Derrill Selwyn McAteer

Derrill Selwyn McAteer, 83, of Brooksville passed away on December 28, 2015 Mr. McAteer was born on July 25, 1932 in Tampa, Florida. He attended Hillsborough High School and the University of Florida, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity. Mr. McAteer graduated college in 1954, having earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Agriculture. He then enlisted in the United States Navy and completed Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island. Mr. McAteer was subsequently stationed in Pensacola, Florida, where he earned his wings as a Naval Aviator. While in the Navy Mr. McAteer qualified as a jet pilot and as a single and multi-engine flight instructor, specializing in all-weather instrument instruction. He retired from the United States Naval Reserve in 1964, having attained the rank of Lieutenant Commander. Following his service in the Navy, Mr. McAteer worked for Lykes Brothers, Inc. for nearly forty years, first as president of its cattle feeding division and then as head of Lykes Development Corporation. He was an active public servant and community member, serving on the board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District for thirteen years, eleven as chairman. He also served as president of the Hernando County Chamber of Commerce, the Florida Agricultural Council, and the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. Mr. McAteer was a devoted youth league baseball coach and volunteer for Hernando Youth League baseball. He was also an avid quail hunter. Mr. McAteer was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church of Brooksville. Derrill Selwyn McAteer was predeceased by his parents, Nell Gooding and Thomas Selwyn McAteer of Tampa. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Rosemary Lee Sparkman McAteer, a son, Derrill Lee McAteer of Tampa, a daughter-in-law, Megan Flynn McAteer, and two granddaughters, Clara Parrish McAteer and Kathryn Flynn McAteer, a sister, Carol Jean McAteer Spoto of Tampa , niece and nephew, Lauren Spoto, of Brooklyn, N.Y. and David Spoto, of Tampa , sister-in-law, Lamar Jean Sparkman Toole and husband, John, of Charlottesville, Virginia, and their children, John Carter Toole(Barbara),of Nashville, Tennessee and Lucy Bland Toole Guillot(Jason),of Richmond, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations in memory of Mr. McAteer be made to Hernando Youth Leagues, Inc, Hernando Pasco Hospice or the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS). Funeral services are private.