David Kenneth “Ken” Sturges, 74, of Fernandina Beach, Fla., was peacefully called home to spend eternity with the Lord on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Baptist Medical Center Nassau.
He was born in Fernandina Beach and was a son of the late David Kenneth Sturges Sr. and Isabell McCall Sturges.
He was a member of the Fernandina Beach High School, Class of 1961 and received a Bachelor of Science from Jacksonville University. He married Nancy Adams Sturges in 1969. They had two beautiful children, Susannah and David. His degree in mathematics allowed him to start work as an auditor at the Florida National Bank. While working at the bank, he was presented with the opportunity to work at Prudential Insurance Company as an agent with his father. After 10 years with Prudential, he found his calling in teaching math in the Nassau County School District until retirement. Throughout this time, he also mentored youth by being a scoutmaster of Troop 213. He was able to do this by being one of the first on the island to achieve the honor of Eagle Scout. He received other distinguished leadership honors in scouting that included becoming a Silver Beaver.
In 2002 with his son, he established Sturges and Sturges Construction, Inc. One of his ways to give back to the community was building toy cradles by hand for young children. He discovered a passion for genealogy as a founding member of the Amelia Island Genealogical Society. While researching, he discovered and documented that he was a Florida pioneer descendant through his relative, Daniel Duhart Sturges.
He had a love of cooking that was well received through the community, from the pineapple upside down cakes to his famous gumbo. There was always a recipe to be had from the “Sturges Grocery Cookbook.” He created the cookbook to honor his family’s grocery store, which was the first one to carry fresh vegetables on the island.
Ken was a longtime devoted member of the Catholic Church. He was an avid outdoorsman enjoying camping, hunting and fishing. Ken was a member of Local Masonic Lodge No. 47. It was said that he never met a stranger.
He leaves behind his wife of 49 years, Nancy Adams Sturges; his two children, Susannah Sturges Chase and her husband, Trevor, of Apopka, Fla., and Daniel David Sturges and his fiancé, Kelly LaMar, of Fernandina Beach; his sisters and brother, Margaret Harris and her husband, Rodney, of Jacksonville, Walter Sturges and his wife, Susan, of Fernandina Beach, Priscilla Slover of Fernandina Beach, and Carol Cason and her husband, Sammy, also of Fernandina Beach; and four grandchildren, Samantha Sturges, David Noah Sturges, Isabell Sturges and Kenneth Chase, as well as several cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family received friends 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, January 15, 2019 at Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors with the Rosary being recited at 6 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 16, 2019 at St. Michael’s Catholic Church with Fr. Richard Perko, Celebrant. He will be laid to rest near his parents at Bosque Bello Cemetery.
Those desiring may make contributions in his memory to Local Boy Scout Troop 89, in care of Pat McCarthy, 95185 Flatwoods Trail, Fernandina Beach, FL 32034.
Please share your memories and condolences at www.oxleyheard.com.
Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors