Larry Drew Williams passed away on Friday, January 25, 2013. Born in Byhalia Mississippi June 22, 1939 to Hugh and Anne Williams. Larry is survived by three sons, Drew (Tom), Rex (Kellie) and Shawn (Jen) of Jacksonville, FL; sister Laura Anne of Cody WY; his six grandchildren, Leighton, Jonathan, Colton, Amber, Samantha and Sarah also of Jacksonville; and three nieces, Dawn, Ashley and Wendy of Cody. Larry is a 1961 graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation on August 18, 1962, he married Peggy Coggin, the mother of his three children and then served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force. He spent the first part of his career in the space industry as an Apollo operations engineer for NASA and General Electric in Huntsville, AL and Daytona Beach, FL. In 1973 Offshore Power Systems brought Larry and his family to Jacksonville where he later retired from Jefferson Smurfitt Corp., as production manager. Larry was an avid motorcycle rider and gun collector, a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association and enjoyed spending time with his dog Zell. After retiring Larry moved to Orange Springs, FL to the family Lake House on Lake Pegram. This was his favorite place on earth. He, family and friends spent many days and nights on the back porch listening to Willie Nelson records and taking in the beautiful scenery of Old Florida. Larry was a proud family man who liked to speak of his strong family roots in North Mississippi as well as his Scottish heritage. The family will be having a celebration of his life at the Lake House in Orange Springs on Saturday, February 9th 2pm. In lieu of flowers Larry had requested a donation to the National Rifle Association in support of Second amendment rights.

Published in the Florida Times-Union on February 3, 2013