Larry Paul Hibbard

Larry Paul Hibbard, 81, of Toronto, Kansas, died on Sunday, October 18, 2026, at Fredonia Regional Hospital. He was surrounded by loved ones.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Toronto High School Gymnasium on Saturday, October 24, at 10:30 am. Family will host a visitation at the gym between 9 – 10 am. Inurnment will be held at the Toronto Cemetery immediately following the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Woodson Lodge #121 or to the Greenwood County 4-H Foundation. Contributions may be sent in care of Koup Family Funeral Home, PO Box 595, Eureka, KS 67045, which is overseeing arrangements. Condolences may be left for the family online, at koupfunerals.com.

A lifelong resident of Greenwood County, Larry devoted his life to his family, his community, agriculture, and the many organizations and causes he cared about. For most of his life, he and his wife, Cindy, operated their farm and livestock operation together.

Larry was born September 14, 1945, to Paul and Bernita Hibbard. Except for the few years he was at college or serving in the military, he spent his life on the same farmland his great grandparents settled in 1869.

Larry graduated from Toronto High School in 1963. He developed a love for sports at a young age and continued that love throughout his life.

As an active 4-H member during his youth, Larry carried on his family's 4-H tradition throughout his life, serving as a volunteer, supporter, and booster of the youth organization he had grown to love.

Following high school, Larry attended Kansas State University, where he formed lifelong friendships and contracted a purple passion for his beloved Wildcats. During this same time, he served six years with the Kansas National Guard’s 772nd Engineer Company at Yates Center.

In 1967, Larry returned home to join his family's farm and livestock operation. The diversified operation included beef cattle and a farrow-to-finish swine operation. When changing conditions in the farm economy made raising hogs increasingly difficult, Larry found a variety of jobs and enterprises to help support his family while sustaining the agricultural operation. He was resourceful, hardworking, and willing to do whatever was necessary to keep things moving forward.

Through mutual friends, Larry met Cynthia Leayman of Rock, Kansas, who would become the love of his life. Larry and Cindy were married December 7, 1969, at the Rock Methodist Church. Together they built a life centered on family, faith, agriculture, community, and one another. Their marriage was blessed with a son, Clayton Larry, and a daughter, Paula Lynette.

Larry was a member of Toronto United Methodist Church and, for several years, served as the volunteer auctioneer for the church's Fall Festival.

He was a member of Woodson Lodge No. 121 in Toronto for 63 years and took great pride in his family's long Masonic heritage. His grandson, Nick, represents the sixth generation of the family to serve as Grand Master of the Toronto Lodge. Larry was also a member of the Greenwood County Shrine Club at Eureka.

Larry believed in being involved in his community. He served on numerous boards and committees, including the Board of Education for Eureka Unified School District #389. He was also a member of the Greenwood County Cattlemen’s Association, Greenwood County Farm Bureau, and the Kansas Livestock Association.

In 2012, Larry was elected to the Kansas House of Representatives, where he represented District 13. He was reelected twice and served until he resigned for health reasons in 2019. During his time in the Kansas Legislature, he served on several committees, including the Agriculture and Natural Resources, Transportation, and Rural Revitalization committees.

Larry was respected for his ability to work with people who held different political perspectives. He took his responsibilities seriously and was willing to stand on his convictions, particularly if a proposal would be harmful for his local constituents. At the same time, he maintained friendships with colleagues on both sides of the political aisle and every corner of the state. He had a quick wit and often punctuated his comments with humor and a well-timed quip.

Perhaps the best way to describe Larry and Cindy is that they did everything together. They attended livestock sales and sporting events, moved cattle, participated in farm organization meetings, and supported the many activities of their family and friends. Together they served on the Kansas Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee and remained part of a close-knit community of local “young” farmers and ranchers throughout their lives.

And they loved to dance.

Larry and Cindy were often the first ones on the dance floor—and the last ones to leave it. Their love for one another, their family, and the life they built together was evident to everyone who knew them.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Bernita Hibbard; his sister, Mary Alice McNitt; in-laws, Jim and Marjorie Leayman; sister-in-law Jean Steward; brother-in-law Gary Leayman; and brother-in-law Ronald Leayman.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Cindy of the home; his son, Clayton and his wife Melissa Hibbard of Fredonia; his daughter, Paula and her husband Bryan Blizzard of Basehor; grandchildren Clara (Hibbard) Walker and her husband Gus Walker, Nick Hibbard and his partner Mercedes Smalley, Natalie Hibbard, Peyton Blizzard, and Connor Blizzard; and two great-grandchildren Ava Walker and Weston Hibbard. He is also survived by his brother, Gordon and his wife Karen Hibbard of Manhattan; brother-in-law Gordon McNitt of Toronto; sister-in-law, Mary Leayman of Oconto Falls, Wisconsin; brother-in-law Dale Steward of Grenola; and numerous nieces and nephews he dearly loved.

Larry lived a life rooted in family, faith, hard work, agriculture, service, and community. He leaves behind not only the family he loved deeply, but also the many people and organizations made better by his willingness to show up, pitch in, be a friend, and encourage others with his good humor and positive spirit.