Leroy Ordell Groom Jr., 59, of Oldsmar, Florida went to be with our Lord on Tuesday, January 22, 2013. Funeral service is 10:30 AM, Friday, February 1, 2013 at Countryside Christian Center, 1850 McMullen Booth Road, Clearwater, Florida 33759 with Pastor Glenn Davis officiating. There will be fellowship time following the service until 12:30. There will be a graveside service to follow at 2:00 PM, at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, Florida 34241 with full military honors by the Kirby Steward Veterans of Foreign Wars.
An avid Pittsburgh Steelers fan – he loved music, golfing, camping, fishing, home video productions, TB Rays, and was a marksman shooter.
He was a loving husband, father, and friend who could find humor in life, even in the final years in his valiant battle with cancer. He was a true inspiration. His baptism in 2011 at Sand Key Park Beach renewed his faith and strengthened his relationship with Jesus Christ.
A native of Mars, Pennsylvania, he lived in Vancouver, WA for 20 years prior to making his home here in 1998. Leroy was a heating and air conditioning technician for the Tampa International Airport; a member of Countryside Christian Center and a member of the Veteran of Foreign War Post 10757. During his military career, he was a BT3C and served aboard the USS John King (DDG-3) and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and a Campaign Action Ribbon.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Marcia Groom of Oldsmar, Florida; his daughter, Allison Marks and her husband, Glenn of Land O Lakes, Florida; his son, Jordan Groom and fiancee Kara Dougherty of Orlando, Florida; his father, Leroy O. Groom Sr. of Lecanto, Florida; his two brothers, Spencer Groom of Lecanto, Florida and Tracy Groom of Tampa, Florida; a sister, Lavonne Brennan and her husband, Kevin of Homosassa, Florida and his twin granddaughters, Mackenna and Mira Marks.
Please send all floral arrangements directly to the church prior to 9:30 AM on the day of the service. Charitable donations can be made to Suncoast Hospice and St. Jude Children’s Hospital.
Veterans Funeral Care
727-524-9202
Dear Marsha and Family,
I’m so sorry to hear of your loss. I never saw Leroy without a smile on his face. He will be missed by many.
May God bless you and your family and I pray that soon you will have all the good memories remembered as many happy times.
Ellida & Steve Zahumensky
Marcia and Family,
Heaven is a little brighter, while earth is a little darker. I am praying for peace and comfort for all of you. God Speed Leroy.
All my love to Leroy’s family. What an immense and incalculable loss.
Lynn
Allison, Marcia and family,
May God make His presence very real to you as you grieve Leroy’s passing. Thank you for inviting me to stand with you as you all journeyed through Leroy’s fight with cancer. Will continue to pray for God’s peace, comfort and strength for you all in the days ahead.
With much love,
Jerry Wilkinson
Associate Pastor
Casas Church
Tucson, AZ
Leroy and I served aboard the USS John King (DDG-3)together in Vietnam. Leroy was like a brother to me. I will never forget all of the good times we have had together over the last 40 years. Marcia,Allison,Jordan,Tracy,and uncle Val I am so very sorry for your loss. Leroy was one of a kind.He always just wanted to have a good time and make others laugh. My heart is broken.He will be so missed !
Bud and I continue to hold all of you in our thoughts and prayers. Although his loss will be felt forever, hopefully the memories of the good times, his laughter, and love of family will keep you strong.
We where talking as I drove him to his kimo and on one subject I said we all have a cross to bear he just looked up at me and said how am I doing with mine
He carried it with Pride and he never faulterd.
Be at peace my friend look over us and have a hodown.
Our love goes out to all the family at this trying time
XXXX
You brought so much laughter and light into the lives that were Blessed to have you in them. You are with the angels and not suffering anymore. Until we see each other again. Rest in Paradise Mr. Groom:-)
God Bless each of you with His love and peace at this time.
Leroy was one of those people in high school that you always counted on for a good laugh about just anything that you could imagine . We ,the class of 1971 at Mars High School send our love ,prayers ,and condolences to all of Leroy’s ,family and friends . Rest in Peace Leroy .
I met “Tut” when he first came on board the John King in 1972. His infectious smile never left him the next 41 years……we called him Tut back in those days. We were in M&B division together and Leroy was the type who would keep life interesting no matter how difficult things got. You couldn’t help but laugh it off being around him. Anytime I see a Steelers flag, bumper sticker, license plate frame, T-shirt, I think of him. I wish I’d saved some of his voicemails on my phone now.
We’ll meet again someday….God Bless his entire family. They are all special people.
Stratty
with fond memories of high school days may you rest in peace.
Marcia, Allison and Family, We are so very sorry for your loss.
We will continue to pray for peace that only God can provide. Leroy will be remembered by me as a guy that really loved his family and he loved to laugh through life. I am blessed to know him and your Family.
Marcia and family. I do not posses the words to nor the ability to express how deeply saddened I am for your loss. I will miss leroy, jusr as if he were myown kin. I only have good memories of the time that he and I spent together. And Marcia you too were there for a lot of them. he was a good man, always ready to laugh and find the humor in whatever was happening. I will miss him but he will always be with me as I know that he will always be with all of you. I know in my heart tht there is one hec of a party going on in heavon right now. With all my Love, Cherry Blossom
To the friends and family,
May he rest in peace and watch over you all. He was a great man, father, brother, and friend. I am sorry for the loss of this wonderful man. Let God be with you all and help you through this time of sorrow.
