John
T. Davila 1984-2007
John Terence Davila, 23, passed away April 26, 2007, at his home in Key West.
Born there on April 21, 1984, John T. was a graduate of Key West High School, class 2002, a member of the KWHS baseball team
and a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church. He loved his family and he enjoyed diving and fishing.
John T. is survived
by his parents, three sisters, two brothers, four nieces, maternal grandparents and paternal grandparents.
He was preceded
in death by his granny, Gloria M. Doughtry and his godfather, "Papa Tony" Davila.
Funeral Mass was held April
30, 2007 at St. Mary's Catholic Church and burial in the Key West City Cemetery.
Comments:
The lost of your child
is the most painful experience that God allows a person to endure, only someone that has been through this, knows the real
pain. My heart goes out to his parents, both of which have been close friends of our family for many years.
If God would
allow us to choose our family, not that I don't love my own, the Davila's would have been my choice. Their's is a large and
proud family and John T. was every bit a Davila.
His mother also is part of an old conch family and grandfather from
which John T. got his name, is one of the most respected men in conch history.
John T. was one of the toughest little
kids I ever knew, his brother who was close in age was mostly responsible for this. He would stand toe to toe with boys
mush bigger and older, he was fearless. A natural athelet, John T. excelled in the Junior Football League and a standout
on the Key West High baseball team. Everyone knew when John T. was in the game, because you could always hear his mother cheering
him on.
A person's life should not be measured in years, but by how much one lives during their time on earth. John
T. lived every minute of his life and will long be remembered. I beleive he now has his Granny Gloria on one side and
Papa Tony on the other. N.S.Sherlock
Harry M. Williams Jr. 1928-2007
The Illustrious Harry M Williams Jr., 33rd
Degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Free masonry, Valley of Key West, Orient of Florida, passed March 31,
2007, at his home on Petronia Street just one house away from where he was born on Ashe Street on June 16, 1928.
He
was a member of Dade Lodge, York Rite-Conch Council No. 44 and Island Chapter No. 65, and honorary member of Anchor, Dr. Felix
Varela, Marathon and Florida Keys Lodges.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Harry M. Williams Sr. and Mariam
Gwynn Williams; and his brother, Jack Williams.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, a daughter, a son, grandchildren,
great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the island, Florida and the state of Washington.
Mr.
Harry was a lifelong resident of Key West and a fifth-generation Conch, a fact of which he was very proud. He was a keen storyteller
and documented much of his family's life on 8mm film and video. A graduate of Key West High in 1947, he began his career as
a pressman for the Florida Keys Star. The love of printing and preserving history is something that would remain with him
throughout his life. As a young man with a family, he went to work for the U.S. Postal Service, first as a mail carrier and
later at the stamp window in the old post office on Simonton St. until his retirement. After a brief retirement, he worked
at the airport in security under the auspices of the sheriff of Monroe County; but he was, in fact, more of a goodwill ambassador,
greeting friends, acquaintances and total strangers who arrived and departed each day from Key West International Airport.
He surveyed the world from his front porch swing and Conch Train drivers happily included him as part of their tour. His quick
smile and endearing personality made everyone feel special.
His love of family and tradition combined with his natural
leadership abilities, which began in his youth with service as a Boy Scout and Sea Scout leader, found a home in Free Masonry,
where he put his talents to their best use. He studied and coached tirelessly for half his life. For his hard work and dedication
he was awarded a "gold card," an achievement best appreciated and understood by Free Masons; and simply described
as being desired by many, but obtained only by a rare few. He was affectionately referred to as "Mr. Mason" by his
brothers at the Lodge.
Chapel services were held at noon on Good Friday, April 6, 2007, on the second floor of the Scottish
Rite Masonic Center, 533 Eaton St. and transported to the Key West Cemetery aboard a fire truck led by an honor guard from
the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and a walking procession of brothers from the Masonic Lodges in the city, county and throughout
the state. They payed tribute to a humble, unassuming man, who left his mark on so many lives in a quit and unpretentious
way. A reception was held at the Lodge following these services to honor his life.
Comments:
I knew Mr.
Harry Williams my entire life, he also lived in George Allen Apartment's early years. He was a mailman, great husband, very
proud of his beautiful little girl and his name-sake son. His mother and father-in-law, Miss Annie and Mr. Floyd Sands, along
with his sister-in-law where like family to us.
I take pride in saying my own father coached Mr. Harry through his degrees
to become a Master Mason. He also helped him with some of the many renovations he made to an old, run down house on Petronia
and Ashe Sts., he turned that place into a thing of beauty, they were true brothers. My great-aunt Eloise Sawyer lived on
the opposite corner.
