Lawrence J. Mccauley

Lawrence Junior McCauley age 90 went to be with his Lord and Savior Thursday, February 15, 2024. Larry was born December 8, 1933 in Grand Rapids, MI the son of Lawrence and Mildred (Nye) McCauley. Larry’s life is a testament to God’s amazing grace. He was a loving father, husband, grandfather and pastor. Larry’s mother passed away when he was six years old. His brother, Paul died in a boating accident on Reed’s Lake when he was 22. Larry married his childhood sweetheart, Elaine Baragar three months later. Elaine was God’s gift to Larry and they enjoyed a deep and loving relationship for 67 years. Grace is God’s unmerited favor and God’s grace followed Larry throughout his life. The most important decision however that Larry made was accepting Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Savior as a young child. In his early married years, Larry worked as a meat cutter at Kroger. He assisted Carl Bengert in founding Newhall Baptist Church. While serving the Lord at Newhall Larry pursued a Bible degree at Grand Rapids Bible College. He sang and had a beautiful tenor voice. His first 13 years of ministry were spent at Newhall. Larry served in the National Guard and all five children were born during this time. This was a busy stretch of Larry’s life. Following Newhall, Larry served as Music and Youth Minister at Good News Baptist Church, then Maplelawn Baptist Church in youth, music and Christian Education. The family then moved to First Baptist Church of Bay City where he served as Assistant Pastor of Youth, Music and Christian Education. Larry left Bay City as a church planting missionary with Galilean Baptist Mission (now Continental Baptist Mission) to plant and graduate Faith Baptist Church in Cheboygan, MI. Following this successful ministry, Larry and Elaine traveled throughout the United States and Canada for 14 years as Field Director for Continental Baptist Missions. During this time God brought all of his gifts together (preaching, teaching, singing, leadership and encouragement) to help hundreds of pastors and churches. He also enjoyed time at track meets and other events with his children and grandchildren. Larry and Elaine retired to Maranatha Village in Sebring, Fl. Here Larry continued to love on others and faithfully served the Lord. Larry leaves behind 5 children (1 deceased); 12 grandchildren and 26 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren. Larry’s family is another strong testament to the grace of God in Larry’s life! Surviving are his wife, Elaine; children, Sharon (Timothy) Teall, Bonnie (Brian) Simmons, Thomas (Glen Hoffs) McCauley, Kristi Rabe; daughter-in-law, Sue McCauley-Goad; grandchildren, Jason (Mandy) Teall, Justin (Kristen) Teall, Jared (Mary Claire) Simmons, Andrew (Stefanie) Simmons, Lindi (Matthew) Wilson, Aubrey (Zachary) Fisk, Andrew Hoffs-McCauley, Benjamin (Sarah) McCauley, Lawrence (Natali) McCauley II, Luke (Kelly) Rabe, Allyson (Garrett) Tremaine, Anna Rabe. He was preceded in death by his son, Scott McCauley; brother, Paul McCauley. The family will greet friends Monday, February 19 from 3:00-4:00 pm at K.E. Pike Funeral Home in Cedar Springs, MI where the funeral will be at 4:00 pm. Rev. Timothy Teall of Alto Baptist Church officiating. Interment Rockford Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Continental Baptist Missions 11650 Northland Dr. NE Rockford, MI 49341.