Lawrence Jerome "Larry" Beighey

1938 - 2014

Lawrence Jerome "Larry" Beighey, age 76, passed peacefully on Aug. 4, 2014, surrounded by loved ones at the Community Hospice facility in Fernandina Beach, Florida.
Larry was born in Akron, Ohio, on June 24, 1938. Larry was preceded in death by both of his parents, Martha Rose Vestal Beighey and Jac L. Beighey. Larry is survived by his only sibling, Kristin Beighey Swope, married to Terry Swope and mother to Meghan.
Larry grew up in DuBois, Pa., and first fell in love with baseball when he became a part of the first DuBois Little League season. His dad coached the B.F. Goodrich team and they were thrilled to be the 1949 Champions. Larry graduated in 1956 from DuBois Area High School and is one of three distinguished alumni members. Larry was active in the DuBois community and served as a Mason and was the 1964 president of the Jaycees.
Larry earned his B.S. in industrial engineering and graduated from Penn State University in 1960. At Penn State, Larry pledged Delta Upsilon and played baseball and basketball. In 1959, his Nittany Lion baseball team came in third place in the College World Series. In the spirit of family tradition, five of Larry's children chose to attend Penn State University.
Upon graduation, he began his 28-year career with Brockway Glass. Larry is listed among Who's Who in America.
Larry was a bachelor until he was 32 years old. He met widow Carole LaFlamme Lanzoni when she was working as a R.N. at DuBois Hospital and was caring for Larry's ailing dad. Larry married Carole on Dec. 11, 1970, at St. Tobias Catholic Church in Brockway, Pa. He moved into Carole's house on Mt. Vista in Brockway and gave up his Corvette for a family station wagon and adopted his first four children: Basil 'Skip' Beighey, Susan Beighey Morrell, Thomas Beighey and Timothy Beighey. Soon after, the 'Beighey Bunch' would be complete with the addition of daughters Elizabeth Beighey Miller and Anne Beighey Woodbury. Larry is survived by his wife, Carole LaFlamme Beighey, their six children, and 11 grandchildren: Joey, Jonathan and Jack Beighey, David, Maggie, Matthew and Bennett Morrell, Natalie and Jacob Miller, and Connor and Tyler Woodbury.
In 1984, Larry was transferred with Brockway Glass to the metro Atlanta area as president of Brockway Standard, Inc. They lived in Dunwoody Club Estates for 12 years. In 1990, Larry and his equity partner, Bud Sheesley, purchased the Morrow, Ga., plant from Brockway Standard and named their private manufacturing company Plastite.
Larry and his wife retired after selling Plastite in 1996. The Beighey's enjoyed their retirement years primarily in Amelia Island, Florida, but spent summers close to Carole's family roots in Hubbard Lake, Michigan, where they enjoyed their lake homes 'The Shack' and 'Mighty Oaks.' During retirement, Larry promoted his wife Carole's Waddodles of Hollow Lake young adult series and also authored his first book, A Drop in the Bucket: Thoughts, Musings, and Jottings on Life's Experiences. Larry had started a second collection of more "drops."
The family would like to give heartfelt thanks to Larry's primary physician that went above and beyond, Dr. Henry Rodeffer, the ICU staffs of the Nassau Baptist Medical Centers in Fernandina and Jacksonville and the nurses and volunteers at Community Hospice in Fernandina Beach. Above all, Carole and the family would like to thank Cindy Pierce, their personal caregiver for the past five years.
An intimate celebration of life ceremony took place with Larry and 24 family members at Community Hospice in Fernandina Beach on Aug. 2, 2014. Larry's memorial service will take place at Trinity Chapel in DuBois, Pa., on a date to be determined.
Larry can best be remembered for his principles, traditions, and his pride for his family and all who would appreciate his leadership, personal drive, and management skills would agree that he completed everything on life's checklist.
In remembrance, the family is asking gifts be made to either:
The Jim Suplizio Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o DuBois Area High School's Alumni Association, 500 Liberty Boulevard, DuBois, PA 15801, founded by Larry in honor of his lifelong friend, awarded annually to a DuBois Area High School graduate or The Hubbard Lake Community Building and Library Fund (checks payable to 'Community Foundation' and please include note in memo), c/o Community Foundation, P.O. Box 495. Alpena, MI 49707.