Don Mayo

1940 - 2012

The Mayo Celebration of Life memorial service will be held Friday, Oct. 26, at 4 p.m. at the Chet Cole Life Enrichment Center, 5521 W. Buster Whitton Way, Lecanto, Fla. (Key Training Center Lecanto Campus.)
Arrangements are under the direction of Brown Funeral Home & Crematory in Lecanto. The family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to the Key Training Center or Hospice of Citrus County.
It was Don's wishes that everyone come comfortable. Online condolences may be forwarded to the family at mayoart@tampabay.rr.com or www.BrownFuneralHome.com.
Waterfowl and marine artist Don Mayo was born in Portsmouth, Va., Dec. 17, 1940. He was 71 years young at his time of rest at his home in Crystal River, Fla. He was preceded in death by his parents, Monroe and Mae Mayo, Virginia Beach, Fla., and one son, Scott M. Mayo, Brandon, Fla.
Don was educated in Virginia, attended Frederick Military College, worked for both the Virginia Commission of Game and Inland Fishery and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife. After moving to Florida, he worked for Enterprise Corporation, where he built Ruth Eckerd Hall, Clearwater, Fla., and Pro-Line Boats, Crystal River, Fla. He was especially known for his expert fly fishing, which gained him several state records, along with his love of sport fishing and duck and marine guiding. He was an avid supporter of the Florida Gators and semi-supporter of the Kentucky Wildcats!
Mayo not only created illuminating paintings, but was well known for his carving ability and sculptures, both marine and waterfowl. Some of his corporate and personal achievements include life-size waterfowl carvings for the Crystal River Mall commissioned by Edward J. DeBartolo, commissioned works for U.S. Fish and Wildlife, Pro-Line Boats, Sea World of Florida, Belk Lindsey Corporation, Progress Energy, Ducks Unlimted, Waterfowl USA, Coastal Conservation Association, the Rotary Club of Clearwater, Homosassa Game and Fish Club and recognition as a lifetime chamber member of Citrus County, Fla. His works are in the personal collections of singers Anne Murray and James Rogers, former President George W. Bush, baseball legend the late Ted Williams, and Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf.
Survivors include his wife, Sue ("TU") Mayo (Nov. 9 would have been 29 years); three children, Michael T. Mayo and Amy Mayo Glynn (Pete), both of Crystal River, and Toby Ann Mayo of Jacksonville, N.C.; brother-in-law Stephen W. Desper of Clearwater, Fla.; and uncle Eugene Fleming of Satellite Beach, Fla. Don was thankful for his grandchildren, Brandon, Kelsey, Dylan, Travis, Danielle and Austin; and, of course, his boat buddies; a Labrador named "Pup" and a pet hen mallard named Topsider who frequented the waters of Crystal River.