William Alexander Mickler Sr.

William Alexander Mickler, Sr., peacefully passed away on January 12, 2024, in his hometown of Tallahassee, Florida, at the age of 76, surrounded by his family. Known by many as Bill, he was a fifth generation Floridian, born in Tallahassee to Dr. Robert H. Mickler and Lillian Alexander Mickler on March 20, 1947, and spent his life living and serving North Florida and enjoying Florida’s treasured Gulf Coast. Bill attended Florida State University and was a member of Pi Kappa Phi fraternity. Bill was also a long-time member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Tallahassee. Professionally, Bill dedicated his career to public service in law enforcement and retired as a Major with the Florida Department of Transportation, Motor Carrier Compliance. Bill’s work ethic and honest manner preceded him and he always strived and encouraged other officers to do the same. After retirement, Bill entered the private sector and eventually owned a small business that delivered satellite communication solutions to government entities and large commercial businesses. Throughout Bill’s lifetime, he built meaningful relationships and long-time friendships across Tallahassee and the panhandle. With the gift of storytelling, a passion for reading, and an excellent prankster, Bill was a convener of people who could often be found sharing stories, telling inappropriate jokes, or helping others throughout Tallahassee and the Forgotten Coast. He was a man who was knowledgeable about most things (just ask him) and a tinkerer who could fix or rig just about anything. In fact, his ability to “rebuild” or “fix” something and have left-over parts was unmatched. Armed with a solution-oriented mindset and a natural problem solver, Bill was a constant source of support for his family and friends; one of his most cherished attributes—he loved helping others and there was no “ask” for help too big. Bill’s professional and storytelling reputation was surpassed by his passion for volunteering for various philanthropic organizations and initiatives. His love of saltwater fishing led to his focus on saltwater habitat creation and restoration efforts. As a former President of the Big Bend Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) Florida, Bill was a tireless advocate for Florida’s marine environment to sustain recreational anglers and outdoor enthusiasts’ affection for Florida’s fisheries and marine life for generations to come. This involvement led to Bill’s participation with the Organization for Artificial Reefs (OAR) where he helped OAR create numerous artificial reefs in coastal waters around the Forgotten Coast. Additionally, Bill was an active member of the Tallahassee community and a member of Springtime Tallahassee on the War Reconstruction Crew. Bill was preceded in death by his parents and is survived by his sister, Bobbie Whiddon (David) of New Orleans, his three children, Lauren Heitmeyer (Rich) of Tallahassee, William Mickler (Maggie) of Tallahassee, and Sarah Martinez (Francisco) of Orlando, and his three grandchildren Haley Heitmeyer, Landon Heitmeyer, and Foster Mickler. A celebration of life service will be held at Trinity United Methodist Church, Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. The service will be officiated by Senior Pastor, Rev. Dr. Matthew M. Williams of Trinity United Methodist Church and Pastor Clay Mason of First Baptist Church of Tallahassee. Immediately following the service, the family asks for Bill’s friends to join them for a reception to celebrate his life and share fond memories. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions be made in his memory to CCA Florida https://ccaflorida.org/product/memorial-donations/ or P.O. Box 568886 Orlando, Florida 32856 or to the Organization for Artificial Reefs at http://oarreefs.org/donate.cfm or 2545 Blairstone Pines Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32301. Dayne Parker of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

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William Alexander Mickler Sr.

March 20, 1947 - January 12, 2024