William Lyle Creech Jr.

William Lyle Creech Jr. was a natural leader whose winning presence allowed him to take control of various situations with ease. Equipped with a clear and calculating focus, he possessed a tough-minded, “take charge” attitude. He had the ability to make even routine situations seem exciting, and he was at ease with the role of playing problem solver. William always sought out the scene of where the action was. Sociable, analytical and pleasant, William was an individual who enjoyed life’s challenges.

William was born on July 4, 1936 at Good Samaritan Hospital in West Palm Beach, Florida. His parents were Dell Hughes and William L. Creech Sr. William was raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. Always able to express himself well, William possessed strong interpersonal skills. He was optimistic in his outlook on life and was able at all times to be open and direct in his communication. Armed with a great wit, William was raised to be accepting of others and to implement a strong personal work ethic.

Blessed with a balanced attitude, William was able to relate well with others. His occasional role as family mediator gave him the opportunity to ease tense situations when they occurred. William was raised with two siblings. He had one brother, Earl (Bud) and one sister, Karen. William had a strong desire to be treated fairly and would readily offer others the same fairness in return.

As a young child, William showed his creative ability in many ways. He was outgoing and animated. William enjoyed new activities and pursued a variety of interests. He took part in football and track. He was a boy scout. In his spare time he liked fishing. William's memorable achievements included Jr. High School All Star football at Northboro Jr. High, West Palm Beach Florida.

Known to others as a focused, logical, open-minded and somewhat driven individual, William was able to utilize these qualities to succeed in high school. His curious nature was spurred by his ability to maximize his personal learning style through employing a hands-on approach. He was good with facts and had an excellent memory. He graduated from Palm Beach High School. In 1954. He enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers. His favorite class in high school was math. He rebuilt his car, a 1932 Ford 5 window Coupe (Hot Rod).

When the goal of college was in sight, it became important to William. Again, his direct, “down to earth” approach served him well. He was able to absorb complex concepts and had an acute sense of how things worked. His favorite courses were Trigonometry.

Friends and acquaintances found William an easy man to get to know, and those close to him would often praise his open, practical style of communication and relaxed approach to life in general. William was uncomplicated and straightforward in his relationships, which allowed him to accept people for what they were. While growing up, some of his best friends were Burt Reynolds, Walter Brickenfield, and Beverly Smith. Later in life, he became friends with Lary and Linda Dorman; Pat and Jimmy Lawson, and Jud and Mickey Deakins.

William spouses' names prior to marriage were Beverly Smith, Patricia Anne Shamblin, and Eugenia Rodriguez. He married Patricia in Okeechobee, Florida on December 3, 1960 and Eugenia Rodriguez in St. Augustine, Florida. William was attentive to all of their feelings, and he charmed them and others with his gift for being able to give freely and generously. A good listener with an engaging personality, William was able to bring pleasure and unexpected humor to their relationships.

Very much like a kid himself, William identified with the inquisitive and creative side of his children’s personalities. He was able to direct his energy and spontaneity towards helping his children acquire added common sense skills. William was blessed with three children, William L. Creech III, Richard, and Michael. They were also blessed with Three, Michael, Audra, and Rachelle.

William was a flexible worker who was able to draw the best from others around him. A persuasive individual who was quick to make necessary decisions, William’s strengths included being able to think on his feet. He could be a leader who sought impact for his decisions. Gifted with an incredible ability to read body language, William was able to positively manipulate situations and motivate others in order to get a task completed. He was a good negotiator who enjoyed new challenges. William could multi-task, and he was endowed with entrepreneurial spirit, allowing him to think beyond standard norms when it came to resolving issues in his work environment. His primary occupation was professional land surveyor. He was involved as a surveyor since 1954, and was the owner of Creech and Associates since 1971.

William enjoyed his leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. He had something of an artistic flair in many of the things that he did. He put this creativity toward all of his pastimes. His favorite pursuits were surveying and the internet. He was content to enjoy his hobbies alone but was also willing to share his interests with others.

Because he liked to take risks, William was a perfect match for athletics and exercise. He was enthusiastic and confident about these activities. In high school, William played track. William was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Top on his list was football.

William was a gifted problem solver who worked hard to help accomplish group goals. This skill made him a wonderful asset to the various groups and organizations to which he belonged. Always matter-of-fact about what needed to be done, William worked steadily to meet any organization’s goals. In high school, William was a member of the Diversified Cooperative Training (DCT). Throughout his later years, William was an active member of the Civians, Florida Surveyonrs and Mappers Society, and the Stuart Youth Football Association.

William was a generous man who prized that same quality in others. So it’s little wonder that he was so active and giving in his community. William was a member of several community groups, including serving on committees for the Martin County High School Touchdown Club.

William’s natural leadership qualities placed him in consideration for public recognition, earning him accolades for his many and varied efforts throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included being recognized as a legendary land surveyor of Martin County.

Travel and vacations were experiences that William truly enjoyed. He preferred to seek out excitement wherever he went and he was partial to vacations that were casual and laid back with an atmosphere of “live and let live.” He was willing to leave his plans open and flexible, just in case something more interesting came along. Favorite vacations included Williamsburg, Virginia, and St. Augustine, Florida.

William was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of William’s favorites was Sammy, a black cat and Boomer, a mixed breed. They were best friends for 12 years.

When William’s retirement finally came in 2000, he was well prepared. He used logical analysis of his retirement options in order to ensure his retirement would be fulfilling. Still, he was able to easily adapt to possible changes and enjoyed just having fun and being relaxed. His new life involved relocating to Palm City, Florida. In retirement, he found new pleasure in searching the internet.

William passed away on January 26, 2014 at at his home in Palm City, Florida from old age. He is survived by his wife, Eugenia; William III; Richard, Michael and his sister, Karen Creech. William was laid to rest in Fernhill Memorial Gardens, Florida.

William was the kind of person who could win others over easily. A concrete communicator, he relied on his senses to increase his involvement and awareness of others. He was always able to provide amusing repartee to his friends and acquaintances, offering a seemingly endless supply of quips, anecdotes, jokes and stories. If William had a theme song written about him, it might well have been “Don’t Worry, Be Happy.” He enjoyed his life and the experience of living it. This is how everyone will remember William Lyle Creech Jr.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Florida Surveying & Mapping Society Scholarship Fund in Memory of William L. Creech, Jr.. For contact information please go to www.fsms.org or call 800-237-4384