09/11/2025
Fitzhugh “Hugh” Lee Williams, III peacefully passed away September 9, 2025 at the Hamrick Home surrounded by his wife and family.
He was born on March 20, 1941 in Fort Pierce, Florida to Anne Misik Williams and Fitzhugh “Doc” Williams, Jr.
He was a sixth generation Floridian on his father’s side and his maternal grandparents migrated from Hungary in the early 1900s.
After the second grade, his family moved from Palm City back to Sebring, where he enjoyed an idyllic childhood of adventures with lifelong friends and an infamous bird dog named Duke.
While in high school, he excelled in athletics. He was on the 1958-59 SHS BlueStreak’s football team that won the coveted Ridge Conference title. He was the quarterback and in baseball, he was the pitcher with the distinction of being able to pitch either left or right-handed.
Living on Lake Jackson, he developed a lifelong love of fishing and water sports. At the age of 82 he was still able to barefoot ski and snorkel.
But his true passion was being a “cowboy”. He loved everything about it. Although he was given a full athletic scholarship to the University of Florida, he opted to return home and enter “the family business”.
Throughout the years he worked for most local ranches such as Lykes Brothers, Gene Fulford, Arrow B, family-owned ranches for his aunts, uncle and the WWS that he was in partnership with his parents. He enjoyed being outdoors, the comradery of the cow crews and cowboys. He also took a lot of pride in his cattle. At one point, as an active member of the Beefmasters Breeders, he had a heifer win first place in the Tampa Futurity and on several occasions, international buyers purchased his cattle. He sold and shipped cattle to Honduras, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua.
In addition to being a rancher, in the late 1960s, he and his father were in the Grass Planting and Land Clearing business and in 2004 he was the President of Tri W Turf, a wholesale sod business with his sons.
He was an excellent marksman and enjoyed hunting. He never lost his passion for fishing and being on the water. Later in life, he and his wife were able to split their time between the ranch and Big Pine Key.
He was an avid NASCAR and Florida Gator devotee. He really did not enjoy travelling and hated to fly but could be convinced to go to a NASCAR race or a Gator game.
He had a natural curiosity and zest for life. He was always up for trying new projects such as making homemade beer and wine, jellies, gardening, and cooking, He had coin collections and collected porcelain animal figurines “dabbled” in photography and painting.
He loved music and dancing. His taste in music was varied and eclectic. His “Alexa playlist” had everything from ABBA, Dusty Springfield, Mario Bocelli to George Jones and so many others. He enjoyed going to the theatre, concerts, museums, and historical exhibitions.
The parties that Hugh and his wife would host in the Cabbagewoods were legendary. Always including good friends, family, good food and sometimes even fireworks.
Hugh is preceded in death by his parents, Doc and Anne Williams; sister, Carol Anne Smith; and stepson, Matthew Alan Williams.
He is survived by his loving wife and best friend, Flo Williams; daughters, Katherine Glasser (Gregg) and Karla Long; sons, Fitzhugh “Lee” Williams, IV (Lori) and Matthew Williams (Amanda); stepdaughter, Lorri Boyett (Leroy); grandchildren, Alicia, Kari, Taylor, Zach, Maddie, Ryder, McCrae, Riley, Sadie, Braxton and Owen; great grandchildren, Derek, Brooke, Declan and Caden.
He also leaves behind loving nieces, Wendy Crum (Adam); his partner in crime, Rosa Burkett (Nick); and great nieces and nephews, Kayleigh, Jayda, Austin, Roger, and Caysen; and sister-in-law, Linda Pearce. In addition to many other friends and loved ones, who shared his life adventures and have such fond memories of a truly good man.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday, September 19, 2025 at Buxton Okeechobee Funeral Home. Service will be at 11:00 am Saturday, September 20, 2025 at Crewsville Bethel Baptist Church, 8251 Crewsville Rd, Zolfo Springs, FL 33890. Interment will follow at Crewsville Cemetery, 8251 Crewsville Rd, Zolfo Springs, FL 33890.
Those wishing to leave a message of condolence may sign the register book at, www.OkeechobeeFuneralHome.com
All arrangements are entrusted to the direction and care of the Buxton Okeechobee Funeral Home, 400 North Parrott Avenue, Okeechobee, Florida, 34972.
