Larry Wallace Leonard

Larry Wallace Leonard, age 66 of Okeechobee, FL and formerly of Mount Clemens, MI, passed away, Thursday, April 24, 2025 in West Palm Beach, FL, from injuries sustained on a job-site accident. Larry was born in Detroit, MI on September 14, 1958.
Larry married the love of his life, Laurie, on October 20, 1985 in the home they shared in Detroit. He met Laurie when she was 17, but Larry thought she was too young, since he was an ancient 23 at the time, so he waited until she was 19 to ask her out and they have been inseparable since.
Laurie was his rock, best friend, #1 fan of his Rock 'n' Roll guitar playing, band roadie and partner in everything he did, standing beside him through the good times and the bad. Their love story lasted over 40 years, filled with shared goals, laughter and an unbreakable bond. Together, they had 2 beautiful daughters, LeeAnn and Faith. Larry and Laurie moved from Detroit to Mount Clemens to raise their children, all of whom Larry loved. Then after their children were all on their own, they decided it was time for a change and made the decision on moving to Okeechobee. They had fallen in love with the area, after having visited Laurie's grandparents who lived here years ago.
The very first job Larry had was in the 1960's, shining shoes on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit. He said he knew, even back then as a kid, the only way to make a living, was to work hard for it. Larry still has a shoe shining kit and would shine his and Laurie's motorcycle boots before a good ride. Larry started roofing as a teen and moved on to own and operate, alongside his wife, their own company, Leonard's Roofing in Detroit, MI for 30+ years, then wanting to get away from the cold and snow, went to Florida, where together, he and Laurie owned and operated Lakes To Ocean Maintenance for several years in Miami and Okeechobee. He and Laurie worked side by side in the office, on the roofs, cleaning gutters and making metal together in the shop. Larry didn't just do a job, he had a passion for it and took great pride in his roofing, welding, copper and sheet metal work. When Larry first traveled to Florida in 1992 to work after Hurricane Andrew, he brought Laurie a Lhasapoo puppy, that he named Kenwood Pointe (after the Grosse Pointes in MI where he did most of his residential work), to keep her company he said, while he was gone. Larry's daughter, Faith, worked with him for many years in Detroit and Florida, in the shop and getting on the roofs, working hard beside her daddy.
Larry had a love for dogs, especially German Shepherds, his last faithful companion being his German Shepherd, Bishop, who he loved and had trained Bishop himself. Larry's first passion was playing his guitar, playing in his own bands as well as sitting in and playing with other bands at parties, nightclubs, bars and fundraisers over the years and also giving guitar lessons. Larry loved motorcycle riding in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, cross country and around Florida with his wife and on outings with their friends - for Poker Run fundraisers and trips to Leesburg Bike Fest. He and Laurie also rode their Harley from Michigan to Virginia, then jumped on the Amtrak Auto Train and enjoyed a 2-day trip on the train to Sanford, Florida and then rode the motorcycle the rest of the way to Okeechobee. Larry has also picked Laurie up from the airport on the Harley and used to pick her up on his bike, when she got out of work at her job in Michigan when they first started dating. He enjoyed going to Key West, Scuba diving in the Bahamas, bowling, going to Rock concerts with Laurie, his daughter, Faith and friends, fishing in the Black River in Michigan, Menominee River on the Michigan-Wisconsin border, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, lakes around Florida, deep sea fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, deer hunting for several years in Michigan's Upper Peninsula at his in-law's property and hog, deer and gator hunting in Florida. Laurie was with him on almost all of his hunting trips, helping afterwards. Larry had his own boat for a while, that he would take out on the Atlantic Ocean with his friends in Miami to go fishing or he would take Laurie or his daughters, LeeAnn and Faith out to explore around the small islands.
He loved going to Colorado, to visit his daughter, LeeAnn, his "son"-in-law, Steve and grandsons, Kristopher and Liam, where he did a lot of skeet and range shooting in the Rocky Mountains with Steve and daughter, Faith, also driving to the top of Pike's Peak while there. Larry also traveled to Fort Knox, Kentucky to see Steve, when he had been in Basic Training, several trips to Fort Stewart, Hinesville, Georgia to see LeeAnn, her boys, and Steve as he served in the U.S. Army (Larry was so proud of Steve for having stayed in the Army for the last 21 years) and to Pennsylvania to meet Laurie's extended family and attend an in-law family reunion. His next trip was going to be with his lifelong friend, Jim Burns, as they were just talking about planning a long bike ride to Arizona to visit another lifelong friend. Larry's last trip was in August, 2024 to Michigan, to see his newly born granddaughter, Mikayla. While Larry was there, he and his "son"-in-law, Ross had a debated discussion on how to get a bonfire started, since neither one seemed to be able to get it going at the time. In the end, Ross won.
As Larry planned for his semi-retirement, the one thing he wanted to do, was raise beef cattle – he has three and loved every minute of taking care of them and watching them grow. Larry was also looking forward to a visit from his 15-year-old grandson, Liam, who had recently gotten his own electric guitar and was excited about getting his first Rock 'n' Roll guitar lessons from his Papa.
Larry learned a hard lesson early on in his marriage, after Laurie went into labor and Larry wouldn't take her to the hospital when she wanted to go – he said the baby wasn't due yet, he was too tired and for her to go back to sleep. Larry helped with the delivery of their new baby girl, who he named Faith, after she was born on the front seat of his pick-up – he listened to Laurie after that. Larry and Laurie did everything together, they had a tremendous love and understanding of each other - Larry dedicated the song, "Caught Up In You" by.38 Special to her, which he played on his guitar and sang the song to her often.
Larry was an honorary member of the Huron Pointe Yacht Club in Harrison Twp, MI, the North Okeechobee Fraternal Order of the Eagles Aerie 4137, Okeechobee Fraternal Order of Orioles 336, Buckhead Ridge Moose Lodge 2417, a member of the entire gang at Gator Park, a member of the gang at the real Iron Eagle Bar with Betty "Boop" and a member of the entire gang at Barracuda's – y'all know.
Larry is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Laurie; daughters, LeeAnn Leonard and Faith & "son"-in-law, Ross Kalin; "son"-in-law, SFC Steven Baugus, US Army, Fort Stewart, GA; daughters, Shannon Leonard and Jessica (David) Hulme and son, Larry J. Leonard, Sr; grandchildren, Kristopher and Liam Baugus, Brody and Mikayla Kalin; Joseph (Jennifer), Justin, Larry J., Jr. and Anthony Leonard; Jayden and Kennedy Tislar; Nathan and Hayden Hulme; great-granddaughter, Ayla Leonard; brothers, John, David and Allen; sisters, Sharon Kavanaugh, Deborah (David) Sherman and Eva Stringer; aunt, cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Loren and Ama Juanita (Wakefield) Leonard; infant brother, Michael Leonard and sister, Wanda L. Leonard.
Honorary pallbearers are his "sons"-in-law, Ross Kalin and SFC Steven Baugus, longtime friend & cousin-in-law, Mike Elias, camaraderie friends - Jim Burns, Louie Miller, Freddy Lobato, Jorge Lara, Rob Mitchem, Mario Marques and Doug Clark and two of the most dedicated, hard-working employees a man could ask for – Marcus Jones and Jesus Hunt.
In keeping with Larry's wishes, cremation has taken place and there will be no services.
Those wishing to leave a message of condolence may sign the register book at, www.OkeechobeeFuneralHome.com.
All arrangements are entrusted to the direction and care of the Buxton & Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home, 400 North Parrott Avenue, Okeechobee, Florida, 34972.