Roy D. Carlson passed away peacefully at home with family on October 8th, 2021, after taking the world by storm for 87 years. Roy was a much-loved husband, father, and grandfather with an abundance of friends. He enjoyed nothing more than being outdoors hunting, fishing, camping or simply riding around on his airboat on a “peek-and-seek” mission. Roy was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1934 to Stanley Nelson and Beatrice Carlson, who emigrated from Sweden. At age 5 he moved with his mother and grandfather, Sven Carlson, to Lake Hamilton, Florida, where his grandfather pursued a career in the citrus industry. He spent his youth hunting, fishing, and camping, earning his Eagle Scout as a teenager. He was an excellent athlete, playing football and participating on the sailing team in high school at Admiral Farragut Academy in St. Petersburg. He went on to get his Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture at University of Florida to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps in the citrus industry. He lived most of his life in the home built by his grandfather on Lake Crystal in Lake Hamilton. Many family and friends of “Big Roy” will recall trips taken far and wide, and the epic incidents, and stories generated by those trips. Several boat trips were made around the entire coast of Florida to the Bahamas and even Cuba back in the 1950’s. An almost annual occurrence was a trip to the Florida Keys to dive for lobster. A boat trip from Lake Hatchineha, through the Kissimmee River, Lake Okeechobee, all the way to Captiva produced some of the best tales yet, with half the party abandoning ship due to mechanical issues, while another part spent a night at a permanently closed marina. It all ended well in a birthday celebration for two old Swedes, and an engagement for two half Swedes. He loved hunting of all kinds and made several trips out west in search of Elk and other critters. One particularly memorable hunting trip in Colorado was made on horseback, in waist-deep snow, with large canvas tents for accommodations. Big Roy was “glamping” before anyone knew the term. The entire family, along with a couple brave friends, would pile into the car for several summers visiting all the national parks we could take in while camping and fishing along the way. Roy was a social creature, who enjoyed a good party and especially a fish fry. He loved to attend Gator football games with his wife, daughters and sister’s family, many being Florida alumni. He was past president of the Lake Hatchineha Airboat Club, and enjoyed many cookouts with the group. He was also a charter member of the “Fat Man’s Club,” where they had a regular diet competition followed by a day-long feast to undo it all. Roy was a member of several hunting clubs, one in Holopaw and one in Gulf Hammock, and had a large collection of hunting dogs over his lifetime. He was of Swedish descent and could still speak the language a bit. His family got a kick out of asking him to bless the meal before holiday events with the “Swedish Blessing”. Left to tell good stories and share beloved memories are his loving wife of 58 years, Joann Carlson and her brothers Bobby and Dan Martin, his daughters, Candace Carlson (Kevin Baker) and Christel Berg (Matthew Pennewell), his sister, Cookie Brinson and family, and his grandson, Marlowe Roy Berg. Roy was preceded in death by his son, Stephen Carlson. The family will have a private ceremony at the Lake Crystal family home followed by a celebration of life around the holidays on a date yet to be determined.