Joann Duren Grey

Her roots in Collier County went back to 1939. JoAnn was born on March 22, 1938 in Pavo, Georgia to Emory George Duren and Eva Mae (Williams). Searching for work during the Depression, the family and infant JoAnn headed to South Florida where they moved from job to job before settling in the Jerome / Everglades City area. The sawmill community was a tough upbringing but she often said “she wouldn’t trade that experience for any other”. Her love of Collier County was displayed by her vehicle vanity license plate: “64 FLA” – the number that prefixed all Collier residents’ plates under the old statewide numbering system.

JoAnn was, in many ways, a “first” in her family. She became the first to walk across a graduation stage with the Class of 1956 at Everglades City High School. She followed that by earning a BS (Business Administration) at the University of Florida in 1961. A lifelong learner, she would also go on to earn her Bachelor’s in Nursing (RN).

She lived in a variety of places after college but always returned to Naples. She entered into a career that lasted 35+ years at Naples Community Hospital – most of that time working as the Secretarial Assistant to the CEO. She was well known and respected by leaders throughout the community.

When she wasn’t working, JoAnn dedicated herself to her son, Jeff, attending his endless baseball and football games and ensuring he was well travelled. She claimed her ultimate dream was achieved when he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point.

JoAnn’s passion was travel. She delighted in visiting her son & family at a variety of military duty stations around the World and the US. She also had a keen interest in archeology, taking part in many digs in South Florida alongside her 30+ year partner, John Beriault. She and John also travelled extensively throughout Central & South America, and the Pacific visiting the archeological remains of multiple civilizations.

She was preceded in death by her parents and her “baby brothers”: Samuel Duren and Emory Duren.

JoAnn is survived by her son, Jeffrey Duren Grey (Kelly) of Buckingham, Florida and her two beloved grandchildren whose pictures cover every wall in her home: Haley Grey of Culver City, California and Eric Grey of Dunwoody, Georgia.

She is also survived by her partner John Beriault of Naples; sister-in-law, Barbara Fitzgerald (Duren) of Naples, nephews: Kenneth “Willie” Duren of Naples, and John “Buzzy” Duren (Cheryl) of Old Town, Florida; cousins: Mark Deitz, Christine Wellslager (John), Donald Williams (Elizabeth) all of Clewiston, Florida and Miles Deitz (Christi) of Bradenton, Florida.

In accordance with her wishes, cremation has taken place and her family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date.

Should you wish to honor JoAnn’s memory, please consider planting a tree or plant – a passion she pursued throughout her life.