James "Larry" Gall, 85, of North Port, Fla., went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 14, 2022.
Larry was born to Henrietta (Gillingham) and Elmer Gall on May 14, 1936 in Bay City, Michigan. He grew up in Bay Port, MI, and was proceeded in death by his parents, older brother, Floyd McGillivary, older sister, Pat Dubey, and younger sister Alice Small.
Prior to graduation from Scottsville High School, Larry was approached by Jim Campbell, at the time a scout for the Detroit Tigers, who offered him an opportunity to play minor league baseball. He turned down the offer to attend Central Michigan University to play baseball on scholarship. He graduated in 1958 with a BS degree in education. He met JoAnn Boyd during his Junior year and they married in Saginaw, MI in 1958.
Larry's career teaching and coaching spanned 35 years at Rose City High School from 1958-60, Flint Utley High School from 1960-67, and Flint Carman/Carman-Ainsworth High School from 1967-91. He made his mark coaching baseball. Highlights of his coaching tenure include being named Michigan's Class A Baseball Coach of the Year in 1979 and 1981 and reaching the 1981 State Championship game. He was inducted into the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame in 1989 (
https://www.mhsbca.org/mhsbcahalloffame) and the Greater Flint Area Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 (
https://gfashof.org/inductee/gall-larry/).
Larry leaves behind his best friend and loving wife of 64 years, JoAnn; daughter, Carrie (Jim) McMahan; son Eric (Ann Marie) Gall; 3 grandchildren; Jenna, Chris, and Jon; great-grandson, Collin; and his fur buddy, Holly.
He affected so many young lives through his teaching and coaching careers and his patience, kindness, and love of family will be greatly missed by all.
Celebration of Life Services are being planned for Florida in March and at Carman-Ainsworth High School, Flint, MI In August. Donations can be made to: Carman Cougar Charities 3114 Harbor Pointe Circle Fenton, MI 48430 denoting "Gall Memorial" on the check.
Loading ...
