Earl Eugene Dryden

Legendary fisherman and upland game hunter, Earl Eugene Dryden, passed away on May 28th, 2021 at the St Vincent’s Hospital Community Hospice. He was 77 years old. Earl had been battling cancer of various types for last decade and, although he gave it one hell of a fight, lost to a combination of leukemia and sarcoma. It took seven kinds of cancer a little over ten years to beat him.

Earl stood the Watch for America during 24 years of service in the US Navy. While we slept soundly in our beds, cheered a ballgame, or enjoyed a barbeque, he flew over the world’s oceans and seas at the point of the spear protecting America and millions of people he would never know - sacrificing so that others could enjoy the freedoms we hold dear. John Kennedy may have said it best -

“I can imagine no more rewarding a career. And any man who may be asked in this century what he did to make his life worthwhile, I think can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction: 'I served in the United States Navy.”

He loved fishing, hunting with his dogs, and the Florida Gators. There was nothing Earl enjoyed more than feeling the “tap” of a fat trout hitting a well-cast jig in Browns Creek or a covey rise in front of Sugar and Spice his faithful Llewelyn Setters. The one exception might be the Gators stomping FSU for the National Championship in 1996. As the years passed, there were fewer fish in the live well and quail in the game bag, but he never lost his love of the outdoors, spending time with his dogs, or his family.

Earl was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey Earl Dryden in 2018 but is survived by his loving family, including his wife of 57 years, Patricia Ann Dryden. Trish held his hand until the end and cared for him through his long battle with cancer. They loved each other through the good and the bad – for over 60 years. Earl and Trish had three sons: David Dryden (Tina), Michael Dryden (Kristy), and Jeffrey Dryden (Beth Oberlander). David and Michael followed him into the US Navy while Jeffrey went to college and became a teacher. Earl was proud of his sons and they are proud of him. He also left 4 grandchildren to follow – Alyssia Teachout (Jacob), Brandon, Brittany, and Dalia. They will miss their Grandpa. He is also survived by his three brothers. Bill Dryden (Marie), Dale Dryden (Martha), and Bobby Rhoden (Joan) as well as many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, 4 June 2021 at the Hardage-Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207.