Deidre L. McCormick

Deidre Lea (Larsen) McCormick passed away on Thursday, October 21, 2021 in her home in Forsyth, Missouri from complications of metastatic breast cancer and secondary pancreatic cancer. She was 54. Deidre was born on February 13, 1967 at Skaggs Hospital in Branson, Missouri, the second child of Patricia (Jones) Larsen and the late Kurt Larsen. She graduated from Forsyth High School in 1985 and received her Associate's Degree from Cottey College and her BFA from Central Missouri State University. She was later the manager of the university theater at University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. She was married to Robert McCormick on July 28, 1996 in Hollister, Missouri and they recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary. To this union was born one daughter, Riley Valentine McCormick, who is now a senior at Missouri State University. Deidre was preceded in death by her father Kurt Larsen, and her grandparents Johnie and Valentine Jones, and Clifford and Helen Larsen. 

Deidre was a well-known businesswoman, volunteer and advocate in the Branson and Forsyth communities. She worked for many years with the Branson Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce, Branson Airport and at Tanger Outlets. She served on many committees and boards in the Branson Chamber, most recently as a member of the Executive Board. She was well-known for creatively and successfully coordinating the Black Tie Gala for many years, as well as Tanger Outlet's Fit For Life 5k for nearly ten years. She served two terms on the Forsyth School Board. She was also at various times associated with Walton Arts Center, Rogers Little Theater, Branson Arts Council, Branson Tri-Lakes Kiwanis and PEO.

Deidre is survived by her husband, Robert, of Forsyth; daughter Riley McCormick of Springfield; mother Patricia Larsen of Forsyth; sister Dr. Dawn Larsen of Florence, South Carolina; sister Dina Gillman and the Gillman family of Forsyth; her beloved dogs Gypsy and Zeus; many nieces, nephews, close friends, admirers and well-wishers.

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions to any of these charities which were near to Deidre's heart:

Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks at http://www.bcfo.org

Little Pink Houses of Hope at http://www.littlepink.org

Leslie's Week at http://www.lesliesweek.org

Metavivor at http://www.metavivor.org

The McCormick family wishes to acknowledge and thank the many people who worked to make a longer and better life for Deidre:

Dr. Roger Holden and staff at Oncology Hematology Associates; Dr. Nuhad Ibrahim, Dr. Brandon Smaglo and Dr. Cullen Taniguchi and their wonderful staffs at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston; special thanks to Dr. Tony and Kim Wheeler of Branson for their insight and friendship; all the amazing volunteer pilots and drivers of Angel Flights and Ground Angels, the staff of Breast Cancer Foundation of the Ozarks, and all the truly incredible friends, family, donors, gift-givers, food-bringers and supporters who made Deidre feel grateful, loved and blessed.

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