Charles S. "Charlie" Dean Sr.

Charles S. "Charlie" Dean Sr., 86, died Monday, Feb. 23 at his farm in Inverness. He was born May 31, 1939, in Jacksonville, and was raised in Inverness by his parents, Citrus County Sheriff Charles Simeon Dean and Inverness City Clerk Rema Young Dean.

Charles attended Central Florida Community College, receiving his associate's degree in 1962. He then attended Florida State University, receiving a bachelor's degree in criminology and police administration in 1963, and then Rollins College, graduating with a master's degree in criminal justice in 1976. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps reserves for 5 years, worked as a juvenile counselor, teacher, and administrator in the Citrus County Schools.

In 1981, Dean was elected Sheriff of Citrus County and served until his retirement in 1995. Sheriff Dean served as President of the Florida Sheriffs Association in 1986 and 1987 and was on the Board of Directors of the National Sheriffs Association. He was a strong supporter of the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches.

He was elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2002 and to the Florida Senate in 2006, where he served until retiring in 2016. A lifelong cattleman and farmer, he sponsored several bills relating to Agriculture and the Environment.

In 2022, recognizing the lifelong Public Service of Senator Charles S. "Charlie" Dean, Sr., an Endowed Scholarship for Health Sciences was created, and the College of Central Florida Citrus Campus Learning and Conference Center was renamed the Charles S. Dean, Sr., Educational Center.

Active in his community, he was a member of Citrus Masonic Lodge #118 F. and A.M. and the Inverness Elks Lodge #2522, and an Honorary Lifetime Member of the Citrus County Fair Association.

Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Marie Mirabella.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Judy Baxter Dean; his daughter, Shannon Wright (Eddie); and his son, Charles S. Dean, Jr. (Tracy Ross). Grandchildren: Charles S. Dean III (C3), Austin Dean (Awesome Austin), Claire Dean (Claire Bear). Niece and nephew: Shelly Lightsey and Sam Mirabella.

The Service of Remembrance will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28 at the Charles S. Dean Sr. Educational Center, 3800 S. Lecanto Hwy, Lecanto.

Those, who wish, may make memorial donations to the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches, P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064.

Online condolences can be left for the family at www.HooperFuneralHome.com.