Larry Eugene Cummings

Mr. Larry Eugene Cummings, 69, of Hot Springs, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2012. He was born Dec. 3, 1942, in Blytheville to Clarence Albert and RoseLee Carter Cummings.

Larry was a graduate of Arkansas State University and was a Registered Sanitarian. He worked as a district field inspector for the Arkansas Department of Pollution Control and Ecology for 18 years. Thereafter, he started his own environmental consulting firm, Cummings Environmental Field Services. In his work, Larry was integral in restoring the water quality and beauty of Lake Ouachita, Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine.

Larry overcame many adversities in his life and came out stronger following each one. In his younger years, Larry loved racing motorcycles. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing, and tending his herb and vegetable gardens. He had great love and respect for nature and its purity.

Larry will be remembered as a quick-witted and generous man who had an excellent memory and always strived to make others feel comfortable. He was happiest when cooking for his family and close friends, particularly when he was cooking fish he had caught himself.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He leaves his wife of 38 years, Nancy Caristianos Cummings;

Two sons, Jason Carter Cummings and wife, Elizabeth, of Benton, and Ken Cummings of Denham Springs, La.;

One brother, Clarence Wayne Cummings of Blytheville;

His father-in-law, George Caristianos of Hot Springs;

One brother-in-law, Rollin Caristianos and his wife, Mary, of Hot Springs;

Three sisters-in-law, Carolyn Russell and her husband, John, and Rebecca Kaczenski and her husband, Greg, all of Little Rock, and Rosemary Scherer and her husband, Dave, of Friendswood, Texas;

A cousin, Charlyn Viani of Galveston, Texas; and

Nieces, nephews and other extended family.

A celebration of Larry's life will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Little Rock with the Rev. C.B. Baker officiating. Visitation will be from 6-8 p.m. today at Gross Funeral Home.

Memorials may be made to The Nature Conservancy of Arkansas, 601 N. University Avenue, Little Rock, AR 72205. A guest register may be signed at www.grossfuneralhome.com