William "Will" Henry Laing, Jr

June 19, 1949 – October 13, 2024

Will went to be with Jesus on Sunday, October 13, 2024, peacefully at home in his sleep. Graveside services will be held at the Northwest Louisiana Veterans Cemetery on Monday, 10/28/24 at 1:30pm under the direction of Aulds Funeral Home.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Debra R. Laing; daughter, Carrie Laing;  son, Connor Laing; granddaughter, Ashlea McLain; grandson. "DJ" McLain; and sister, Elizabeth Roberts of  New Market, Ontario, Canada and mother, Paula  Steige of Colorado. He is preceded in death by his brother Steven Laing of Colorado.

Will served his country in the United States Army as a proud warrior in the Vietnam War from 1966-1969.  His military service accomplishments included:  the Vietnam Service Medal, 4 Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Parachutist Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Army Commendation Medal, Sharpshooter (Rifle M14), and Expert (Rifle16).  His military nickname was "Raider."  He was a true patriot and loved the country he served. He was known for carrying around a small radio, hooked to his belt loop while listening to KEEL to stay current on the news. Will was featured in the "Visions of Vietnam" by Max Crace and "The Eyes Of The Eagle" F Company LRPs in Vietnam, 1968, by Gary A. Linderer. In the 1980's he owned C/C Performance Products, where he designed, patented, and produced special racing brackets.

Will shared his birthday with his beloved granddaughter and was dedicated to taking care of his family.  He was known as "Mr. Will" or "Papa", the man who could fix anything.  He was the head of the household aka "Laing's auto shop and repair, bike repair, and cafe." Whatever you needed, he could do it.  He made an impact on many of the youth he came in contact with. He proudly rebuilt his 1974 Chevrolet C10 pickup truck turning it into a prize winning show truck along with having a specialized color made specifically for the truck. He was a self-taught master carpenter and built many amazing structures. He was an accomplished airplane welder/mechanic for Royale Airlines, and was then employed by Beaird Industries.  He was a member of Rose Park Baptist Church.

The family wants to thank St. Joseph Hospice, STAT Home Health, and Rose Park Baptist Church for their care and support during this time.