Lawrence "Larry" Willett, 87
Lawrence "Larry" Willett, 87, died on December 31, 2022, from complications of the flu. He was born in Tupper Lake, New York, on May 17, 1935, to Violet Laramie and Henry Willett.
Due to unforeseen circumstances during the Great Depression, Larry and his four siblings went into foster care. They were all placed on Layhon's Farm in Constable, New York. He attended a one room schoolhouse from grades 1-8, but he was able to return to Tupper Lake to attend high school. After graduation in 1953, he and four friends joined the Marine Corps. He was stationed in Korea and Japan. He was a Staff Sergeant and loved his time in the military. This "county kid" wanted to see the world. He found he had great aptitude for typing, bookkeeping, numbers, and organization. This led to his career as an accountant.
Shortly after leaving the Marine Corps, he met the love of his life, Evelyn Savard, and they eventually settled in Tupper Lake. They had four children. Evelyn passed away in 2001 after 43 years of marriage. Larry had fulfilling jobs throughout his life. He worked for the US Forest Service, Sunmount, The Altamont, Litchfield Park, Rockwell International, The Wawbeek Inn, the 1980 Winter Olympics, and Bailey Motors. He and Evelyn even opened a pizza restaurant in Tupper Lake and ran it for many years.
He was able to find love again and later married Bonnie Miner Thomas, from Malone, and they were married for 20 years before his death. Larry loved to read and was a history buff. He devoured any non-fiction texts. He loved reading about military leaders, and presidents. He enjoyed current events, global issues, and politics. He was a man with strong political opinions. He enjoyed discussing these issues (if they aligned with his). He also loved golf. He loved to play, to be at the clubhouse, and to watch "the greats" play. A storyteller by nature, he loved talking about his childhood on the farm and we loved listening. He also loved food. The last year of his life he looked forward to a cheeseburger or milkshake that his children would bring him each visit. His legacy of humor, love of the little things in life, appreciation of nature and his gift for spinning a tale will live in all who survive him: including his wife, Bonnie, his four children—James (Susie), Trudy (Stephen), Jodi (Lyndon), Lorri (John). His nine grandchildren: Michael, Max, Cynara, Caleb, Wyatt, Gabriel, Logan, and Evan will carry his stories to their children, Ryder, Evelyn, Ethel, Cooper, Zoey, Bella, Serenity, Trudy, and Sophia. Larry also leaves behind his five stepchildren: Chris, Darlene, Deena, Dawn, and Eric. Surviving him, as well, are his sisters, Beverly Luther and Colleen Willett, and two brothers, Charles, and William Mozdzier. Larry is pre-deceased by his parents, his first wife, his brother, Steve Willett, and his sister Suzanne Soulier.
As per his request, a graveside service will be performed in the spring. Donations can be made in his honor to the Alzheimer's Association.