Fred Thomas Stanley, III

Fred Thomas Stanley, III passed away on April 3, 2020 after a courageous 13-year battle with cancer. He was born in Jacksonville, FL, and was 71 years old. Fred was a retiree of both Georgia Power Company and Georgia Technical Institute. Fred and his wife Carol retired from the Atlanta area to their beloved St. George Island, FL in 2004. Here Fred pursued his love of fishing, and could be found on many spring and fall mornings with his fishing buddies hooking trout, redfish, and pompano on the beach or in kayaks on the bay. He was a tireless volunteer and could be counted on to enthusiastically help with any project for his family and friends. His commitment to the community he loved earned him the St. George Island Civic Club’s Outstanding Citizen of the Year Award in 2006. Fred was a member of the St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department, working alongside his neighbors to keep the island safe. He also contributed his skills as a craftsman to the local Habitat for Humanity organization, helping to build homes for Franklin County families. As a lifetime member of the St. George Lighthouse Association, Fred spent many weekends cleaning mortar off bricks from the fallen lighthouse so that the historic landmark could be rebuilt at the center of the island. When a replica of the original lighthouse keeper’s house was built next to the reconstructed lighthouse, Fred was instrumental in milling and installing the pine woodwork in the house. Fred served as a member of the lighthouse association’s board of directors for 11 years, from 2008 to 2019. Among Fred’s most memorable attributes were his patriotism and love of country. Growing up during the turbulent ‘60s, he served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Noa and the USS Goodrich during the Vietnam War. He was a founding member and leader of the monthly REVEILLE Group for veterans on St. George Island and surrounding areas, and helped organize and establish the tradition of annual Veterans Day celebrations on the island. He loved military history and enjoyed trading military challenge coins with his friends. Fred was an avid and accomplished gardener, known especially for the wonderful Meyer Lemons that he grew. He also loved exploring the Florida Panhandle on his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Fred is survived by his wife of 26 years, Carol Talley Stanley; his father, Fred Thomas Stanley, Jr.; three children – Daniel, Sean, and Jaime; one stepson – Tim Talley; eight grandchildren; brother David Stanley (Bobbie); sisters Connie Ethridge (Mike) and Jo Hall (Mark); numerous aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many beloved friends. Fred was preceded in death by his mother, Ardith Bozeman Stanley. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to one of the following: Big Bend Hospice Foundation 1723 Mahan Center Blvd. Tallahassee, FL 32308 or St. George Island Volunteer Fire Department P.O. Box 682 Eastpoint, FL 32328. A memorial gathering will be planned at a later date. David Conn and Kimberly Crum with Bevis Funeral Home of Crawfordville are assisting the family with arrangements. (850-926-3333, www.bevisfh.com)

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Fred Thomas Stanley, III

September 30, 1948 - April 3, 2020