PETROLIA — Family man. Story teller. Volunteer. Councilman. Good guy.

That is part of the legacy left behind by Jeffrey W. Larimore — better known to most as “Slim” or “Spanky” — who died unexpectedly of natural causes Sunday at his home in the borough. He was 62.

“Slim was one of those guys who was always smiling, always happy, and always had a story to tell,” said Chuck Barnes, chief of the Petrolia Volunteer Fire Department. “He also was very dedicated to the community.”

Although not as long as Barnes' four decades, Larimore was a long-timer with the fire department, including a stint as president.

“For many years,” Barnes said, “we worked hand-in-hand.”

Larimore's son, Toby, was also a firefighter.

“He definitely wanted Toby to follow in his footsteps with the department,” Barnes said.

An emergency medical technician, he handled the daylight calls for the then-Petrolia VFD Ambulance Service, following his retirement from Indspec Chemical Corp. in Petrolia.

During that time, his wife, Leslie, was the ambulance commander.

The Petrolia and Chicora ambulance services merged last year to become the Karns City Regional Ambulance Service.

“He was a prankster. He was always laughing.” Harry Boltz said of Larimore, a friend and co-worker.

The two men each put in 30-plus years at the chemical company, which closed in 2017.

Larimore toiled for years as a truck driver at the plant. He later worked as a “rigger,” or heavy machine operator. He retired in 2012.

“We worked jobs together,” Boltz said. “He did a good job whatever he did.”

Boltz's wife, Cinda Six, knew Larimore from various circles. She also worked more than 30 years at Indspec. In addition, she served several years on Petrolia Borough Council with him.

He also was a regular customer at the popular convenience store in the borough that she and her husband own.

“He'd come in to the store most days,” she said, “for coffee.”

And sometimes to shoot the breeze a bit — Larimore could talk up a storm.

“He knew a lot of things about the town,” Six said. “He knew where things were and used to be, and who did what.”

Larimore was devoted to his community, friends and colleagues said. He served 27 years on borough council. He was the body's president at the time of his passing.

“He was good to work with on council,” said Peg Merryman, who served 42 years as borough secretary before she took over as tax collector. “He always had a joke for us and made us laugh. He was always in a good mood, it seemed.”

During her time as secretary, Merryman also worked with Larimore's late father, Wayne.

“Slim was a good fellah,” she said. “He did a lot for the borough and the firemen. If someone needed something done, he did it.”

But family always came first for the husband, father of three and grandfather of eight, said those who knew Larimore.

“He loved his wife, his kids, his grandkids and his brother, who lives in Florida,” Barnes said.

Visitation for Larimore will be from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Hile Funeral Home of Karns City, 128 Main St., Karns City. A funeral service will follow at 7 p.m. at the funeral home.

Burial will be in Bear Creek Cemetery in Petrolia.