Lawrence “Larry” Lee Satterfield

Larry Satterfield, age 67, of Midland, Texas, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, at his home in Midland. Visitation will be Wednesday, Sept. 11, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at The Branch at Nalley-Pickle Welch Funeral Home on North Big Spring St.  A memorial service will be Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024 at 2:00 p.m., at St. Luke’s United Methodist Church at 3011 W. Kansas Ave.

Lawrence Lee (Larry) Satterfield was born to his loving parents, Robb and Jean Satterfield, on November 17, 1956, in Hempstead, Long Island, New York, joining his big sister Marilyn to complete the family. Larry’s father was a career Air Force pilot and was stationed on Long Island for almost five years following Larry’s birth. From New York, the Air Force transferred Col. Satterfield to Mobile, Alabama, and the family moved there. After a five-year tour of duty in Mobile, his father retired from the Air Force, and in 1966, accepted a job as a corporate pilot in Midland, TX, and the Satterfield family moved west.

Larry attended Midland public schools and graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in 1974. At Lee, he was an accomplished saxophone player in the Rebel Band. After high school graduation, Larry attended Texas Tech University. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega social fraternity and also played sax for two years in the Goin’ Band from Raiderland (the Texas Tech Band). He graduated from Tech in 1978 with a B.A. in Finance, and later, also earned a Petroleum Land Management degree from Tech.

Next came a move to Dallas and a job for a few years in commercial real estate, followed by a business move to South Texas for several years. It was during this time in South Texas that Larry developed an interest in healthy eating and became a vegetarian. After many years of studying and learning about the health food industry, he realized that he wanted to open a health food store and made the decision to move back to Midland to do so.

Natural Foods Market was first opened in March 1995 in the Imperial Shopping Center. A few years later, Larry purchased property further east on Wadley Avenue and, in 2004, the current Natural Foods Market store was built. It was followed a short time later by the addition of Strawberry Fields Café. Larry really enjoyed helping people with their health questions and problems and advising them about vitamins, supplements and healthy eating habits. He found his true calling in life.

Larry was a very kind and generous person who helped many people with his advice and his resources. He was also a great listener who always had a joke or funny story to share with customers and friends. He really enjoyed brightening everyone’s day and making them laugh or smile.

From an early age, Larry had a great love of music, especially jazz and rock and roll music. He had an extensive collection of record albums, CDs and a library of books about music and musicians. His all-time favorite band was the Rolling Stones.

He also had a great love and compassion for animals, particularly cats.

Larry had an especially close relationship with his sister Marilyn and her husband Bill, as well as his niece Ashley and nephew Ryan.

Larry passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2024, after a lengthy illness with his family by his side. He was a wonderful son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, friend and employer, and we will all miss him terribly.

Larry was preceded in death by his father, Lt. Col. Robb R. Satterfield, in 1990, and his mother, Jean Wilson Satterfield, in 2022.

He is survived by his sister Marilyn Hightower and her husband Bill of Midland and their son Ryan Hightower and wife Keleigh and their daughter Sophie of Fort Worth; and their daughter Ashley Hightower Cole and husband Andrew and their daughters Elizabeth (Bessie) and Charlotte of Dallas. He is also survived by an aunt and an uncle and several cousins too numerous to name, all in the Springfield, Missouri area, with whom he was also very close.

The family would like to express their deepest appreciation to two very special people, Kate Lagus and Tracy Brunson, for all their help and guidance during this difficult time. We simply cannot thank them enough.

We would also like to thank all the employees of Natural Foods Market and Strawberry Fields Café for all their help and dedication to their jobs and especially to Larry. He appreciated and loved them all very much.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Midland Humane Coalition, ASPCA, or any local animal shelter, St. Jude’s Children’s’ Hospital, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of Nalley-Pickle & Welch Funeral Home & Crematory of Midland. Online condolences can be made at www.npwelch.com.

To send flowers to the family or place a tree in memory of Lawrence "Larry" Lee Satterfield, please visit our Tribute Store.