In Memory of Luray Williams…
It greatly saddens me to report that DesignExtend.com has lost a team member, and the MIVA Merchant community has lost a dear friend. Luray Williams passed away Saturday, Jan. 13, 2007.
Luray forged many friendships with customers, and was the creator of the “wizard” series modules. He also performed countless installations, and fixed corrupt data. Also working behind-the-scenes on many projects, Luray was an integral part of the DesignExtend.com Team. He was, in fact, one of the three original team members, having worked with us since the existence of this portion of the company.
Luray was more than a colleague and coworker, he was a true friend. He attended my wedding and just this past summer he and other team members went to Disney for a week. He took work seriously, though, so as I made breakfast each morning, he tended to emergency tickets and made sure customers were routed to the right department or solution. He was very up on teaching his daughter about our beautiful country, and after that trip took his time driving back cross-country, making many stops along the way to visit friends and US scenic sites.
While some had to get used to his “tell it like it is” philosophy, he was determined to make sure MIVA Merchant users were able to conduct business. His brother-in-law told me that even during family visits he’d excuse himself every 30-40 minutes to check his messages. Yes, even on Sundays. This showed true dedication to his work - work he initially started simply because he was bored with retirement.
Luray wasn’t a “flowery” guy, so he’d probably hate me for saying what I already have. But I think that its good memories that make life so worth it, and Luray had many to share. Like most of us, he became more personable outside of email and often built many friendships with clients in simple phone calls.
We are very sad to have lost such a great friend. In the coming weeks I’m sure we’ll not be able to hide some of the despair. I’m sure there will be a few bumps in the road as we reorganize duties and tasks and try to ensure an uninterruption of business for store owners. I’m sure it won’t be easy, because Luray most certainly carried his weight when it came to working with the team. He also had his own site (santafemall.com) and for now, we’ll be working to handle support for those customers as well. Luray would not have wanted anyone’s store to have been affected by his passing, so until the family has had time to make the best determination, we are committed to do what we can to assist them.
If you came to know Luray over the years, please know that our thoughts are also with you. He truly enjoyed the work he did and the people he had met over the years working in this community. He, in turn, will not be soon forgotten.
Pamela Hazelton
Owner
DesignExtend.com
January 14th, 2007 at 11:58 pm
Luray was such a wonderful person. I feel so blessed to have known him in my lifetime. He will be missed long and never forgotten.
Lori
January 15th, 2007 at 12:51 am
Luray was my mentor, my fix it when I screwed up the database, the guy I trusted when I was away to watch over the store. He responded within minutes always, even when he was on dial-up. Just last week we had a long talk about “things” which over the years grew from just MIVA stuff to our families and lives.
I, for one, will sorely miss him! My deepest sympathies to his family. Brenda
January 15th, 2007 at 12:42 pm
Although I never met Luray face to face I have had countless phone calls with him. He was always willing to help and advise. We met through Miva’s forum long before he created his wizards. He was amazingly fast at making Miva sing. He will be missed.
Susan
January 15th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Luray was VERY patient with our request and my learning curve when it came to building a store with merchant. Without his time and modules a lot of what we wanted to accomplish would have been impossible. He will be missed very much and we pass our deepest sympathies to his family, freinds, and the wonderful staff at DE. He will be missed greatly and never forgotten.
God Bless!
Corey and the rest of the Saltwater Edge Staff
January 15th, 2007 at 10:57 pm
Luray helped me with a clients’ site way back when I was first learning Miva (version 3). He even helped over the phone. He was a tremendous help and I always purchase modules through Design Extend because of him. I always remembered the service he gave and became a loyal customer because of him. My thoughts go out to the family and close friends. Sorry for your loss.
January 16th, 2007 at 12:15 pm
Dear Pamela and DE team,
So sorry to hear of your loss. I had the pleasure of speaking with Luray on 2 occasions and he was most polite, extremely knowledgeable and very helpful.
I am sure he will be missed by all.
Maria
January 19th, 2007 at 2:54 pm
Luray’s passing was a shock to me as I had just talked to him via email about a MIVA situation. I have been in this business for over 12 years and have run into many souls. In this fast paced tech world his ( and DesignExtend.com’s) frankness and knowledge was very refreshing.
He will be missed.
Tom
January 21st, 2007 at 3:32 pm
My condolence to Mr Luray Williams family and Miva friends and Associates.
I never met the man or have personally known who he was until today as I found out while updating a module written by him.
So in this repect I appreciate his work and acknowledge his contributions within the Miva communitiy.
