Larry D “Hotdog” Stephens, 83, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday (Dec, 29, 2024)
after a four-month battle with cancer. Born in Hornell on Nov 13,1941 He was the son of John Clarence and Eloise (Denhoff)Stephens. Larry grew up in Canisteo and was a Graduate of Canisteo Central School class of 1960. Larry was a jack of all trades and master of many.
During High school years you would find him working in his father’s business delivering television sets, putting up antennas and running TV cable lines. He also worked part time at Smith’s Texaco and the bowling alley.
In 1962 he married and moved to Bath NY where he was a Mechanic at Dalman Lincoln Mercury and the Flying A Gas Station. In1964, he moved back to Canisteo and decided to open his own business (Stephen Garage) as a Full time Mechanic. During those years he was known as the best mechanic around and could fix and repair anything. After making many trips a day to Hornell for parts he decided to start stocking some inventory in the garage.
In the early 70’s he bought the Harold Ordway Farm on Greenwood Road and built a parts store that was known as Stephens Auto Supply. After being in business for about 10 years he decided to locate in Hornell where there was more traffic. In the late 70’s he purchased the property at 7450 Seneca Road North. There were two houses on this property that were in the way of building a new store so he decided to have them moved up the hill out back. He built the foundations, and with the help of Boces students and teacher he was to get them moved. Around 1980 he built the new store. Around 2000 he purchased the Hornell Taste-Freeze which was next door to the parts store. Around 2014 he got the brainstorm of building a larger Parts store out behind the Taste-Freeze as the other was getting filled up. This is where Stephens Auto is today.
With his son pretty much running the business now, he decided to focus on rental property. He purchased the property on the corner of Purdy Creek and Route 248 Greenwood Road. He has redone the house and now has it rented out. He redone the old auto parts store and his home into four rental apartments which he has all rented now. He was in the process of redoing his mother’s house for another rental, but he had to stop working on it due to his illness. That one will be finished at a later date.
His long term dream was to build a cabin and large pond upon the hill above the rental apartments The cabin has three floors and is three quarters of the way done. He is living out his dream in the cabin with his two dogs Bear and Bailey. He had a deep love for animals and would spend hours feeding the squirrels, birds, and anything that came around, many of which would eat out of his hand.
He always kept you wondering whether he was telling the truth or pulling your leg, yet he always had a story to tell. Larry will be greatly missed by everyone that knew him and live on through the many memories and stories that everyone cherishes.
He was predeceased by his parents, Clarence Stephens and Eloise Messing, his siblings, Virginia Hilyard, Barbara Hurd, and John Stephens Jr.
Surviving are his only son, Larry Stephens II and his younger sister Betty Drake along with nieces, nephews, and cousins, his two dogs, Bear and Bailey, and many close friends too many to mention.
The family of Larry Stephens will receive friends on Saturday (Jan. 4, 2025) from 2 PM until 5PM at the Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 6 Spruce Street in Canisteo.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made in his name to the Hornell Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, NY 14843 or to the Corning Hospital Cancer Treatment Center, 2 Guthrie Drive, Corning, NY 14830.
