Mal Surrency's Obituary
It is with great sadness the family of prominent Lakeland artist, James Mallory Surrency (Mal), announces that he passed away unexpectedly Sunday evening, April 30 at the age of 82 due to complications from a fall; he was surrounded by his loving family. Mal was born on March 15, 1941, in Winter Haven, Florida and was a longtime resident of Lakeland. His parents were Lee Roy and Anna Mae Surrency.
A native of Florida, Mal studied under a Florida Federation of Art Scholarship with Robert Chase at the Chase School of Art in Sarasota. He also apprenticed with magazine illustrator Al Buell. Mal worked at McWilliam-Shook Art Studios in New York City for several years in the 1960s. He later co-founded Visual Effects in New York City before moving back to Lakeland. He worked many years as an x-ray technician for Clark and Daughtery and then Lakeside Clinic before opening his own art gallery. Active in painting, teaching, and exhibiting watercolors, Mal was co-owner of Visual Concepts, which offered corporate art consultation and high-end custom framing for over twenty five years. Mal co-founded the Imperial Art Gallery, a group of artists who exhibited their artwork in downtown Lakeland for many years, and he was a founding member of Lakeland’s Arts on the Park, which operated for over thirty years. Mal is a signature member of the Florida Watercolor Society and a former member of the Southern Watercolor Society and the Sarasota Art Association. Mal’s award-winning paintings hang in many private and corporate collections, including Tampa Electric Co., Historic Lakeland, Watson Clinic, SunTrust Bank, Bank of America, and Coca Cola.
Mal is survived by his spouse Sharon; his first wife, Ginny Spencer Surrency; daughter Laurie Gonzalez and spouse Otto; son Marc Surrency and spouse Janet; stepson Christopher Haeusler; two grandchildren, Lauren and Ryan Gonzalez; sisters Gail Adams, June Silvernail, Judy Kimber and spouse Joe; and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a Memorial Service held at Gentry Morrison Funeral Homes- Southside Chapel on May 5, with a viewing at 10:00am, service at 11:00am, followed immediately by internment at Oak Hill Cemetery.
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