Hollice Hershel Plotts

H.H. “Bud” Plotts Jr., AKA the Force of Nature, died peacefully on Thursday, December 12, 2024, surrounded by his family at Haven Hospice in Lake City, Florida. He was 82.

 After Dad took his last breath, we rejoiced that he was out of pain, standing up straight, and face to face with his Savior, Jesus Christ. Dad said earlier in the day “there is a time to live and a time to die, and I’ve lived a good, long life and I am ready to die.” Because of his saving knowledge of Jesus, there was no fear of what was to come; just peace, grace, love, joy and an excitement to see his Savior and his daddy again.

 Bud was born and raised in Miami, Florida and attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina on a football scholarship, where he completed his Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Industrial Arts.

 Bud spent his summers in Mentone, Alabama- first as a camper, and then as a camp counselor at Camp Cloudmont. He roamed the woods and taught shooting, bivouacking, and archery, while sometimes having an opportunity to traverse to the DeSoto Falls on camp horses with his buddies for a midnight swim.

 Bud’s parents operated a lodge in Mentone during the summer months, the DeSoto Lodge. It was at the Lodge that Bud met and fell in love with one of the Lodge’s summer employees, a petite brunette named Elizabeth O’Connell. Bud and Liz married in 1964, and moved to St. Petersburg, Florida to make their home and start their family. Bud became a Industrial Arts teacher in the Pinellas County School system for 30 years. He taught high school students, college students at the University of Tampa, and hosted adult education woodworking classes. The Plotts’ made their home in St. Petersburg for over 30 years, welcoming and raising two daughters, Cynthia and Cathleen.

 After retirement, Bud and Liz moved to Union County, Florida, where he worked the land on a beautiful hay farm on the Santa Fe River. He raised cattle and donkeys, built a log cabin, which features a boardwalk to the river using wood from trees he cut down, milled, dried, and prepped as building materials. Bud and Liz lived in the log cabin while Bud built the main house on the property, using materials he sourced or created. Living and building on this land was a dream he thought he’d never experience, and he was grateful to God every day to walk and work the property.

 Bud was happiest building – both things and people. He loved all the outdoor sports and took the time to mentor and teach others who wanted to learn from him. We called him the Force of Nature because it seemed he could look at, or dream of something, and build it better than anyone could imagine. He loved taking time with people to help them grow in their relationship with Christ or teaching them new skills. He was an encourager and a rock to many, and if you needed him, he always made himself available. 

 Bud was preceded in death by his father, H.H. Plotts, Sr., his mother, Eleanor Spofford Plotts, and his nephew Michael Elliott. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Liz Plotts; his brother Randy Plotts; his daughter Cindy DiMarco and her husband Charles DiMarco; his daughter Cathy Wheeler and her husband Bart Wheeler; and two grandsons, C.J. DiMarco and Colin DiMarco, as well as many nieces and nephews that he loved dearly.

 Bud was a deeply beloved son, brother, father, grandfather, uncle, mentor, and friend. He was a stand in paternal figure to many, an engineer and an artist, an excellent farmer, and someone you could always count on.

 A celebration of his remarkable life will be held on January 4, 2025, at 10:30 a.m., at Sardis Baptist Church, 3915 Main Street, Worthington Springs, FL 32697. A reception will follow at the church.

 In his memory, and in lieu of flowers, donations can be made to New Life Solutions, 1910 East Bay Drive, Largo, FL 33771.