TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Minister: 'We May Never Know Why' Tragedy Happened

ADVERTISEMENT

By GEORGE H. NEWMAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2008

PLANT CITY - The minister who preached Thursday's funeral for Larry C. "Clay" Rimmer II said "we may never know why" he allegedly shot and killed his wife before killing himself,, but he called on mourners to find strength through God.

"This is a time of pain. We don't understand why things like this happen," said the Rev. Eric Rimmer, who is Clay's cousin and a Baptist minister. "We must trust in God. Regardless of the circumstances, the goodness of God shines through. God's plans for us are for good and not for evil."

About 150 mourners attended services at Hopewell Funeral Home near Plant City.

Polk County sheriff's detectives say Rimmer, 40, shot and killed his 37-year-old wife, Heather Lynn Rimmer, and then turned the gun on himself.

Rimmer attended Plant City High School in the mid-1980s, but there's no record that he graduated. He was mostly self-employed during his working career. Most recently he operated a lawn service.

Rimmer was affiliated with youth soccer in Lakeland and was an avid runner, as was his deceased wife. Rimmer was buried with a soccer ball signed by some of the players he formerly coached.

Clay and Heather Rimmer married in the early 1990s.

Prior to the service, several members of Heather Rimmer's side of the family went to the front of the hall and embraced Clay Rimmer's closest kin. Tears were shed and sobbing words exchanged.

"I'm so sorry," Clay's father, Larry Clayton Rimmer, told Heather's stepfather, Bob Roebuck, as they embraced near the casket. "I didn't think he would kill her."

"It's not your fault," Roebuck said. "You couldn't help it. You didn't know."

A photo slide show during the funeral pictured Clay Rimmer as an infant; through his youth, when he played Little League baseball in Plant City; in his high school days; and with his daughters during their infancy and other times in their youth.

One photo showed Clay and Heather and their daughters Paige, 12, and Jordyn, 7, together at a family outing.

Rimmer, pastor at a Southern Baptist church in South Carolina, opened the service with a prayer to "an all powerful, all knowing, ever-present God. I pray you would give us peace. Thank you for the opportunity to know you."

"We may never know why this happened," Rimmer said. "But we trust you can overcome our grief and give us the strength to find peace in our hearts."

Clay Rimmer became a Christian at age 12 when he walked the aisle at Pinecrest Church of God, Eric Rimmer said.

"I don't care what the newspapers and TV news say. The holy infallible word of God makes no distinction from one sin to another," he said. "Yes, this was tragic. But when God sees Clay, he sees a sinner saved by grace. Clay cannot come back. But we know he is with his heavenly father. Thank you, God, for having a grip that cannot be broken. Your grip is tighter than any evil or any sin."

"I pray that Clay is wrapped in your loving arms. And allow us to claim the hope that is ours."

LARRY C. "CLAY" RIMMER II

BORN: July 16, 1968, in Barberton, Ohio

DIED: Aug. 23, 2008, in Lakeland

OCCUPATION: Operated a lawn service

SURVIVORS: Mother, Diane Griffin; father, Larry Clayton Rimmer; daughters, Paige and Jordyn; and brother, Paul Kevin Rimmer.

Reporter George H. Newman can be reached at (813) 865-4451 or gnewman@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT