Lawrence William McCarty

He attended St Philip Neri grade school and was inducted into the hall of fame in 2015. After attending Cathedral High School, Larry joined The United States Navy and proudly served on the USS Iowa BB61 which is now stationed in San Pedro, CA as a museum. He was very proud over the years to take most of his children and a few of his nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews on board for a special tour.

After returning from his tour in the Navy, Larry started working for Remington Rand in the electric shaver division from 1954-1974. While working for Remington Larry lived in Indianapolis, IN; Springfield, IL; Grand Rapids, MI; Jacksonville, FL; Pittsburgh, PA and Tampa, FL. He made a great deal of friends and memories in each place he lived. In 1974 when Larry left Remington, he ventured into his own business starting at Webb City in St Petersburg and Tampa, FL. He expanded his business adding retail stores in Ft Myers, New Port Richey, Orlando, Pasadena, Seminole, and 3 others in St Petersburg. In 1997 Larry sold his last retail store and retired. Once retired, you could find him at the Seminole Lake Country Club playing golf 3 days a week. He would be up early to soak his golf balls in hot water so they would travel further. He kept the Jack Ryan Memorial golf tournament going for over 30 years. Later in life he became legally blind and had to give up the game of golf in 2020, however, he was able to continue his much-loved position with the Tampa Bay Rays as a Fan Host.

Larry is preceded in death by his parents, Edith St Clair McCarty and Mathew Thomas McCarty, his brother Thomas (infant) and his sister Marylin “Mickey” (Leo) McNulty, grandsons Nordell Willis and Tyler Lumley. Larry leaves behind his loving wife Helen Gillum McCarty as well as his children Terry Lyttle of California; Victoria “Vickie” Reece of Austin, Texas; Marianne (Nordi) Willis of Palatka, FL; Marilyn “Mickey” Vogelsong of Jacksonville, FL and Michael McCarty of Jacksonville, FL. Also, 9 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, many nieces’, nephews, cousins, and many, Many, MANY friends!

He and Helen generously hosted many legendary Super Bowl parties that are still talk about today! They made contributions to Larry’s grade school, St Philip Neri and contributed to the Cathedral High School tuition assistance program as well as many other charitable organization. Larry loved people (or most people) and would get a twinkle in his eye to tell a joke to a “new friend”. He will be missed by many!

Interment will be at C. Bill Young Bay Pines National Cemetery where the family will host a celebration of life on February 20th, 2024 at 1:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to: Empath Health Hospice 5773 Roosevelt Blvd Clearwater; Honor Flight of West Central Florida PO Box 55661 St Petersburg, FL 33732, or a charity of your choice. The Honor Flight flies our veterans, at no charge, to Washington DC to see their respective service monuments.