Bill R. Duff

B.R. (Bill) Duff, 85, died in his Clearwater home, on February 24, 2016, after a long and courageous battle against Parkinson’s Disease/Multi System Atrophy. Bill was born on July 18, 1930, the youngest of five, to Robert L. and Molly L. Neff Duff, of Bluefield, WV. He met Doris Davis, the love of his life, while playing basketball and attending National Business College. He followed her to Clearwater, Florida where they were married on February 25, 1950. Except for his Army service, during the Korean Conflict, Bill made Clearwater his home. He was blessed to live in a place that he loved, spent his career in the family business (Davis Hardware in Clearwater and New Port Richey) that allowed him to help his friends and neighbors solve their problems every day, and raise two daughters in a loving happy home. Bill was involved in the community, as a charter member of the West Pasco Kiwanis Club, offering his leadership, but also happy to roll up his sleeves and get to work fundraising for children’s programs. He worked hard, played hard and loved faithfully. Bill was a blessing to everyone who crossed his path and an example to emulate. Bill is survived by his wife of 66 years, Doris Davis Duff; his daughters, Deborah L. Zahner (Lakeland, FL) and Susan K. Duff (Ft. Lauderdale, FL); his grandson, David P. Zahner (Lakeland); numerous cousin’s, nieces and nephews; and a host of cherished friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert L. and Molly L. Neff Duff; his brothers, Aubrey and Robert; his sisters, Katherine Duff Coleman and Edith Duff Boyer; and his son, Michael Duff. Bill Duff was a child of God, a follower of Christ, and a member of the Greatest Generation. He was a life well lived that will be long remembered. A memorial service to celebrate the life of Bill Duff will be held on Sunday, March 13 at 2:00 pm at First United Methodist Church of Clearwater, Florida; the Reverend Daphne Johnson, presiding. Those who wish to make a donation in his honor may contribute to the Good Samaritan Fund or Music Department at the Church.

February 24, 2016

Early this morning my grandfather passed. The road for him the past few years had become very hard, including a huge effort by my mother and aunt 24/7. This man taught me countless skills that I hope one day to be fortunate enough to teach a young boy, as he did for me. He taught me how to sail, and to tie knots, to use a knife and keep my fingers. He taught me how to read the wind and search for mermaids. Most importantly, he was such a perfect example of not only how to catch a mermaid, but also how to keep one. He and my grandmother made it to 66 years of marriage. 66!! He taught me how to love and protect, and nurture all that you hold dear. Words do not exist in our language to allow me to express how thankful I am for the education that this man provided me over the last 29 years.

David Patrick Zahner

My Dad –

If you knew him, chances are, you loved him. He was blessed with many wonderful traits. My favorite ones were his infectious smile and dry wit. He loved people and loved having friends and family in his home. In earlier years, he enjoyed being out on his sailboat searching for dolphins or going on an excursion to an out-island for a cookout or day of fun. Many of you were fortunate to share these experiences with him. He lived the sentiment “the more the merrier” and brought joy to all of us!! Even in the advanced stages of his illness, visitors could sense his gracious hospitality. In thinking about my Dad, I am overwhelmed by what can only be described as his very “pure goodness”! I decided to compile a list of complimentary adjectives that I felt described him. I quickly came up with a list of 80!! In my life, I never heard him speak badly of anyone. I never saw him angry. Scripture guides us with advice: “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them.” (Matthew 7:12) “A pleasant voice multiplies friends, and a gracious tongue multiplies courtesies.” (Sirach 6:5) “Be kind to one another.” (Eph 4:32) “Anticipate one another in showing respect.” (Rom 12:10) - Revised translation of this verse is even better: “Outdo one another in showing honor.” In other words, we should give each other complements. “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all.” (Gal 6:10) “And above all things, have fervent love for one another, for Love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8) “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil” (1Peter 3:8-9) In honoring my Dad today, I’d like us to all leave here: thinking of ways to make this world a better place. being charitable. giving to our community focusing selflessly on the good for our families. complimenting and encouraging each other using humor to bring joy to other’s day giving your neighbor a helping hand. All in all, showing positive caring for one another. God gave us special talents, and Dad would want us to use them for good. Even while battling his long and debilitating illness, Dad “gave” to all who were in his presence. What a blessing it has been for me to have been able to spend so much quality time with him. I said many times that he was still teaching us. Mostly, I was reminded of his supreme FAITH and TRUST in the Lord. He never complained. His days were made so much better by this attitude. His demeanor was like a magnet for people to return even more goodness and love back to him. I thank all who visited him and made his life more pleasant. I know he was a positive influence on all who knew him. At this time, I must say a HUGE thank you to all of our caregivers who cared for and loved him. You made his life so much more comfortable during this frightening disease. He wanted for nothing!!! You took care of his every need! So, I close by saying, Be Happy! Live life well! Love your family and friends! And Keep Great Faith! I think Dad’s view from Heaven would just magnify these requests. Thanks Dad for your valuable teaching and tremendous example! I know that my life was truly blessed by having you as my father. We love you so much and forever! Susan

