Mike Drury, a lifelong resident of the Baton Rouge area, passed away on Friday, October 14, 2022, at age 72. Mike is survived by his wife, Anne; his children, Jennifer Senn and husband Corey, Jessica Abernathy, and Michael Drury Jr. and wife Chelsea; his grandsons, Chace, Evan, Leyton, and Ellis; his sisters Frances Drury Hamilton and Linda Drury Brackman; his dog, Tucker; and numerous other family and friends.
Known by many names – Dru, Buck, and probably a few others not fit to print – Mike was born on September 25, 1950, to Dr. Francis Drury and Helen Drury, who preceded him in death, as did his brother Fred Drury and sister Betty Drury Allen. Mike graduated from Lee High in Baton Rouge and went on to attend Louisiana State University, where he played for the LSU men’s golf team from 1970 to 1973.
Golf was a defining factor in Mike’s life. A powerful southpaw, he would occasionally flip over a right-handed club and hit it left-handed with pinpoint accuracy, just to prove he could. Mike worked in and around the golf business his entire career, from Webb Park as a teenager to, most recently, Ladd’s, where he served as regional manager before retiring earlier this year. Mike passed on his love of golf to his children: Jenn also played for LSU, Jessie played in high school (but happily admits to inheriting more of Mike’s love of animals than his love of golf), and Michael serves as a course superintendent for BREC, including Webb Park.
Outside of golf, Mike was an amazing cook (particularly if fried fish and gumbo were on the menu), a wicked Bourrée player, a taciturn yet generous friend, and a beloved family man. He drank Natty Light on purpose, even when better options were available. He has been described as a “soft-hearted grump” – a man of few words yet a charismatic storyteller, a curmudgeon who always had your back, and an insightful conversationalist if you could decipher his mumbling. In short, he was a man of contradictions, he was a character, and he will be greatly missed.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to First Tee East Baton Rouge Parish at https://firstteeebrp.org/ways-to-give/donate/ in Mike’s name.
A visitation will be held at Rabenhorst Funeral Home, 11000 Florida Blvd, Baton Rouge from 2 - 4pm on Monday, October 24th. The visitation will be immediately followed by a celebration of Mike’s life for friends and family who would like to raise a glass in Mike’s memory.
