James Deery

Published in the Orlando Sentinel on 12/26/2007.

James Deery, age 86, of Winter Park, FL passed away peacefully on Friday, December 21, 2007.

He was born in St. Louis, MO on November 3, 1921 the third of four children to James and Kathryn Deery. His life was filled with many different adventures. At age 18, he left home to serve in the Coast Guard.

He played basketball and baseball for the Coast Guard and served active duty during WWII. He earned a baseball scholarship to Seton Hall University, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1949.

From 1949 to 1958 he was a player and manager for the Philadelphia Phillies and Milwaukee Braves minor league organizations. In 1960 he married his loving wife Barbara Webb and they moved to Orlando in 1961.

He worked for 27 years as a salesman for Unijax Paper Company. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Winter Park and an avid supporter of youth sports at Lake Highland Preparatory School and Maitland Little League.

He will be remembered for his competitiveness, sense of humor and love of sports and family.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Barbara; son, Jeff Deery and his wife, Jennifer of Winter Park; son, Todd Deery and his wife, Debra of Maitland. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Erin, Harper, Jefferson and Katherine Deery. He is also survived by his daughters from a previous marriage, Donna Murphy and her husband Kevin of Thailand and their children Shannon and Sean; and Diane and her husband Gary Raeckers of Tampa and their children Carolyn and Carl.

A memorial service will be held in his honor on Friday, December 28, 2007 at 11AM at the First Baptist Church of Winter Park, 1021 N. New York Avenue, Winter Park, FL, 32789. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Maitland Little League, c/o Seacoast Bank, 541 S. Orlando Avenue, Maitland, FL 32751.