November 21, 2009

Father Sean Garrett, 74

Published: 12.18.08

FORT WALTON BEACH | Father Sean Garrett, 74, who served the people of St. Mary Parish and the surrounding community since 1992, died Dec. 11 following a long illness. A native of Cork, Ireland, Father Garrett was a priest of the Archdiocese of San Antonio, ordained in 1964 at St. Kieran’s Seminary (now St. Kieran’s College) in Kilkenny, Ireland. Prior to his service in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, he served as associate pastor and pastor at a number of parishes in the archdiocese.

Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, presided at the Mass of Christian Burial on Dec. 15. Msgr. Michael Cherup, pastor of St. Mary Parish, and priests of the diocese concelebrated. Burial followed in Beal Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach.

Father Garrett is remembered for his kindness, generosity, great sense of humor and his unshakeable faith in Jesus Christ. At the beginning of each Mass he celebrated, he said, “Lord, thank you for being so good to us.”

“Father Garrett was a very generous priest who boundlessly served when he was asked, despite the fact that he was officially retired from active ministry,” Bishop Ricard said. “He was gifted with many skills in the dramatic arts and, like an Old Testament prophet, did not hesitate to use these skills in very creative way to convey the depth and richness of the Gospel message. These artistic energies placed him well ahead of his time. Although his person will no longer be with us, his legacy of joy and hope remains.”

His father and mother, George and Mamie Garrett; and his brother, Pat Garrett, preceded Father Garrett in death. He is survived by his brother George Garrett; sister, Mary Bosco Good; brother-in-law, Richard Good; sisters-in-law, Pauline and Pat Garrett; and several nephews and nieces. The family of Father Garrett suggest donations be made to St. Mary Outreach, 38 Robinwood Drive N.W., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.

Rita Alfred Reynolds, 85

Published: 12.18.08

PENSACOLA | To say that Rita Alfred Reynolds was an active Catholic is an understatement. Reynolds, 85, collapsed Dec. 8, the feast of the Immaculate Conception, while participating in the 6:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart and died a short time later. Her Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 12, the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe.

In his homily at the funeral, Msgr. Michael Reed, rector of the cathedral parish, said, “Rita had a special relationship with God – so special that he let her choose the day and hour of her passing.” That the ending of her life should be marked by two feasts of the Blessed Virgin Mary was most appropriate, Msgr. Reed said.

Reynolds served as secretary at the cathedral parish for more than 35 years. In addition, she was an active member and past officer of the Catholic Daughters, the Burse Club and the Sanctuary Society. She was one of the founding female members of the Pensacola Exchange Club. Sacred Heart Parish was part of her family’s history, dating to when her grandfather, A.D. Alfred, was the contractor who built the first Sacred Heart Church at 9th Avenue and Jackson. When that church was destroyed by a hurricane in 1906, her family helped start the new church on 12th Avenue.

“Life at the parish without Rita serving as an example of a disciple of Jesus to all of us won’t be the same. She was part of everything that happened at this parish from the Pumpkin Run at the school to helping at the receptions after funerals. She was part of every other group or meeting ever held at this church. Every single activity that has happened at the parish, Rita was there,” Msgr. Reed said.

In closing remarks at the funeral, Bishop John H. Ricard, SSJ, said that while the seminary trains men for the priesthood, “it was really Rita who formed not only Msgr. Reed, but all the priests who served at the cathedral.”

Reynolds and her late husband of 57 years, Winston Y. Reynolds, were parents of 11 children. Their youngest son, Ralph Joseph (Joey) Reynolds, was struck in a traffic accident on his first day of college classes. For four and a half years, his parents kept a tender vigil by his bedside as he remained in a coma with irreversible brain damage.

Survivors include her sister, Alma Moore; four daughters, Sandy Johnston, Sue Fogarty, Sally Charlet and Sharon Cutler; six sons, Robert, Richard, Raymond, Roy, Randy and Rusty Reynolds; 24 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

The Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated by Bishop Ricard and concelebrated by 11 priests. Six deacons assisted. The cathedral was filled to capacity with family and friends.

“Rita’s life was filled with yeses to all the good and great things God offered,” Msgr. Reed said. “She was such an amazing person we thought she would live forever. Her children should not be troubled. Mom’s great mischievous smile, the twinkle in her eye, her practical jokes will live on in our hearts. Be confident as we celebrate the 85 years of Rita’s life in this Mass, because we were right: She will live forever with God.”

At the final commendation, Bishop Ricard referred to the Book of Gospels on the casket, and said that the Gospel and the Eucharist had sustained Reynolds all of her life. He concluded, “Rita said yes so many times to her children and to this parish. She gave her final yes on Dec. 8, when she said ‘yes’ to God when he said, ‘Come and be with me forever.’”

Deacon David R. Davey, 72

Published: 12.18.08

MILTON | Deacon David R. Davey died Dec. 5 following a long illness. Born Sept. 3, 1936, in Detroit, he attended Cass Technical High School and Broward Junior College where he was awarded an associate’s degree in geography. Deacon Davey and his wife, the former Susan Potts of Detroit, married in 1956 and moved to the Miami area. They had three children.

Over the years Deacon Davey had several jobs in south Florida as well as in the Milton area. He entered the deacon formation program in 1983 and was ordained June 1, 1989, and assigned to St. Rose of Lima Parish, Milton. Deacon Davey served in many capacities at St. Rose, including working with the youths of the parish, leadership in adult education, sacramental preparation and ministry to the inmates at the Berrydale Correctional Institution, bringing Christ to those who often feel rejected by society. Due to health reasons, Deacon Davey retired from active ministry in October 2002.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Dec. 9 at St. Rose of Lima with Father Dennis O’Brien, pastor, as celebrant.

“Deacon Davey was a kind and personable man who gave of himself for the people of his parish,” said Deacon Jerry Williamson, director of deacon personnel for the diocese. “He was a fighter against all the illnesses that beset him. He exemplified what a true servant should be.”

 

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