Buddy J. M. Crevasse III

It Was a Wonderful Life Buddy “J.M.” Crevasse III died on Sunday morning at Haven Hospice after a valiant struggle with cancer. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Minnie, his sister Peggy, two sons, Beau (Christen) and Bobby (Sarah), his four grandchildren Hunter (7), Colt (5), Jackson (1), and Samantha (8), and several nieces and nephews. Buddy has been a life-long resident of Gainesville where he leaves an indelible contribution of public service. In 1945, he moved to Gainesville with his parents, Joe and Margaret Crevasse, where they established Crevasse's Florist, a landmark Gainesville business. Buddy was a 1963 graduate of Gainesville High School, and the University of Florida School of Criminal Justice. He joined the Alachua County Sheriffs’ department in 1967, holding almost every possible office, before his retirement in 2004. During his 37-year career, he was responsible for courthouse security, evidence, and property warrants, and patrol. He ended his career as Captain of the Civil Department. He attended the FBI academy in 1972. Buddy is credited with starting the Neighborhood Crime Watch program. Over the course of his illustrious career he was the recipient of numerous citations and awards, including the 1983 and 1984 Florida Law Enforcement Officer of the Year. Buddy was a committed public servant, and an avid supporter of numerous community outreach organizations, including membership in the Rotary Club of Gainesville, Sheriff’s Youth Boys’ Ranch, Lion’s Club, the Quarterback Club, and the Elks Lodge. Before joining the Rotary Club of Gainesville, he was made an honorary Rotarian in recognition of his invaluable culinary contributions to Rotary’s Annual Wild Game Feast. He was a founding member of the Rotary Foundation Fryers, a scholarship fund-raising arm of the organization. In 2009, the Rotary District Governor honored him with their prestigious Service Above Self Award. Buddy served on the Boards of Directors of the Rotary Club, YMCA, Salvation Army, Pace Center, and AMI. He also served on the State Board of Directors of the American Cancer Society and on the Vestry of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Buddy Crevasse was passionate about redfishing with his sons and grandsons and spending time in Cedar Key. He will be remembered as a good man, husband, father, grandfather (Bebe), and friend. In the American film classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, Jimmy Stewart is reminded that, “No man is a failure who has friends.” Buddy’s life has been a great love story. Measured by the impact he has had on the lives of his family, the people of this community, and on his legions of great friends, no man has ever led a richer life, nor been a greater success. He will be missed tremendously. There will be a visitation on Wednesday, November 4th, from 5 -7pm at WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd Street. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 5th, at 3pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Avenue, Gainesville, Florida. The service will be followed by a reception, hosted by the Rotary Foundation Fryers and Mike Hill, at the site of the Wild Game Feast at Hatchett Creek, in the recently named “Buddy Crevasse Pavilion”. Burial will be held Friday, November 6th, at 11:00 a.m., in Cedar Key Cemetery. Arrangements by WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME and MILAM FUNERAL HOME.

Buddy J. M. Crevasse III

November 1, 2015