Violet Larry was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She received her BSN from Linfield School of Nursing and worked for the Multnomah County Health Department for 34 years before retiring.  Prior to retirement, Violet served as Nurse Supervisor and Project Director for the Healthy Birth Initiatives program. This program was a federally funded program implemented to reduce maternal and infant mortality in the Black/African American community. She also worked as a nurse home visitor and school nurse for the Health Department.

Violet was honored to receive the March of Dimes, Heroes in Action award, formerly “Nurse of the Year”, two years in a row, 2021 and 2022: the first for Maternal Child Health and the second for Equity and Leadership. Violet currently fills her time as vice president of the Alliance of Back Nurses Association of Oregon and serves on the board of the Portland Adventist Elementary School besides her work with the Billi Odegaard Scholarship Board. She also mentors nursing students and provides nurse consultation.

Violet has been married for over 40 years, has three adult children, five grandchildren and one grand dog.