George E. Whitehurst, Sr.

George E. Whitehurst, Sr., Merritt Island passed away Tuesday evening, May 18, 2012. George "Sonny Jim" Whitehurst, 80 years old, left this earth to be with the Lord. George was born in Zellwood, Florida April 3, 1932 to William John and Florida Belle Whitehurst. After birth the family went home to Tarpon Springs, Florida, to the family home where he grew up on the Anclote River with his parents and two Sisters, Shirley Mae and Florida Belle.

Growing up he was surrounded by close friends and family, spent much of his free time fishing and hunting, he was a member of the 4H club and graduated from Tarpon Springs High in 1951. After high school George worked in the citrus industry in Orlando where he met his wife of 60 years Evelyn Pittman and married August 29, 1952.

From Orlando he moved to Jacksonville and attended Jacksonville University. After college George worked for Aichael Steel in Jacksonville, then founded Whitehurst Aluminum and Steel Products in 1962. While living in Jacksonville Beach he was active in the Little League and the President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, volunteered for many civic organizations.

In 1968 he relocated to Miami and worked at Allied Steel Products, he was active in the Kiwanis and Optimists until 1994 when he retired as Vice President of Allied Steel and moved to Key Largo. While in Key Largo George enjoyed fishing and diving and spending time with his family, he loved the ocean and spent many hours on his boat. His back yard was the Atlantic Ocean and he always said “What a beautiful back yard he had.”

In Key Largo he was active in the Moose and Elks Clubs until 2007 when George moved to Merritt Island with his wife to be close to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. The outdoors was an important part of George's life and he loved sharing his vast knowledge of the outdoors with friends and family. George was proud to be a Native of Florida and loved the Florida he grew up in, his heritage was one of a true "Florida Cracker". George was a Florida Pioneer, direct descendants of the settlers coming to Florida in 1830. The family was the most important thing to George and he showed it through his never ending love for his wife and children.

He is survived by his wife Evelyn, Sons Kit and Scott (Diane), Grand Children Ian, Ashlei (Felipe), Ross, Jennifer and Tyler, Great Grandchildren, Matteo Jimenez, Sisters Florida Belle Tarapani and Shirley Mae Cazlai. He was preceded in death by his Parents Bill and Florida Belle Whitehurst, and daughter in law Julie Whitehurst, brother in laws Abraham Tarapani and Harshaw Cornish.

Services to be held at Wylie Baxley Funeral Home, 1360 North Courtney Pkwy, Merritt Island, FL at 2:00PM Sunday May 20, 2012 preceded by calling hours from 1:00-2:00 PM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in George's behalf to the American Cancer Society. He will be buried at the Whitehurst Family Plot at Curlew Pioneer Cemetery, Curlew Methodist Church, Palm Harbor, FL at 1:00PM Monday May 21, 2012.

Wylie Baxley Merritt Island Funeral Home is serving the family 321-452-6565. Condolences may be shared at www.wyliebaxleymerrittisland.com