John Denys Mayles passed away on September 6th at the age of 94 in his residence at John Knox Village in Orange City Florida. He was born in London, England on October 10, 1926, the third child of William Boitoult Mayles and May Elizabeth Paine. At the age of 13, he left England by sea to live with his sister Maisie and her husband Billy Doel in Panama for the duration of the war. After graduating from Balboa High School in the Canal Zone in 1944, he enlisted in the British Army spending time in Kenya and Egypt serving in the Intelligence Corps. After his tour in the Army, he returned to Panama to work for his brother-in-law at Agencias Doel. He met and married Ann Gardner Nichols whose father was serving in Panama with the U.S. Navy. He was a co-owner and Manager at Agencias Doel until the company was sold in 1993. John and Ann retired to Homosassa Springs, Florida in 1993 where they spent the next 17 years before moving to John Knox Village in Orange City, Florida in March 2010.
He and Ann were very active serving the Panamanian community. In recognition for his contributions to improving the quality of life in Panama, he was awarded The Gold Panama Canal Honorary Public Service Award. He served on the Board of Trustees of the Panama Canal College as well as United Fund and United Way. He was a member of the British Aid Society, a member and former President of the Rotary Club of Panama, and a former President of the Panama Golf Club. He contributed extensively to the support of the Episcopal community in Panama, particularly to St. Luke's Cathedral.
As a lifetime member of the Theatre Guild of Ancon, he was proud to have appeared in 16 productions there between 1954 and 1987. Some of his happiest memories of his 45 years in Panama are associated with the Guild and he treasured so many friendships formed there which last to this day.
Some of his favorite pastimes were playing the organ, competing at a game of Scrabble, Wii bowling, working a crossword puzzle, watching Jeopardy, listening to music and visiting with friends and family over a nice meal, especially if it involved bread and Marmite. Besides being an actor himself, he enjoyed attending live performances and he particularly enjoyed the music programs at nearby Stetson University.
John was always a true English gentleman, full of class, loving, charasmatic, charming, clever, and funny. Whether you knew him as Dad or Pops, John or Denys, Grandpa, Brother or Uncle, Capt. Von Trapp, Professor Higgins or Fagin, he was a character like no other and definitely one in a million.
Left to cherish his memory are four children, Lynn Mayles Patterson (Dave), William Brian Mayles (Gay Hope), Michael Kevin Mayles (Terri), Phillip Andrew Mayles (April), eight grandsons, Jason Kyle Williams, William Jonathan Mayles (Jillian), Joshua Andrew Mayles, Kevin Matthew Mayles, Christopher Denys Mayles (Deanna), Patrick John Mayles, Andrew Connor Arkwright, and Luke Owen Mayles, and six great-grandchildren, Noah, Caleb, Olivia, Audrie, Maya, and Owen. He is also survived by his brother William Philip Maurice Mayles (Helen). Also surviving him are many cherished nephews, nieces, friends and his dear friend, Jean Arrington.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Ann Gardner Nichols Mayles, son John Bruce Mayles and daughter Pamela Mayles, his parents,William Boitoult Mayles and May Elizabeth Paine, his stepmother Mollie Mayles, his brother Robert Maurice Boitoult Mayles and his sister, Maisie Woodland Boitoult Doel.
A Memorial Service will be held on October 3rd at 2:00 at First United Methodist Church in Deland, Florida, 115 E. Howry Ave, with light refreshments to follow.
For those unable to attend the service in person, you can watch it live with the following links.
-----Https://www.facebook.com/pages/First-United-Methodist-Church-of-Deland/.542816115886416
-----https://fumcdeland.org/media/.116101-3415954-2199432/our-family.
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