James Neal Crisher, age 78 of Fernandina Beach, Florida passed away on Friday, May 1, 2020 at Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Florida.

He leaves behind his daughter, Deborah Crisher; son, Stanley Crisher both of Fernandina Beach, Florida and grandson, Corey Crisher.

Services to celebrate his life will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, September 19, 2020 in the Burgess Chapel of Oxley-Heard Funeral Home.

ODE TO MY FATHER, JIM CRISHER

To Jim Crisher, my Father, this poem I write;

As the sadness I bear, and the tears that I fight.

Looking back at your life, there are things I will never forget;

Including the love of your life, my Mom, Ms. Gerrie, whom in the 1950�s, you met.

You met Mom while serving in the Navy and asked her to marry you within two years;

She said yes in her apartment in Jacksonville with a huge smile and tears.

For the next five and a half decades, your love for each other grew stronger every day;

And when she fell sick, you took care of her in every way.

I would watch as you took her hand and kissed her entire face each night;

She would smile, and her green eyes would light up, what a beautiful sight!

You were always there for her, and you never left her side;

Your love for her was eternal and was too strong to hide.

You and Mom were the two most wonderful parents, I can lovingly vouch for that;

Instilling your love of God, as the church pews on Sunday mornings we sat.

You two always encouraged us to make straight A�s and to give nothing less than 100% day in, day out;

And to never lie, cheat, steal, or talk back to Mom, or else a belt on the behind, no doubt!

Furthermore, you and Mom taught us to stand for the things we believed in especially the USA;

And to treat others with respect from the CEO to the Janitor each and every day.

From dancing lessons, modeling pageants, cheerleading, vacation Bible schools, Girl Scouts, etc. for me;

To Pop Warner football and trips to the Kona Skate Board Park for my brother, Jimmy.

You and Mom kept us so busy, no time for running around;

We were so blessed to have you both, no two better parents could we have found.

Ship yard worker, construction framer, real estate developer, and, yes, even a shrimp boat captain, too;

You also served our country as a Navy seaman, there was nothing you could not do!

But it wasn�t all work and no play, there were fun times you had as well;

Hunting, camping, RV travelling, and Gator football games in Gainesville.

Yeah, you could say you were a true Southern man raising rabbits and chickens in our backyard and running hound dogs off of our house on Blair Road;

While racing your Chevrolet Beretta, Double Nickel, winning trophies down the race tracks you road.

Father, Grandfather, patriot, entrepreneur, you did it all;

With many trophies to prove it lined up against the living room wall.

But, to me, Dad, you did so much more;

You were my hero, best friend, role model, and confidant whom I adored.

But before I continue, your son, my brother Jimmy, wanted me to say;

You were also his hero, and he misses you every day.

You always put loved ones and others above yourself like no one I ever knew;

You had a beautiful heart and lived your life to the fullest like so very few.

As one of your friends told me, you never met a stranger, no, not you;

You were so down to Earth with a radiant smile and eyes of deep blue.

Through you I learned the things I cherish most are the simple things each and every day;

Like riding with you and Lucky in your Ford Duly truck to Publix for your free cup of coffee, Okay!

Also going upstairs and talking with you about the day�s events each and every night;

I could talk to you about anything, your guidance was always right.

Your love continues to inspire me from Heaven above; to me, you have always been the deal;

I love you with all my heart and soul, and I will always, always will!

I miss you so much like you will never know;

But life must go on, so my plans are so.

To continue to make you and Mom proud of me until it is my time to be;

At which point I will join you and Mom in the land of eternity.

I love you and miss you, Dad, and God bless!

Love, Your Daughter, Deborah Crisher