I am also touched that Blog was posted in him memory. I hardly see a tribute on website and it’s something that reminds us that behind the this internet business there are actually real people.
Personal Best to all.
Bernard
January 22nd, 2007 at 11:30 am
Thank you to Ms. Hazelton and others at your company for the wonderful things you have said about my “Uncle Butch” (as his nieces and nephews called him). It is good to see that he made so many friends through his work. He will be missed.
Jennifer Hairston-Wolfe
Ringgold, GA
January 25th, 2007 at 7:42 pm
I am very saddened to learn of Luray’s passing.
What a wonderful, considerate man. I didn’t want to bother him, but he was always very willing to help me with his modules - even asking me to call him when he felt it was easier on the phone.
Based on the price of his modules, he provided support beyond what one would expect and always provided quick replies.
Several times he asked me to visit him when I was in Albuquerque, but I haven’t been there since the 2003 Miva conference - and wish I was able to do so to have gotten to know him better.
January 26th, 2007 at 2:13 pm
I would like to add my most sincere condolescences to the Luray’s family and co-workers. Luray assisted me with integration of a couple of add-ons last August. With Luray’s assistance via e-mail and telephone, that process went smoothly. I was impressed with his knowledge of both the add-on and the MIVA product. He will be missed.
Bob Spiteri
Webmaster@theGROOVEshack.com
January 29th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I was shocked and saddened to hear of Luray’s death. He was my one source of help and humor when I started using Miva years ago. He developed all my original modules and answered my volume of dumb questions with a laugh while his birds talked in the background. While I never met Luray in person, I considered Luray a friend, and I mourn the loss of his knowledge and his dry wit. My sincere condolences to his family and all those who he touched and will miss him.
Wrenae Gilmer
January 31st, 2007 at 6:53 pm
We are so grateful for this tribute and the time all of you have taken to express your thoughts in memory of Luray, known as “Larry” and “Dad” to us. We are his ex-wife and 12-year-old daughter.
We’ve often discussed his day’s work, challenges, triumphs, and some of you over the years. A hard worker since early youth, DesignExtend was his fourth career, and the one I think he enjoyed the very most. Larry was all about relationships, and from what I read of your posts, if you felt that he seemed to truly enjoy being a part of Your success, you would be right.
He was an exceptional dad, too. McKenzie spent many hours near him in the office, on her computer, while he toiled over some elusive glitch, contributing to his work by supplying him the occasional correct word. “That’s ‘heck,’ Dad, or sometimes, “That’s ‘darn,’ Dad.”
He was a wonderful, attentive father, and we enjoyed the successful, common goal of healthy, loving parenting of our beautiful late-in-life daughter.
Larry was, indeed, a tireless worker, keeping his home immaculate and his work accurate and timely; yet somehow he always found the time to make sure that his family and friends were well cared for. Once, after being tied to a particularly difficult task for some hours, a bored, younger McKenzie walked into the office with a wooden spoon fetched from the kitchen and announced, “Wanna play Beat the Kid?” I wonder where she got her sense of humor? Of course, he closed shop that day and spent his time where it was most needed.
We still don’t quite understand that he’s gone, especially when we read your letters and “see” him again this way. What we do know is that he was ALWAYS there when we needed him. He had an uncanny intuition, too, so that he very often was there even before WE knew we needed him.
Forever the generous soul, a growly bear sometimes, a mischievous wordsmith usually, the Rock of Gibralter always, he was such a gift.
Karen and McKenzie
February 1st, 2007 at 4:15 pm
One of my favorite miva people. I had the great pleasure of getting to know him when I attended two of the miva conferences. Someone who seemed to enjoy the day just because it was there. My condolences to his family and all of his friends.
February 3rd, 2007 at 1:21 am
Luray was someone that was dedicated to his work. With his design Wizard he was one of the original people to make Miva what it is today. I can remember talking to him on the phone numerous times. He was a special person that helped me with problems on the fly. My deepest gratitude for a special person who help many people!
March 5th, 2007 at 11:59 pm
I am very sorry to hear about Luray’s passing. He truly was a one of a kind guy. He was not only a great guy but he wrote some truly great modules. He helped me many late evenings when i was franticly looking for a fix to a problem. Although he was a little intimidating sometimes on the phone, you can tell he was happy to help. I enjoyed speaking with him countless times and im surely going to miss him. My condolences to Luray’s family and hope only the best for the future…..
Ken Berke
August 16th, 2007 at 6:26 am
What a shock. I just went to Luray’s website to get in touch with him and I am totally shocked about the news. You meet so many people running a business and the majority fade in your memory over time. Luray was different and a true character. I wish all the best for his famly….