My Father

Submitted by Deborah Duff Zahner

I was very sick and weak when I was born, my lungs laboring with each breath. Medication was on hand, but the incubators had not yet arrived at Morton Plant Hospital. My father and our doctor, Vernon Hagan, built an incubator box for me to allow the medication to be fogged into my lungs for the first month of my life. At the age of 24, he had already lost an infant son and was determined not to lose a daughter. This is the devotion that he has always shown me. That bond established in those first critical days never was broken. This boy, born at the start of the Great Depression in the mountains of West Virginia, the youngest of five, grew up understanding the importance of a strong work ethic, always striving for excellence in everything he did. Whether building in his workshop or playing on the basketball court, in the army or serving his customers in the family business for 45 years, he could rest well knowing that he had given his best effort to the job at hand. He sought to pass these values on to his children. The memories of our family life are rich with love and laughter, hard work and fun. Family time was precious. In the early years of the business, it was hard to come by. After working long hours for six days, our Sunday afternoons after church might include a picnic in the park, him teaching me to sail a pram, or a viciously competitive game of crochet in the yard. He worked hard and played hard, always making the most of the time he had with his family. This included extended family, with summer trips back to the mountains to see his parents and then to Wolfpit, Kentucky to see the Kelly clan. These in-law grandparents, aunts and uncles fell in love with him and that love was happily returned. He enjoyed every moment as a member of this huge family, returning over and over for fabulous gatherings of the clan at state lodges in eastern Kentucky and Southern Ohio. I am so thankful for the bonds of family life and the unconditional love of my parents. Daddy lost his father to lung cancer at an early age and it made a great impression upon him. Even though he was not a heavy smoker, he quit “cold turkey” and decided to better use those funds to build a sailboat. He had a carpenter friend rib and plank the boat and he finished the rest of the project in our drive-way. I quickly learned how to hold a lantern where he needed it and hand him the correct tool with the precision of a surgical nurse. Daddy selected a huge, straight cypress tree from land being cleared in Tarpon Springs, cut it down and chained it to his truck to bring home. It would need to hang in the oak tree for a year to “cure”. A police officer stopped Daddy, heard his story about finding just the right tree to serve a s a mast, and just shook his hand, saying, “At least get off US 19 and, if another officer stops you, don’t tell him that I’ve seen you.” Once he got home, it took about 20 people to carry that tree into place and hoist it up into the oak tree, but only 3 of us to bring it back to the workshop to be shaped into a mast to carry our sails. This man from the mountains had dreamt of the sea all of his life and now he was about to turn two very clueless girls into sailors. By now Daddy had every other Saturday off and these were spent on the sea, whenever the weather permitted. Playing with dolphins became out favorite activity. He even enjoyed night sailing St. Joseph Sound with me on nights when the moon was full, leaving the dock at 10:00 p.m. and returning at 2:00 a.m. and then heading off to work at 7:30. We loved spending time together sailing. My father wasn’t sure of how he would like retirement, but the years spent on terrazzo and concrete floors had taken their toll on his knees. He made the decision (some would say crazy decision) to replace both knees at the same time. The day after surgery, when they tried to raise him on the tilt-table to an upright position, he passed out from the pain. That bought him another day and taught his medical team to increase pain meds for double knee replacements. Thereafter, he was a diligent physical therapy patient, returning to an active life. He did have to give up tennis, but continued to enjoy dancing. Of course, this gave more time for Mother and Daddy to be together. They made the decision to not “down-size” to a condo, but to stay in their home and enjoy it. There were golden years for them, filled with fun and some adventure, especially Alaska. The loved it! At 70, Daddy was as active as ever. That summer, we went whitewater rafting on the Ocoee River, horseback riding in Tennessee, and hiking in the Pisquah Forest near Hendersonville, North Carolina. It was later that year that his physical changes began, first from a powerful infection that virtually stopped him in his tracks and took two years to overcome and then Parkinson’s Disease/Multi-System Atrophy. Through it all, Daddy never complained, in spite of tremendous frustration and growing dependence on others. Even when he would have hallucinations, he would never become upset, but would marvel that we couldn’t see what he could. God blessed us with the wonderful team at Mayo-Clinic-Jacksonville to diagnose is illness, then on to Dr. Theresa Zesiewicz and her team at USF Health to guide us every step of the way along Daddy’s journey, Horizon Palliative Care Partners, who came to us when Daddy could no longer leave the house and our dedicated team of caregivers, who fell in love with our Bill. In each case, God brought us to the people we needed for Daddy’s care. We also have come to feel the power of intercessory prayer. I am sure that Daddy felt lifted up by the prayers of so many these last years. We are very grateful. My father was my teacher all of my life, teaching me to sing to the glory of God, to sail, to be devoted to family and to meet life’s trials with courage and peace that only God can give. I can’t imagine my life without the love and guidance of my father. He showered me with love and it has been returned in full-measure. We were never far apart for more than a couple of weeks. A neighbor once said that she could get tired just watching all of the activity coming and going from our home. He delighted in our continually coming home and we delighted him. Everyone loved Bill, the loving husband and father, the loyal friend, faithful and true in all weather. What was not to love! I am just happy that we were able to love him most. Broken hearts will mend and be reunited for eternity. What a comfort that is!