Hundreds turn out for funeral of Madison High School teacher

Hundreds of people turned out Thursday to honor a popular Madison High School teacher who died while hiking last weekend.

Larry Prescott, 56, was hiking in Kiln Canyon with Thad Davis, 26, when Salmon County Sheriff Chief Deputy Steve Penner says Prescott suffered a medical emergency.

“He was kind but energetic. Intense and just a passion for his projects, his career, his family, his students. Just an amazing guy,” said Rodger Hampton who hired Prescott at Madison High School.

“My dad was such hope to everyone. Always wanting to help others and, always improving,” said Jessica Prescott, Prescott’s daughter.

During his funeral, family and friends described Prescott as a humble man of faith and love.

“Lots of people would describe him as a mentor because he would want to help and teach and watch out for other people,” Jessica Prescott said. Very selfless. He was always helping his students and neighbors and trying to do the best that he could.”

Prescott taught art and photography at Madison High School and was an experienced hiker.

“I just feel very privileged to know he was my dad,” said Prescott’s other daughter, Katherine said. “We are just so grateful for everyone that he has influenced to come and show their support for him because he had no idea and he, of course, is going ‘what is happening?’ He would have never have thought this would be the kind of outreach he would have had. He was a very simple man.”

The Lemhi County Sheriff received the call that Prescott was suffering a medical condition around 5:30 p.m. Saturday. A Lemhi County sheriff’s deputy, personnel from Salmon Search and Rescue and a Clark County deputy responded to the scene. Two Bear Air from Flathead County, Montana, was also dispatched.

Prescott’s death leaves a void in the Madison School District. His widow, Nancy, is also a teacher in the district. Classes at Madison High School and Adams Elementary, where Nancy Prescott teaches, were canceled so students and staff could attend the memorial.

“He is what you call a master teacher,” Hampton said. “Those come along not as often as you’d like but there are a few of them at Madison and he was one of them.”

“My Dad was such hope to everyone,” Jessica said. “Always wanting to help others and, always improving.”

While sharing memories of their father with KIFI/KIDK, daughter Jessica recalled a moment right after her father’s death that brought back years of memories she had built.

“The other day I started to cry because I had to scrape my own windshield,” she said. “I never had to scrape my windshield before because he would always scrape it for me.”

In a Facebook post the day of Larry’s death, the school district described him a passionate and dedicated educator, writing “Mr. Prescott touched the lives of many in his years with the district and we realize there will be many impacted by his sudden passing.”

A GoFundMe memorial account has been setup for Prescott’s family.