Frank (Francis) John LeGrue, 92 (he would say “almost 93), went to his well-earned rest on Friday, April 6, 2018, at his longtime home in Port Charlotte, Florida, with his devoted wife by his side.

Frank was born in Chicago, IL to Freida and George LeGrue. In elementary school, Frank won a scholarship to a prestigious art school in Chicago but was not able to attend due to the distance from his home. His family moved to Island Lake IL when he was 13, and that is where his interest in sailing began. Frank joined the US Navy the summer after Pearl Harbor at the age of 17 served aboard the destroyer USS Bryant, engaging the Japanese in the South Pacific. He took part in the battles of Tarawa, Tinian, Saipan and the Marianas “Turkey Shoot”, among others. He was honorably discharged in 1946.

He eventually made his way to Denver, where he and his first wife Lynn were the owners of a showcase floral and gift shop that reflected his creativity, talents, and sense of humor. Customers brought their out of town guests to “LeGrue’s” to see the fantasyland that he created. After selling his business in 1982, Frank moved to St Petersburg, FL where he and his wife Twyla lived aboard his sailboat, the Bittersweet, for five years. In that time, they sailed twice to the Bahamas. In 1987 Frank and Twyla made their way to Port Charlotte where they built a beautiful home together.

Franks interest through the years included sailing, building and flying RC airplanes, painting, and playing the guitar. He taught himself celestial navigation and earned a Pilot’s License which would have enabled him to lead sailing/scuba tours in the Caribbean. He found his final niche in woodcarving at the age of seventy-five. He was an award-winning carver and was always willing to lend a hand and share his tools, time, and workshop with fellow carvers. He hated to lose at board games and wasn’t above blatant cheating. Frank lived his passions and one of the only things he loved more than his next adventure was embellishing his previous ones. In the words of his grandson “he was the original ‘most interesting man in the world’”.

He leaves to morn his passing his loving wife Twyla, his son Stephen LeGrue (Beth), grandsons Mason (Brooke), Eric (Jennifer), and Giles (Megan), all of Houston TX, and 3 beautiful greatgrandchildren, Bennet, Audry, and Nicolas. His children acquired through marriage (his dowry) include Jeff Keys, Renee (Pete) Steffen, Steven Keys, Shelly (Jim) Donahue, Carrie (Michael) Frazier, Deanna (Larry) Ferree, 13 step grandchildren and 17 step great grandchildren.

A Memorial service celebrating Frank’s life will be held 11 a.m. this Thursday, April 12, 2018, at Roberson Funeral Home, 2151 Tamiami Trail, in Port Charlotte, FL. Committal services with military honors will be held Colorado, at a later date.

Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Homes & Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.