Billy G. Spikes

Billy G. Spikes, 83, passed peacefully on January 8, 2019 surrounded by his loving family at Cornerstone Hospice-Frank & Helen DiScipio House, Tavares FL. Billy was born in Willacoochee, GA, but lived most of his early life in Palm Harbor, FL. He graduated from Tarpon Springs High, where he lettered 11 times in four sports: football, baseball, basketball and track, and later graduated from St. Petersburg Junior College. He served in the helicopter division of the US Army out of Ft. Rucker, AL in Germany with TAM (Traveling Aviation Mechanics) Unit. He had a 35 year career with Florida Power Corporation in Clearwater, Apalachicola, St. Pete, Haines City, Lake Placid and finally Eustis where he retired as a District Manager in 1994. FPC past President Andrew H Hines recently described him “Billy Spikes, he’s THE BEST.” Billy held a real estate broker license. Billy enjoyed aviation, flying his 1951 Cessna 170, being head of the 170 Club at one point, proud member of EAA introducing young people to Aviation with their First Flight airplane ride and Certificate. He even owned Mid Florida at Eustis Airport-X55 in Eustis/Mount Dora area. While in Apalachicola in the early 1960’s, Billy was the president of Apalachicola Bay Chamber of Commerce and served as the first chairman of the Florida Seafood Festival. The festival is now in its 55th year. He was a member of the Apalachicola Masonic Lodge #76. And he has been the past president of many Chambers of Commerce, including Eustis, Lake Placid, Davenport and Haines City. Billy also enjoyed being a member of the Rotary Club in each community he lived. And helped start the Dunedin Pram Sailing Fleet in the early 1960s. He spent and enjoyed a lifetime in community service wherever he lived. Billy was preceded in death by his mother, Callie Belle Brinkley Spikes and dad William Spikes, his brother George W. Spikes, his sister Betty Jo Stewart, and his granddaughter Brandy Bly Pappas. He is survived by his wife Yvonne Hall Spikes, his daughter Caron Spikes Myers (Danny “Chocolate” Myers) of Lexington, NC, his daughter Cassandra Spikes Fish (John Fish) of Redington Beach, son Chad Hoey (Kara) of Eustis, son Devin Hoey (Katie), grandchildren Alexi Pappas Miller (Seth) of Durham, NC, Carter Fish of New York City, John Edward (Jed) Fish of Jacksonville, Caroline and Campbell Fish of Redington Beach, Claire and Graham Hoey of Orlando, sister-in-law Grace Spikes of Jacksonville and brother-in-law Thomas (Penny) Hall of Hickory, NC. and several nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis on Friday, January 11, 2019 at 12:00 Noon. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 11:00 AM - 12 Noon. Interment will be at Florida National (Military) Cemetery in Bushnell, Florida. In lieu of flowers please send memorials to Florida Seafood Festival Inc. c/o John Soloman, 17 Ave E, Apalachicola, FL 32320 or to Apalachicola Masonic Lodge #76, P O Box 426, Apalachicola, FL 32320. Online Guestbook available at www.hardenpauli.com Arrangements by Harden/Pauli Funeral Home, Eustis.