My condolences,
Jolene Lewis
Our thoughts are with you guys.nee Let me know if youneed anything
You and your family are a big part of my life and always will be. I just can’t believe that you are gone but you are in so many peoples hearts, including mine. You were my family & you have an amazing life to celebrate. I know you are at peace and are not as far away as it may seem. Thanks for being you & I have laughed more than cried when thinking of all the memories. See you again someday xoxo
You are a special person in my life a dear friend,and most important you laughed at all my lousy jokes.I am blessed having known such a wonderful person.God Bless the Family
He was my cousin, but more like an uncle. The “Hed Shned” will truly be missed by all who loved and knew him. I’ll definitely miss his laughter the most. If you knew him, you know that laugh. I wish yall the best. Love yall. Love ya Butch, see you on the other side.
Warm thoughts and concerns from the hearts of friends.
God has got his hands full. Leroy you will be missed. My hart go’s out to the family for there loss.he will always be remembered.
Leroy was a great man with an infectious sense of humor and he will be deeply missed!!! There are so many great memories and stories of him and if we continue to share them and take moments to remember them, his spirit will live on always. My thoughts and prayers are with the Groom and Marks family. Love you guys!!
Leroy, we always knew you were a blessing from above. Your laughter would fill a room. You’re back home now with God, our Heavenly Father,and have left behind a little of you in all those who have known you. Wrap your wings around your loved ones whose hearts are truly broken. Time will heal their wounds and the memory of you will live on forever. We’ll miss you Leroy.
Leroy Groom is the father of my good friend Jordan Groom, but he was also a good friend to me!! He treated me like one of the family and made me smile every time I had the pleasure of being in his company. You will be forever missed Shned!!!
Leroy you will sorely be missed. I have never met anyone like him. I met the “Shed” about 21 years ago when I came to work for the Port of Portland. The stories we could tell, always a laugh or a prank even when times were tough. A true friend. God speed Leroy..Love you brother
And peace to your family..
I am so sorry for your loss of Butch. May you keep his memories alive in your hearts.
Our deepest sympathy to the Groom and Marks families. May your memories bring you comfort in the days to come.
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family at this time of great sorrow. Leroy was a unique, fun loving soul who was always ready with something funny to say or do to get a rise out of someone. It was a pleasure to have known him.
Dear Maria and family,
Our condolences to you and your family. Please let us know if you need anything from us.
Love
Chi
You meant so much to us and our family…we will miss you greatly…thank you so much for being Kara’s Daddy for all these years. We love you
HiMarsha,
My sincere condolences to you and the family
on the loss of your precious one. He will be missed.Leroy was my swing shift partner at the Port of Portland and was a good friend.I
can never forget 1996 Thanksgiving when I was alone and my family still in Canada.Leroy asked
me what I will be doing for Thanksgiving,I told him that I will be I will be having pizza in my Apartment.he told me “Noway you will be having dinner with me and my family”.At that time we had just known each other for less than a month.I got to meet his loving family.
Marcia, and the rest of the groom family, my prayers go out to all of you.My last memory of leroymarcia, was at my wedding in 95 in portland, to my Beautiful Bride Jeri, from PDX also.One can never-ever forget “sned”the king of laughter–He was “Infectious”-Never a dull moment when leroy was onboard.
“Heaven Will Now Rock”
Dear Marsha and family,
I’m sorry to hear about Leroy. May you all be comforted in this time of loss. I had many fun times with Leroy and working with him. He was always ready to play practical joke. remember the good times. Bob Spier
Our hearts are greatly saddened by the passing of Leroy. Our prays and heartfelt sympathies go out to the family. What a wonderful soul is Leroy and we are blessed to have been touched by his spirit. He will live on in our hearts and yours. Love you.
What can you say that has not already been said? Butch was a wonderful man with a great sense of humor and love for life. He fought courageously and never ever gave up hope. He is truly an inspiration to us all. I will miss your laugh and your smile. I will treasure the time that I did get to spend with you and hold that close to my heart. Your family will always keep your memory alive with the stories of “Head Shned” & Shned’s of Hollywood videos. Until we meet again…….
Marcia, Allison, Jordan, and family, I have such great memories of my time spent with my friends Leroy and Marcia. Our time in the Navy, and the many years you guys lived here in Vancouver when we were starting our families and spending time together. His passing hit me hard, but I know it’s much harder for you guys. It’s my hope you can find some peace in your faith in Our Father and that Leroy is there with him now. Farewell old Friend till we meet again. Love, Dallas
Fair winds and following seas. The Lord will hold you in great comfort!
Dear Groomer Family,
It was my pleasure and honor to assist during LeRoy’s service today at the Register Book. What a wonderful tribute you had to him with so many personal touches and stories shared. Your photo tribute was amazing! My prayers are with all of you. I know he will be missed, but I too believe you will be with him again some day.
Lord Bless,
Brenda Griesheimer
Preplanning Counselor
VETERANS FUNERAL CARE
Please forgive my spelling your name, Groomer, instead of Groom!
Sincerely,
Brenda
Our eternal love and support. Leroy is having a blast in Heaven. Thanks be to God.
What an impact in sincere laughter and joyfull friendship a true “gallant warrior” brings, to so many of us in such many different places and times…being in recent years on this earth the real valiant and profoundly inspirational teacher; endearingly Leroy… I thank Jesus thru your loving family and cherished friends, your path brought enhanced spirituallity in us…contributing existence with humility and strong faith thruout it all…we’ll enjoy even better in heaven’s way…This waaay! Infinite love…
Hi Marcia: I have a never forgotten Leroy or you. I just happened to Google his name tonight and see his obituary. It is sad to see. Do you remember me? I used to watch your house on Granby Street and Bodidley when you were flying and Leroy was out to sea. Leroy and I were on the Pratt in 71 and 72. I have fun memories of my adventures with him. In November 1972 we hitchhiked from Norfolk Virginia to Mars Pennsylvania that was just one adventure. And it looks as though he had a really good life and I am happy for that. If you feel like sending me an email I would love to hear from you. charleyconrad@gmail.com