James W. "Buddy" Mears' Obituary
James W. “Buddy” Mears moved to heaven to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on 5th of June 2019 at the Good Shepherd Hospice House, leaving behind his wife of 61 years, Carol Selph Mears. He is survived by his children, Becky Mears Raley and husband, Wayne, Brad Mears and wife, Tara; and grandchildren Trista, Fallon, and Troy Mears, and Nathaniel Raley.
“Buddy” was born on January 23, 1934 in Columbus, GA to Lucile and Jimmy Mears, graduated from DeFuniak Springs High School in 1952 and became the tenor with the Gospel Melody Quartet shortly thereafter. Buddy was singing with them when their name changed to The Florida Boys Quartet in 1955. In 1957 Buddy left the quartet behind to join the Air Force and became an Air Traffic Controller stationed at McCoy AFB in Orlando through 1961. While with the quartet, Buddy had obtained his private pilot license and in 1966 completed his neccesary ratings to captain a Lear Jet as a professional pilot. During his long aviation career, he served as a chief pilot and director of operations for charter companies, captained several model Lear Jets, Hawker Siddeleys, helicopters, and developed the Hawker training program for SimuFlite Flight Training School, completing his career as the original and senior Hawker instructor for the company. In addition to being a pilot educator he served as an FAA Designated Pilot Examiner. Buddy had the privilege of piloting jets into 49 of the 50 states, all but Hawaii, and countries in Central and South America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. He carried passengers both famous and infamous in the business, entertainment, and political arenas.
Carol and Buddy were married January 18, 1958 at First Presbyterian Church in Lakeland, FL. They welcomed their daughter, Becky in 1964, and their son Brad in 1972. Buddy’s career led the family to live in Virginia, Florida, and Texas before he and Carol retired in Tennessee and subsequently moved to Georgia and back to Florida again. In 1984, Buddy had a desire to begin using his musical talents again, only this time with his family to join him. What was intended to be a duet with Carol, quickly became a trio with Carol and Becky, and within a few years became a quartet when Brad’s voice settled into the baritone part. They recorded an album, Through the Years with the Mears, in 1988.
Buddy’s favorite pastimes were mostly centered around family time and some travel in their motorhome, not to mention his little Cessna 140, in which Brad learned to fly in and began his own aviation career thereafter. In days past, Buddy was an avid bird hunter and fisherman, but aviation was always his main passion. He loved Gospel, Jazz and Big Band music, preferring chords with a 7th in them and brass instruments. Along the way, he also became a 32o Mason and a Shriner. He lived a full and busy life, well loved, and liked by all. Carol remarked to Buddy many times that “life with him would never be boring,” and it certainly wasn’t!
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