Lawrence 'Larry' Raymond Hess, affectionately known as “Chief Hess,” crossed over to the party in the sky with a bottle of Jameson and a smile on Saturday, December 21, 2024. He was surrounded by family and friends, just as he wanted it to be. He was a month shy of his 79th birthday. Chief Hess was predeceased by his parents, MGST Richard and Edna Hess. He is survived by his loving wife Janice; his sons, Scott (Karen) and Mickey; his grandchildren, Derek (Lacey) Hess and Leah Hess; and his great-grandchildren Karlea, James, and Conner. A native of Joliet, Illinois, Larry served with fire departments in Indiana and Illinois, including Chicago. He then landed in Chalmette, Louisiana, where he oversaw HAZMAT and fire suppression at the ExxonMobil refinery, a position he held for 20 years before beginning his service in St. Tammany Parish. Larry became chief of St. Tammany Parish Fire District #1 (Slidell) in 2003 and led the department until he retired in 2013. The family would like to thank all those who were part of the planning for the services, Acadian Ambulance, and all the nurses and doctors who treated Larry with the care and respect that allowed him to pass away with dignity. Lastly, whether it was at Southside Café, Bruiser’s Hotdogs, the Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office, or with the Parish Government, it felt like Larry knew everyone everywhere he went, which made the place he called home, Slidell Louisiana, his favorite place to be for the past 44 years. Relatives and friends of the family are invited to attend the Funeral Service at Northshore Harbor Center, 100 Harbor Center Blvd., Slidell, LA, on Saturday, January 11, 2025, at 12 p.m. Visitation will be held at the Harbor Center on Saturday, January 11, 2025, after 9 a.m. until funeral time. Following the service, there will be a procession through Slidell from the Harbor Center to Chief Hess’s final resting place in Forest Lawn Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donation be made to the Northshore Humane Society www. northshorehumane.org.