Joseph S. Myers

1931 - 2016

August 24, 1931 –
December 15, 2016

Captain Joseph Sutherland Myers, MC, USN (Ret.), 85, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on December 15, 2016 in New Smyrna Beach, FL. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Patricia Marie Myers (nee McKenna), he leaves son Joseph S. Myers, Jr. and Diane of Port Orange, FL, daughter Barbara Davis and Christopher of Oviedo, FL, son Christopher and Christina of Fairfax, VA, son James and Tina of New Smyrna Beach, FL, eleven grandchildren, and step-brother John Ranalli, of Wilmington, NC. He was also preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Thomas. Born on August 24, 1931 and raised in Albany, NY, the son of Joseph P. and Dolores Myers (nee Sutherland), he was Valedictorian of his 8th grade class at West Albany School No. 19. From there, he attended Christian Brothers Academy in Albany, NY for high school where he continued to excel academically graduating third in the Class of 1949 and achieving the rank of Cadet Major. After high school graduation, he attended Manhattan College in Riverdale, NY where he completed his pre-med studies and graduated with honors in 1953. He then attended Marquette University Medical School (now the Medical College of Wisconsin), in Milwaukee, WI and graduated in 1957. After completing a residency and a preceptorship in general surgery, he was commissioned in the U. S. Navy, Medical Corps, and served from 1963 to 1987. He spent those years moving around the country and the world including Argentia, Newfoundland, Guam, and many other U.S. station locations. He served as Chief of Surgery at several Naval Hospitals, and it was his privilege to care for many injured Soldiers, Marines, and Sailors from the Vietnam War while stationed at U.S. Naval Hospital, Guam. His love of the warm, Florida weather contributed to his decision to move to Daytona Beach, Florida upon his retirement from the Navy in 1987. He continued to practice medicine until his full retirement in 1999. He was a devout Catholic, a humble and skilled surgeon, a scholar of American History particularly the Civil War Era, a patriot, a pro-life advocate, and a family man. He was committed to providing his children with a quality education and to passing on the Catholic faith to them. He will be greatly missed. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pregnancy Crisis Center of Daytona Beach. Visitation will take place from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM on December 18, 2016 at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, Port Orange, FL. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by his long time pastor and friend the Reverend Raymond O'Leary at 8:30 AM on December 19, 2016 at Our Lady of Hope Catholic Church, 4675 S Clyde Morris Blvd., Port Orange, FL. Condolences can be shared with the family by visiting www.volusiamemorialfuneral.com.