Lawrence Joseph McManus

Mr. Lawrence Joseph McManus, age 86, of Ocala, Florida died Saturday, August 14, 2021. He is survived by his wife of 60 years and delight of his life, Harriett Charlotte Uhl McManus; his children, Kelly Hollifield and her husband Dwight, Greg McManus and his wife Arlene, and Kevin McManus and his wife, Bethanne; his grandchildren, Amanda Hollifield, Alicia Hollifield, Travis Jones, Tiffany Du Pre, Trustin Jones, Erika Willis, Haylee McManus, Edelweis Whitlock, Montana McManus, Sage Sanders, and Summer McManus; his foster daughter, Wendy Grygiel; and 8 great-grandchildren. He is pre-deceased by daughter, Lori Jo McManus Jones.

Born in Waltham, MA to Thomas McManus and Dorothy Godell McManus, Larry attended high school at Coral Gables High. He and Harriett spent 21 years with their family in Weare, NH before returning to Florida and becoming residents of Ocala in 1984. He served in the Air Force and worked as an air traffic controller for the federal government and as an electrician, and member of the IBEW. He left the military as a Sergeant.

Larry, will be loved and remembered as an active member of his community in Weare and in Ocala, serving as commander of the American Legion in NH and as commander of the VFW in Ocala. He was also a member of the Coin Club, NARFE and many other organizations.

He never stopped learning new skills and refining his hobbies and passions, whether he was working on his Spanish or taking art lessons. He loved music and played the trumpet with his own Dixie Land band. He was a skilled woodworker and blacksmith and became a master gardener in 2015. He greatly enjoyed serving others with his excellent culinary skills and cooked for the Master Gardener and the VFW and other friends, never daunted by special dietary needs or large groups.

His family was his greatest passion, and his greatest delight was spending time with them; encouraging them, passing on his wealth of knowledge and memories, teaching his children and grandchildren how to cook, or how to fix a car or electrical problem, or how to speak Spanish.

His funeral service will be held at Forest Lawn Funeral Home in the Belmont Chapel on August 21 with visitation at 1pm, service at 3pm and graveside memorial at 4pm. The service will be available by live stream as well. The family asks that all attendees wear face masks.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ForestLawnOcala.com for the McManus family.