Park Dean Privett Jr.

Park Dean Privett, Jr. (69) of Jacksonville, FL was born on August 22, 1946 and passed away February 25, 2016 at his home while looking out over the St Johns River. Life long resident of Arlington, Dean attended Terry Parker High School where he proudly played football for the Braves and graduated in 1964. While attending the University of South Florida in 1965 he decided to enlist in the United States Marine Corps, graduating from Parris Island a platoon squad leader and expert rifleman. Dean proudly served one tour in Vietnam with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Division as a Mortarman in the Marine Corps Infantry. Of the many battles he fought in, his participation in The First Battle of Khe Sanh aka The Hill Fights should be noted. In a later battle, Dean’s tour was cut three weeks short when his unit came under heavy fire resulting in Dean receiving a large piece of shrapnel in his lower back. He was reassigned to Parris Island as a Primary Marksman Instructor and also played football for the Marines until his enlistment was up in June of 1969 receiving an Honorable discharge and a Purple Heart. Following his enlistment, Dean married, began his career as a Land Surveyor and finished his college degree receiving an AA in Pre Engineering and a BS in Math Science from The University of North Florida. In 1982 Dean founded Privett and Associates, Inc. in St Marys Georgia. He quickly opened a second office in Jacksonville and grew the company to eventually spawn other businesses including ones in St Augustine, FL and Brunswick, Ga. In his off time he was an avid sportsman. He enjoyed hunting, offshore fishing, scuba diving and riding dirt bikes. Dean was also an accomplished drag racer with multiple wins throughout the southeast in both the NHRA and IHRA divisions. Along with racing Dean also enjoyed restoring classic cars most notably his 59 Corvette, which he rebuilt and reengineered from the ground up with his son and friends.

Dean is preceded in death by his wife of 21 years, the late Clydene D. Privett, his father, Park D. Privett, Sr., and his brother, Donald R. Privett. Survivors include his mother, Majorie M. Privett, son, Buck Z. Privett and girlfriend, Kelly M. Lamoureux.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the cancer treatment of Dean’s close friend Nicki Merrit who is fighting for her life with a rare form of cancer whose treatment is not covered by insurance at gofundme.com/helpbeatsarcoma.

Funeral Services will be held Saturday March 5th at 11:00am at Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills, 850 St Johns Bluff Rd Jacksonville, FL 32225 followed by burial at Arlington Park Cemetery 6920 Lonestar Rd Jacksonville, FL 32211. Family will receive friends Friday, March 4th from 6 to 8 pm.