Laurie Eugene “Pop” Duval, 87, passed away on Sunday, July 3, at Haven Hospice, Lake City.
Pop was born on Oct. 1, 1934, to the late Claude Vernon Duval and Mary Jarvis Duval of Madison. He was reared in Madison County in Cherry Lake and attended Madison County schools. Pop served in the United States Army, was a graduate of Florida State University and taught school (industrial arts) in Panama City, Fla. He had been a resident of Live Oak, Fla., since 1965. In 1997, he retired from the Suwannee County School System as Director of Maintenance.
Pop was a former president of the Live Oak Lions Club; member of Barrett Masonic Lodge, Live Oak York Rite Bodies, Morocco Temple of Jacksonville, Live Oak Shrine Club and Branford Sportsman Club, past chairman and member of the Live Oak Code Enforcement Board and member of the Live Oak Zoning Board.
He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church of Live Oak, where he held many positions and remained very active until his health declined. Pop was a gifted handyman and enjoyed all types of woodworking, especially building dulcimers. Through the years, he enjoyed camping, traveling, golfing and riding his motorcycle, and he was an award-winning chicken and rice chef. He had an inner strength derived from his faith, family and many friends.
Pop is survived by his wife of nearly 62 years, Sandra Willis Duval; son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Patty Duval, High Springs, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law, Lori and Doug Rogers, Montgomery, Ala.; grandchildren: Nick Duval (Margo), Matt Duval, Bethany Rogers Franklin (Sam), Emilee Rogers and Zack Rogers; three great-grandchildren: Kendall Duval, Kimber Duval and Grady Duval; and other extended family members including, Hope and Mike Poland, Tampa, Fla., and Hal and Nadine Barrington, Starke, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Scyretha (Poole) Barrington Willis, Live Oak, Fla. and his sister, Eleanor Duval White, Gainesville, Fla.
If you would like to honor Pop’s life and memory with a gift, donations may be sent to First United Methodist Church (Prayer Blanket Ministry), 311 S. Ohio Ave., Live Oak, Fla., 32064. The family would also like to express their appreciation to Pop’s caregivers over the last few years, especially Ashley Thomas and Rosalind Ragans Howard, and to Haven Hospice of Lake City, Fla.
Services were held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, July 7, at First United Methodist Church with a private family burial that took place.
Please sign the guestbook at www.danielsfuneralhome.com.
Daniels Funeral Homes & Crematory, Live Oak & Branford, Fla., was in charge of all arrangements.