Buddy Deas

James Alva Deas III, also known as Buddy, Daddy, Baby, Mr. Deas, Brother, Uncle Bud, Papa and Hercules was a man of many hats. He has received his life’s most important one: his Golden Crown of Glory, as the lord called him home Saturday morning December 2, 2023, at his home in Cedar Key, Florida. Buddy was born in Alachua General Hospital in Gainesville, Florida on October 26, 1945, to Red and Violet Deas. He was raised on a farm on Archer Road in Gainesville. All of his school years were spent in Gainesville schools, and he often bragged that just one school bus picked up all the kids from Archer to the Gainesville City limits. After graduating from Gainesville High School in 1963, Buddy drove to Lake City every day to attend and graduate from Lake City Jr. College and Forest Ranger School. He then started the University of Florida while living and working at the Gainesville Livestock Market loading cattle on semis all night and then attending class at 7 a.m. By this time, he and Pat were married so he had to make it happen; he was a very determined man. He graduated in 1968 with a BA in Animal Science with the intention of attending Veterinary School at Auburn University but God had other plans for Mr. Deas. He began his 36-year teaching career in Gadsden County and continued his career in Levy, and Alachua Counties. In 1983, he took a year off from teaching to earn his master’s degree from the University of Florida graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Buddy loved God, his family, his animals, his friends and life. He enjoyed fishing, spending time outdoors, collecting John Deere memorabilia and old tools. He was a man of integrity, loyalty and had a quick sense of humor. He will surely be missed by all those who knew and loved him. He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Pat, Daughters Ginger (Michael), Amy (Dan), grandson Rhett, sister JoAnne (David), brother David (Suzie), Pat’s sisters which he claimed as his: Mary (Mike), Judy, Susie (Hugh), eight nieces, four nephews and other extended family and friends as well as his “boys” that he treasured dearly. Buddy was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bronson, a lifetime member of the NRA, Ducks Unlimited, A Seasoned Owl, and a supporter of the St. Jude’s Foundation. He was inducted into the FFA Hall of Fame in 2011. Services will be held Saturday, December 9th, 2023, at the old Bronson High School Auditorium (310 School Street) at 10:00 a.m. with a reception to follow in the lunchroom. The burial will be private at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Archer, Florida. In Lieu of flowers, family requests that memorial donations be made to the University of Florida Buddy Deas Scholarship Fund which was set up several years ago by one of his “boys.” U.F./IFAS P.O. Box 110170 Gainesville, Florida 32611 or Online at give.ifas.ufl.edu Arrangements have been placed under the care of the Rick Gooding Funeral Home Chiefland Chapel, with locations in Cross City 352-498-5400 and Chiefland 352-493-0050. Please sign the online guest book at rickgoodingfuneralhomes.com

Buddy Deas

October 26, 1945 - December 2, 2023