Cocke County School Board chairman, dies at 89
COSBY-Raymond Large, whose name was synonymous with the Cosby area schools for over a quarter of century, died Monday morning after a period of declining health. He was 89.
First elected to the Cocke County Board of Education in 1970, under the tenure of the late Superintendent of Schools Everett Freshour, Large served as the Fifth District school board member for 26 years. In addition to Freshour, Large also worked with two later superintendents, Beth O. Freeman and Larry B. Blazer. He retired from the board in 1996.
In recalling their work with Large, both Freeman and Blazer praised him for his dedication to the county's school children and to the betterment of local schools, especially in the Cosby community.
Freeman said, "I could always count on Raymond's advice about school closings, especially in times of inclement weather. I learned that I could call him early in the morning for his opinion regarding the safety of having schools, and he was always right."
Blazer, upon learning of Large's death, issued the following statement: "Mr. Large served on the school board for 26 years. He was also chairman for some time. He was always interested in improving all aspects of education. He was an avid sports fan and supporter. He was especially known for his support of the 5th district schools. Mr. Large served until 1996 when he retired from board service. I will miss Mr. Large, his friendship, and his never-ending support for education in Cocke County."
Born 15 September 1918, in Cosby, he was a son of the late Harrison and Essie (Dennis) Large. His first schooling was at Pleasant Valley, a small country school in the Middle Creek community of Cosby.
At age 7, Large lost his father, and his mother moved to the Upper Cosby community of Brown's where she and Raymond lived with his older sister, the late Ima (Large) Brown and her husband Walter. He also had a brother, Iliff. After finishing his elementary education at the nearby Brown's School, Large entered Cosby Academy, the precursor to today's Cosby High School, at the time it was operated by the Baptist Association. While Large was a student there, Cocke County assumed the operation of the Academy and changed its name to Cosby High School.
Large's served his country in two branches of military service. On October 16, 1937, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served four years. He was discharged on November 20, 1941. Seventeen days later the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor catapulted America into World War II.
Large quickly volunteered to re-enter the Navy, but because of the government's refusal to allow him to assume his old rank, he opted to wait until the Army drafted him.
Before 1942 ended, Large was in the Army, assigned to the Fourth Infantry Division. He was sent to the Army's Ranger school at Camp Forrest, Tennessee, and later trained soldiers in Ranger tactics.
These same soldiers also received intensive training in amphibious landings during maneuvers on the eastern shore of the Carolinas and Florida, in preparation for the Allied invasion of Europe in June, 1944.
On the morning of D-Day, Large and his fellow soldiers began their trip toward Utah Beach, under the command of Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. When the division missed its initial landing site, Roosevelt gambled on another site, which bypassed the German army's main strength.
Large's division was the first group of American soldiers to enter Germany. Roosevelt's decision proved successful, and the 4th Division cleared the beachhead and established positions inland, allowing room for subsequent waves of Allied soldiers to land.
After Roosevelt's sudden death from a heart attack on July 12, 1944, the President's son was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously, and Large was one of the soldiers detailed to attend his commander's funeral.
Large eventually earned the rank of Staff Sergeant. Among his military decorations were two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star.
Upon his discharge from the Army, Large returned to Cosby and eventually assumed a job as mail carrier, a position he held for 32 years.
Himself a talented athlete and sports enthusiast, Large played baseball as a student and later coached both baseball and basketball in his community. For decades he was a faithful fan of the students playing for Cosby and Smoky Mountain Schools' teams.
As a school board member, Large's determination led to major improvements at Cosby and Smoky Mountain Schools with the addition of buildings, sports programs, faculty, and support staff. His direct manner left no room for misunderstanding about his position on any point, and he was especially known for his strong, unwavering support of the schools' principals and teachers. Upon his retirement from the board, Large reflected over his tenure as school board member, admitted that the board had weathered quite a bit of controversy during the years of his service, then simply summed up his time with the statement, "But we handled it though, I reckon."
In recognition of his devoted service to the school, the football field and the vocational wing at Cosby High School now bear Large's name.
A longtime member of Holders Grove Baptist Church, Large was also a charter member of the Cosby Ruritan Club and of the Cosby Volunteer Fire Department. In 2001, Large's contributions to Cocke County earned him recognition as one of "Cocke County's Citizens of the Century."
Large is survived by his wife of 62 years, Susan Cureton Large; two children, two grandchildren, three step-grandchildren, and many other family and friends. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday, March 5, at 8 p.m. at Manes Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. prior to the service. Interment will be Thursday, March 6, at 11 a.m. in Waters-Large Cemetery with L/Cpl. Charles C. Roberts DAV Chapter 102 conducting military rites.
- [S58] Marriage Certificate.
Name: Raymond Large
Event: Marriage
Event Date: 28 Dec 1946
Event Place: Cocke, Tennessee
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Spouse: Susan Cureton
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Film Number: 1669917
Digital Folder Number: 4485978
Image Number: 01246
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