Larry Doering

Larry Michael Doering, 69, died Sunday September 17, 2017. Since March 13, 1948 he spent his life touching the hearts of his family, friends and neighbors. He worked as a stone mason, bricklayer and construction superintendent his entire life. He possessed instinctive artistic skills and a quick wit. He loved hot cars, hot women, scrabble, hunting for shark's teeth and reading books, but most of all he treasured spending time with his family.

He is survived by his three brothers, Bill, Fred, and Tony; his six children, four of which were his at birth (Matthew, Melissa, Nicole and Adam) and two he took in as his own (Natalie and Laurie); and eight grandchildren (Brittany, Jared, Chloe, William, Hannah, Samantha, Reilly and Caleb). He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Lily Doering; and his sister Ava Doering.

Larry was born and raised in Northeast Ohio, the City of Green to be exact. He graduated from Green High School in 1966 and then proceeded to apprenticeship school to become a bricklayer. He worked alongside his father on many projects in and around Akron, OH. When you see the clock tower above the old rubber plant he repaired, or study in many of the brick buildings at Kent State University think of him and his father. He and his family moved to Northern Virginia in the early 1970s to work on the numerous Prince William County high schools under construction at that time. Two of his children were fortunate enough to attend and graduate from a school he built.

He moved to North Florida in the early 1980s and quickly gained reputation for his unparalleled ability to create stunning works of art with brick, block and stone. Larry was the construction superintendent for the Ponte Vedra Palm Valley Elementary School in 1986. He received the Florida Concrete & Products Association's Golden Trowel Award in 1997 and 1998. His work can be found in many of the custom homes in the Sawgrass and Ocean Walk communities. Larry recently completed the reconstruction of the historic sea wall in St Augustine, FL. As a friend and neighbor Larry constructed numerous benches and brick flower planters around Jacksonville and Atlantic Beach. He built one such memorial planter at the 2nd Street beach access and in the near future his plaque will be added there.

We will be sharing stories and wonderful memories about Larry this Sunday evening, 24 September, 4-7pm, at the Community Presbyterian Church's Fellowship Hall located at 150 Sherry Drive Atlantic Beach, FL 32233.