Man to be buried a day before son's wedding

By Alexis Stevens

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A week before his youngest son's wedding, William Larry Lassiter was on a guys' trip on his Harley.

Saturday night, the 61-year-old was killed while on his motorcycle in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Lassiter's life will be remembered at his funeral on Friday. The next day, Clinton Lassiter will be married.

"We think that is what my father would want us to do," said Todd Lassiter of his brother's wedding. "We're going to celebrate his life, and then keep the celebration going on through the wedding.

A Powder Springs man was killed in a weekend accident while riding his motorcycle in Panama City Beach, Fla.

William Lassiter, of Powder Springs, was heading west Saturday night on Front Beach Road and making a left turn when he collided with a Toyota Camry, according to police. No one in the Camry was injured.

His family got a call in the early morning hours on Sunday, and then headed down to Florida.

A former Marine who earned a Purple Heart during his service in Vietnam, William Lassiter was employed at Marietta's Lockheed Martin, where he worked for 30 years as an engineer, Todd Lassiter said.

A life-long resident of Cobb County, William Lassiter enjoyed coaching both sons in sports, and pulling for the underdog, Todd Lassiter said. He also made wooden baseball bats.

"He was a real guy," Todd Lassiter said.

A viewing for Lassiter, who is also survived by his wife Donna, will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Carmichael Funeral Home in Smyrna. The funeral will be held at the funeral home at 10 a.m. Friday. A military burial will follow at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton.

On Saturday, William Lassiter will be noticeably absent from the wedding festivities. But his sons know this is how their father would want it.

"He died doing what he loved to do," Todd Lassiter said. "He had that dew rag on, and he was in heaven."