Jack Charles Demetree

DEMETREE: Jack Charles Demetree, a leading Jacksonville business man and charitable patron passed away peacefully at his home surrounded by his family on April 15, 2015 after a lengthy illness. He was 87. He is survived by his wife Betty to whom he has been married for 59 years; sons, Mark (Christina), Jack Jr. “Jay” (Tammy); daughters, Elisa “Lisa” and Leslie Demetree Doherty (Sean); son, Christopher (Shelly); and twelve grandchildren, Alexander, Anna, Andrew, Alexandra Cohlmia (Adam), Jack III, “J.C.”, Nicholas, Sean Doherty, Jr., John Patrick Doherty, Emma Doherty, Carletta, Christopher Jr. and Claire. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Labeebe Demetree; brothers, Joseph and William; and sisters, Josephine Nijem and Mary Francis. His family would like to thank and recognize Preston Anderson, Dr. Joe Millan and staff, Dr. Leann Fox and the staff at North Florida Hematology and Oncology Center.

The youngest of five children, Jack was born in Tallahassee on October 2, 1927. He graduated Leon High School in 1945 and joined the United States Air Force. Jack was honorably discharged from active duty but remained in the reserves. Jack attended Florida State University, and earned his law degree from the University of Florida School of Law in 1951. Jack moved to Jacksonville to begin a legal career, but within six months the Air Force called him back to active duty as an officer during the Korean war. He received his wings in 1952 piloting a P-51 Mustang and subsequently fighter jets. Again he was honorably discharged from active duty to resume his reserve status in the Florida Air National Guard. He began working with his brother Bill who had started a construction company overseeing projects from Albany, Georgia to San Juan, Puerto Rico. In 1954 Jack met his wife, Betty Jean Abraham from Vicksburg, Mississippi. Jack and Betty were married on November 13, 1955. In the 1960s, Jack and Bill formed Demetree Enterprises, a company that would take them into commercial and multi-family residential development. In the early 1980s, Jack’s three sons formed Demetree Brothers, of which he became Chairman. Over the years, he and his family diversified into many different businesses including cable TV, cellular service, specialty chemicals, and banking.

Throughout his life, Jack maintained an active role in city, state, and national politics. In the 1970s, Governor Reubin Askew appointed Jack to the State Board of Business Regulation. He was also appointed to the Governor’s Council of 100. In 2003 Governor Jeb Bush appointed Jack to the Board of Trustees of the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind and subsequently the Jacksonville Airport Authority of which Jack is a past chairman. For more than 50 years he was active in the National Association of Home Builders and was voted into the Florida Housing Hall of Fame in 1993 and the National Housing Hall of Fame in 1997. Jack was also heavily involved in his local community serving as past president of the YMCA. He was a trustee of University Hospital, and served on the operating board of St. Vincent’s Medical Center. Jack was also deeply involved in the Boy Scouts both as a boy and an adult, serving as president of the Boy Scouts of America, North Florida Council. An avid golfer, he was a founding member of both the Tournament Players Club and Pablo Creek Golf Club. Jack was a member of Assumption Catholic Church and a previous member of San Jose Catholic Church. He was a founding director of The Guardian Catholic Schools and served as chairperson for the Finance Committee of the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of St. Augustine. He remains a Knight in the Sovereign Military Order of Malta. Jack’s strong faith formed the foundation for how he lived his life. Never expecting anything in return, he served as an example of how to live for others, generously giving to the sick and the poor, helping to educate children, and making a difference in the lives of many. In this spirit, Jack and his family established the Jack and Betty Demetree Family Foundation.

The family will receive visitors at Assumption Catholic Church from 6:00pm – 9:00pm on Monday, April 20, 2015 with Vigil Prayers at 7:00 pm.

Calling Hours will begin at 10:00am on Tuesday, April 21st in Assumption Catholic Church, 2403 Atlantic Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32207 followed by a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 11:00 a.m., with Bishop Felipe J. Estévez as Presider and Father Frederick R. Parke as Celebrant and Homilist.

Please Sign the guestbook at www.hardage-giddensoaklawnchapel.com

HARDAGE-GIDDENS, THE OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the following:

Wolfson Children’s Hospital, Pediatric Neurosurgery Surgical Suite, 841 Prudential Drive, Suite 1300, Jacksonville, FL 32207

https://foundation.baptistjax.com/demetree

Boy Scouts of America:

North Florida Council BSA, 521 S. Edgewood Avenue, Jacksonville FL 32205

www.nfcscouting.org please click on the Resources Tab.