Laurence Edward Armour

Larry Armour, 89, of Venice, Florida, passed away on October 11, surrounded by family. He is survived by his wife Elizabeth of 66 years; sister Jackie of Sarasota; son Jim and his wife Fonda of St. Stephens, Alabama; son Mark and his wife Jane of Corvallis, Oregon; daughter Jeanne of Sarasota; grandchildren Michael, Spencer, Maya, Hallie, and Drew; and great-grandchildren McKinley, Ellie and Rowan.

Laurence was born to Edward and Marguerite in Lynn, Massachusetts, on December 16, 1934, and enjoyed a wonderful childhood in Lynn with his parents, Jackie, and many friends. He graduated from Lynn English High School, and proudly served four years in the United States Air Force. He had a rewarding 45-year career as a technical draftsman in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Mississippi.

The primary focus of Larry’s life was his family. He married Elizabeth in 1958 and their devoted partnership was the envy of all who knew them. The tale of their meeting and whirlwind courtship became the central story of Larry’s life, one he retold hundreds (thousands?) of times. They had many close friends with whom they shared card games, good food, and laughing. Their weekends with Roger and Judy Armstrong throughout New England, New York and Canada were the stuff of legend.

While living in Connecticut, Larry and Liz raised three children who admired and loved both of their parents. Larry passed on his love of cars to Jim, his love of baseball to Mark and Jeanne, and his honesty, integrity, humor, and dependability (we hope) to all three. While living in Connecticut, the family traveled to Yellowstone, Yosemite, Disneyland, and Washington DC, spent many weekends with relatives near Boston, and two weeks every summer in Maine.

Larry was a man of faith throughout his life. A lifelong Episcopalian, Larry devoted even more time to the church once their children had been raised and he and Liz settled in Mobile, Alabama, in 1980. He helped start the Church of the Redeemer, and later served on the vestry, as senior warden, as a Deacon and on the building committee. When they retired to Venice in 2000, Larry and Liz joined the Church of Good Shephard, and Larry again became one of the leaders. When he arrived in Venice, Larry and Liz became volunteers at Venice Hospital, and Larry remained a hero there for 20 years.

There will be a service at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Venice on Monday, November 11, at 10am. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you consider a donation to the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Larry’s name.