Bruce D. Laraway

Bruce D. Laraway, 75, of Stuart, FL, passed away on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at his home.

Bruce owned his own Commercial Construction and Developing Company. He was an avid golfer, a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a visionary, a creator and a boat captain.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Susan Laraway of Stuart, FL and daughters Sara Lillis of Stuart, FL and April Laraway of Colorado; grandchildren Charles, Elizabeth, Quinlan and Lily; sisters Kelli Pillars and Linda Laraway both of Michigan; stepbrother Kevin Lesperance and stepfather Lewis Lesperance, of Port St. Lucie, FL.

Bruce Laraway was raised in Lansing, Michigan and graduated from Sexton High School in Lansing and starred on the swimming team. He then became a member of the Carpenters Union. In 1971, he met his wife, Susan Demorest, and were married in 1972 and started their journey together. They left Lansing for Colorado Springs to begin a new adventure in the wild west and eventually opened his first Commercial Construction company along with my brother Bo Demorest and our first employee Mark Tomaszewski (MacGyver). It became a thriving company until 1988 when the savings and loan bottomed out. From there, Bruce left for Stuart, Florida where his childhood friend, Gary Hufnagel and wife Karol lived. They helped Bruce get started and had a thriving business. After 30 years we retired and sold the business to our employees which is still active.

Bruce spent many times on the golf courses which he loved to do and met many friends along the way. He loved to fish and bought a boat and spent many good times in the Bahamas. He also loved diving for lobster and fell in love with Stuart. Bruce and his good friend Peter Hartman were on the front page of the Stuart News with a bounty of lobster!!

He spent much of his time with his wife of 52 years, Susan, and their two children Sara and April. He was also involved with Martin County Cancer Society.

He had some heroic moments – Bruce and Bo (his brother-in-law) watched a private plane crash on a local golf course, and they rescued them from the plane and all survived.

On another occasion, Bruce and I, along with Christina and Marty Fowler crossed the inlet to the ocean.

As we entered the inlet, the waves were so high, we tried to turn around without success. We drove the boat east and saw a young girl who fell out of a boat and then her fiancé jumped in after her with no life ring.

Christina, ever so quickly, called “May Day” May Day” and the boats couldn’t get through the Stuart inlet. So, Bruce continued to circle widely around the two people; the waves were so high that we couldn’t see them. We finally saw them and, by the grace of God, the water calmed just enough to get them out of the ocean into the boat! They were in total shock as we crossed over the inlet (12’ high) praying, and docked. When Bruce got out of the boat his knees buckled and fell to the ground. On the front page was a picture of the two survivors and the caption read “we will never go on another boat again!”

I fell in love with him when I was 10 years old, and met him again when I was 21, and have been married for 52 years and were blessed with our 2 daughters, Sara and April, and four beautiful grandchildren.

We have been blessed, and I will forever hold my first love in my heart.

A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at 3:00 pm at the Stuart Chapel of Martin Funeral Home & Crematory, 961 S. Kanner Highway, Stuart, FL.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in loving memory of Bruce can be made to Calvary Chapel Palm City, 1633 SW 34th St, Palm City, FL 34990.

Online condolences and expressions of sympathy can be made by visiting www.Martin-Funeral.com