Bernard Eugene Sammons, Sr.

Bernard Eugene Sammons Sr., also known as Bunny, passed away May 18, 2020, at his home in Ocala at the age of 89, following an extended illness. He was born on July 31, 1930 in Dunnellon, Florida and lived there all his life, except his last 20 years when he moved to Ocala. On Easter Sunday, April 17, 1949, he married a lovely young woman, named Kathryn Inez Williams. Together they had 6 children. Bunny was known to be reliable and hard-working, sometimes working three jobs at once to support his family. In the small town of Dunnellon, the job he would be most remembered for is manager of the Lyric Theater, Dunnellon’s only movie theater ever. Traffic increased going thru the small town of Dunnellon and in the early 1960s, the theater was torn down so the town's main road could be expanded to a four-lane. Later, Bunny would retire as a Plant Manager at Florida Power Plant, where he worked his way up from the bottom. Finding retirement too idle, he discovered a volunteer position where he could educate others about a few of the things he was most passionate about: Florida history, native plants, and animals. At the Silver River Museum and Educational Environmental Center located at the Silver River State Park in Ocala Florida, he taught groups of Park visitors and classrooms of school children who came to the park on field trips. Later “Mr. Sam”, as he was affectionately named by the visiting children, would be hired by the park to continue to teach until he officially retired due to health reasons.

Surviving him are his wife of 71 years, Kathryn Williams Sammons and one brother, Billy Sammons. Also surviving him are his children; Linda Sammons Flick (husband Wayne Flick), Sue Ann Sammons Maynard (husband Danny Maynard), Beverly Gail Sammons Weaver (husband Robert Weaver), and Bernard Eugene Sammons Jr. (wife, Carolyn Rankin Sammons). Nine grandchildren survive him; Matthew Flick, Marianne Flick, Stephen Maynard, Amanda Maynard, Robbie Weaver, Charity Guimaraes, Brett Weaver, Tommy Sammons, and David Sammons. He also has 16 great-grandchildren surviving him.

Bernard Sammons Sr., was preceded in death by his parents; George D. Sammons I and Nettie Louise Jones Sammons, two brothers; John Sammons and George D. Sammons II and one sister; Louise Sammons Stoney. He was also preceded in death by two of his children; Richard Alan Sammons and Patricia Sammons Bannister.

A private service is pending. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Parkinson’s Foundation or Kindred Hospice of Ocala.

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