Mr. Harry went on to coach many and become a 33rd degree Mason, the highest degree achieved in
the Masonic order, very few reach this degree. He dedicated himself to the Masons and was loved by all of the Order, he earned
the name Mr. Mason.
Having numerous conversations with Mr. Harry over the years, like the well written
obituary above noted, he allways made me feel special, important and that my life mattered. It is baffeling how God has allowed
me to be touched by so many. It is impossible to designate the greatest person I ever knew, but can tell you Mr. Harry
Williams is right at the top with the Great Ones. N.S.Sherlock
Pearl Villareal-Key 1031-2007
Pearl Villareal-Key,
a fourth -generation Conch who was born on Sept. 18, 1931, in Key West, passed away on March 31, 2007, in Winter Haven, Fla.
Memorial
services were held on April 4, at Steel Funeral Home in Winter haven, Fla.
This was the way her obituary appeared in
the Key West Citizen but can assure you she was much more than this and it will be expanded in the future.
Comments:
Miss
Pearl was my mother's 1st cousin, her father and my grandmother were sister and brother. Her first husband was Mr. Bunsy Villareal
who passed away many years ago, many will remember him as the unpire that officiated so many baseball and softball games in
Key West. Her brother was H.F. Roberts, a Master Roofer and one of her sons is presently a policeman on the KWPD.
Miss
Pearl and my mother-in-law, Connie Russell, were very good friends and had many great times at the Key West Moose Lodge. She
was a beautiful person inside and out, every single time she saw me, she would grab me, hug and kiss me, I loved her
dearly and will miss her very much. Sometime in the future I plan on writing a family tree and Miss Pearl will be part of
it. N.S.Sherlock
Barbara Sawyer 1940-2007
Barbara Sawyer, 66, of Key West, FL, passed away Jan. 192007, at Lower
Keys Medical Center.
She was born in Key West on Aug. 16,1940, the daughter of the late Joseph Bernell Sawyer Sr. and
Alice Thompson Sawyer. She worked for 35 years as a travel agent; working with Air Sunshine Airlines as well as numerous other
airlines in Key West.
She is the loving mother of a daughter, two sons and a devoted grandmother of seven, also survived
by two sisters and numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, four brothers: Joseph Bernell Sawyer
Jr., Henry S. Sawyer, Harry L. Sawyer and Cyil Sawyer; and three sisters, Eleanor Newberger, Rosanell Sawyer and Phylis Archer.
She
will always be remembered and treasured by her family and friends. Funeral services were held Jan. 23, 2007 with burial in
the Key West City Cemetery.
Comments:
I did not know Miss Barbara that well but her youngest son is a close friend
of mine. He always had the best Super Bowl parties every year and Miss Barbara was always in attendance. My condolences
go out to my old friend on the lost of his mother. N.S.Sherlock
Antonio Gil Sr. 1917-2007
Antonio Gil, 90, founder
of Tony's Sheet Metal and Roofing Co. passed away Jan 19,2007, at Baptist Cardio & Vascular Institute in Miami.
He
was born Jan.2, 1917, in Santiago De Las Vegas, Cuba, the son of the late Emigdio Antonio and Louisa Gil. He established Tony's
Roofing, Monroe County's oldest roofing company, in 1953. He was a member of the Mahi Shrine, a 32 degree Mason, and belonged
to Dade Lodge #14 of Key West for 50 years. He had served as the first roofer member of the newly established city contractors
licensing board.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Udelia Castro. He is survived by his wife
of 68 years, a daughter, two sons, two nephews, eight grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren, many grand and
great-grand nieces and nephews. He left friends behind all over the world and will always be remembered and treasured by his
family.
Funeral services were held Jan. 25, 2007, at the Gonzales Funeral Home in Tampa, FL, and a memorial service
was held at the Key West Baptist Church on Stock Island.
Comments:
My father worked for Mr. Gil in the 1950s and
I worked for his sons in the 70s. He was a no-nonsence man and expected an honest days work for your pay. He gave Tony's
Roofing to his sons to run many years ago but could never really stay out of the business, which always made for some
lively conversations.
The first time I worked for Tony's Roofing was with my brother-in-law, Bo Cates, the year I graduated,
now jokingly refered to as the Summer of Hell. I was not really cut-out for this type of work, few are, but they welcomed
me back a few times between other jobs. This always gave me added incentive to succeed at what I was doing, knowing if I didn't,
I would probably end up on some stearming hot roof. Several of my good friends learned the trade at this company, among
them, Tony Diamandi, who went on to have his own successful roofing business.
I have great respect for both Mr. Gil's
sons, but his oldest, was like a role model for me and we became close friends, he has always been able to lift my spirits
with his humor. These guys loved there father and honored him in the way they have lived there lives, my condolences go out
to the entire Gil Family. N.S.Sherlock