An 88-year-old musician and his wife of 60 years were found dead in the middle of a remote California desert after getting stranded without gas in their car.
Larry and Betty Petree’s bodies were discovered on a dirt road in the Mojave Desert, 20 miles from home, on Sunday afternoon – despite the couple not normally travelling so far from their neighborhood.
The popular pedal steel guitar player’s body was in the driver’s seat, while Betty was outside, leaning against a rear tire, when she passed away.
Their car did not appear to have any gas left in it, according to investigators.
Police said there was no suggestion of foul play, and homicide detectives were not called to the scene. It’s still not clear why the senior couple were driving through the desert.
Their deaths have caused concern for family members – who claim that the elderly pair don’t often stray too far from their home in Bakersfield, Southern California.
Much-loved pedal piano player Larry Petree, 88, and wife Betty were married for sixty years. Their bodies were found inside and near their car on a dirt road in the Mojave Desert, California, on Sunday. It’s unclear what the couple were doing so far from home, according to family members
Tributes poured in for Larry – who was found dead in the driver’s seat of the car in the middle of the remote desert. One loving friend said: ‘Everyone loves him. He was an asset to any group he was in’
The 88-year-old was a beloved part of the music community in Southern California. Kern County Sheriff’s Office said it will release the Petrees’ causes of death at ‘a later date’
Larry and Betty were found in their empty car in the middle of the Mojave Desert, California. According to a family member, Larry recently became disorientated and got lost on his way to a gig – which was out of character and could have been ‘a warning sign’
Kern County Sheriff’s Office said it will release the Petrees’ causes of death at ‘a later date.’
Laurie Sanders, Larry’s cousin, told the Californian: ‘At this moment, I’m not sure exactly what happened.
‘What were they doing out there? They don’t travel that far away from home.’
According to the family member, Larry recently became disorientated and got lost on his way to a gig – which was out of character and could have been ‘a warning sign.’
Tributes poured in for the much-loved couple – who had been a part of their community for years and were a ‘joy to be around.’
Speaking about Larry, family friend Kim Hays said: ‘He was just a sweetheart of a guy and he was always there to help other people.
‘I just can’t believe they’re gone and in such a bizarre fashion’, she told KGET.
Singer Mario Carboni, who also knew Larry well, added: ‘Everyone who is a musician in Bakersfield knows who Larry Petree was.
‘Everyone loves him. He was an asset to any group he was in.’
Following their sudden and tragic death, artist Jennifer Keel, who played with Larry over the years, said: ‘This has really caught me by surprise.
‘You never expect such a tragedy. Larry always had a smile and a kind word. He was a very well-respected musician, steel player, in the Bakersfield country music family.
‘He just loved playing music and even though he played with several bands through the years he was always available to fill in anytime you needed him.’
Ernie Lewis, who had been a friend of the couple since the 1970s, said: ‘Larry was a joy to be around, especially when we were on stage.
‘He was extremely knowledgeable when it came to chord progressions and fills. He was the first individual to turn me on to Western Swing, which was his favorite type of music. I still use the licks that I learned from him when I play today.
‘He was always polite and smiled, and when it came to playing music, he was meticulous, as he was when he was a mechanic for the Kern County Fire Department.
Larry (pictured left) recently became disorientated and got lost on his way to a gig – which was out of character and could have been ‘a warning sign,’ according to a family member. His death is not being treated as suspicious, police confirmed
The Southern California desert (pictured) reaches heat levels well above 100F each summer
‘He could literally rebuild an engine and not show signs of working on it. He kept his tools exceptionally clean, as he did his home and music gear.’
Fellow musician Zane Adamo said: ‘His smile is something I’ll never forget. When he smiled he had these big cheeks. And there’s no way you couldn’t smile when you saw Larry smiling.
‘And just the nicest guy ever. And he had such good wisdom, and I remember talking to him and just listening to every word he said.’
Larry played with the Western Swingsters for decades, passing on offers to play for better-known artists.
Other than to play an occasional gig, he kept his day job at the fire department for thirty years and stay home with Betty.
The musician had played with the local band the Soda Crackers at the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame about three weeks before his sudden death.