George Lawrence Esson

Each morning for breakfast Larry Esson ate a bowl of oatmeal and peanut butter toast, and then threw the scrapes out on the patio for Soldier, the neighborhood cat. Larry was a nice guy. He regularly checked on the older widow down the road, and when he climbed Mount Borah, he helped a fellow hiker in trouble by carrying her backpack. Morning and evening during the summer Larry moved the irrigation pipes at Bruneau Cemetery. People in the community had loved ones buried there. Larry used to be a coroner and he knew about death. He said, “We all owe this planet a body,” and on January 13, 2025 at the age of eighty, Larry Esson paid his debt.

He was born on September 14, 1944 in Ontario, Oregon, but Larry grew up in Nampa, Idaho, the son of teachers, Norman Esson and Martha Ballantyne Esson. In high school, Larry shared many adventures with his best friend, Earl. After graduation, he joined the Air Force National Guard working as a fireman and as an instructor of fireman. When he left the military, Larry married and farmed at Melba and Oreana, Idaho. He eventually found a lasting career as a crop advisor for Simplot Soilbuilders. Larry liked his job and especially enjoyed getting to know area farmers. After twenty-five years with Simplot, he retired and began selling corn seed for Pioneer Seeds.

In 2016, Larry married Mary Bybee. Though they got passports to travel together, they never acquired a single stamp from another country. Mary said instead, they traveled the West, driving to Utah, Death Valley and the Grand Canyon. Larry was a good driver and rambled all over in his pickup, but he was also a great hiker and walker. He hiked the Grand Canyon five times with his good friend, Bob Bledsoe.

In 2005, Larry and Mary built their dream home on a bluff above Bruneau. After work that’s where Larry went to relax. He was an avid reader and sometimes read aloud to his wife in bed. His favorite authors were outdoor adventure writers like Bill Bryson, Edward Abby, and Jon Krakauer. Larry was a life-long learner and found joy in simple things like reading a good book, drinking a glass of wine, or having a nice visit with a neighbor or farm friend.

Larry leaves behind many people who knew and cared for him, including his wife, Mary, and step-children: Brigham Bybee and daughter Acelynn; Sam Richardson, wife Maci, and their children John and Marley; Stevie Richardson; Savannah (Richardson) May, husband Dylan, and their children Karter and Jeddsen. Larry is also survived by three children from his first marriage to Rita Peterson: Corey Esson and grandchildren Colton and Madison; Bobbie Esson and grandchild, Savannah; Bill Esson, wife Gretchen, and grandchildren Jakob and Lillie. Additionally, Larry leaves behind former wife, Josephine Anchustegui and three siblings, Beverly Fransen, Norma Esson, and Neil Esson.

Memorial will be January 25, 2025 at 1:00 at Bruneau American Legion Post #83, 32548 Belle Ave., Bruneau, Idaho 83604