Annette Gail Barron

Annette Gail Howanitz Barron

March 7, 1941 – September 11, 2025

Heaven gained an angel-albeit a feisty, fiercely independent, Elvis-loving, adventure-seeking one who liked a little drink and was always getting into mischief.

Annette Gail Barron was truly one of a kind.

And she wasn't too shy to let you know it.

Born on March 7, 1941, in Jacksonville, Florida, Annette was the eldest of four children and the only girl. She had a childhood that made her grow up fast, stepping into a caregiving role for her younger brothers and developing a deep sense of responsibility and family loyalty that defined the rest of her life.

She married her high school sweetheart, Robert "Bobby" Barron, at just 18. Together they had four children-Linda, Dale, Sandra, and Diane. Though the marriage began in love, it ended in heartbreak. After being repeatedly let down, Annette decided enough was enough. In a move that has since become family legend, she borrowed a car, donned a disguise, caught her husband cheating, and filed for divorce-finalized just eleven days later.

From that moment forward, she became everything to her children:

Mother. Father. Friend. Confidante.

She entered the "man's world" of Miami real estate in the 1970s and quickly carved out a name for herself. Bold, unafraid, and unapologetically fabulous, she closed her first deal in under 30 days and never looked back. When offered an unfair commission split, she told the broker:

"Okay… I'll be opening my own!"

She went on to become a powerhouse in construction, hardware, and investment properties, blazing trails across Kendall, Calusa, Sunset, the Redlands, and beyond. Her mantra?

"Girl power."

And she lived it-raising daughters and granddaughters who knew without a doubt they were just as capable as any man.

In 1976, Annette bought the original Chuck Wagon Restaurant, later opening a second location in her Western-themed Sunset Plaza. Her reason?

"It was hard for a woman to get a table-so I bought the place."

It became a beloved Miami institution, known for its Southern comfort food and strong cup of coffee-just like her.

Her ambitions extended beyond business. She ran for and won the position of Fire Commissioner of Metro-Dade County-beating out four men in the process. She made history.

And she did it in heels.

She later remarried and became part of a powerhouse business couple, expanding their reach across South Florida real estate and development.

Annette traveled far and wide-Germany, Costa Rica, California, New York-but her soul remained rooted in three sacred places:

The mountains of North Carolina, where she owned a beloved retreat;

The fabulous Florida Keys, where she felt spiritually at peace;

and The Farm, her 200-acre sanctuary in Levy County, where family gathered, healed, and grew.

If you needed a place to land, Mema's door was always open.

She never stopped giving. Each year, she made sure underprivileged and migrant children had presents for Christmas.

Though she didn't attend church regularly, Annette had deep faith and spirituality. She believed in doing what was right, in kindness, and in helping those who needed it most.

She was progressive, forward-thinking, and always a few steps ahead of her time.

Despite her many accomplishments, her greatest joy was always her family.

She was our matriarch.

Our Mema.

Our glue.

She raised four children, helped raise countless grandchildren, and even great-grandchildren. To this day, even distant cousins and family friends call her Mema-because she made everyone feel like family.

Yes, she was tough.

Yes, she was opinionated.

Yes, she was controlling (and proud of it).

But it came from the deepest well of love and devotion.

And in her later years, as dementia softened her edges, her joy, her silliness, and her sweetness radiated more than ever. That megawatt smile-the one that told you you were seen, safe, and loved-never faded.

She lived loud.

She loved BIG.

She left nothing undone.

And now, she's dancing in heaven with Elvis.

How do you describe a woman who touched everyone she met?

With her generosity, her care, her strength, and her humor-she left an imprint on every life she encountered.

She will be deeply missed, forever remembered, and always carried in our hearts.

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Annette loved:

• Diamonds and fur

• Yellow roses

• Red nails (and perky "girls"-her words!)

• Feeding the animals, especially in North Carolina!

• Birds, teddy bears, and sugar by the bagful

• Queen Anne cherries, sweet coffee, sugar wafers, pecan sandies, butter pecan ice cream, looking at the dessert menu first so she could decide how much food to eat - and there was always room for dessert!

• Donkey dollars

• Fabulous everything-furniture, outfits, lipstick, jewelry and life

• Her children, her grandchildren, her great-grandchildren

• And most of all: being Mema

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Iconic Mema-isms

"Love you BIG."

"I'll be here."

"He was geographically undesirable."

"All I have to give is love and money-and I have plenty of both!"

"I sound like a forty-five-year-old man!"

"Icey-dicey! You better watch out-it's icey-dicey!"

"I'll have the key lime pie!"

"Slow it down, Vince-I don't like the speed!"

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She is predeceased by her parents, Mary Oneta Thomas Howanitz and Eugene "Red" Howanitz II, and her brothers Alford "Al" Purington Howanitz and Robert "Bobby" Michael Howanitz

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She is survived by:

Her brother, Eugene "Buddy" Howanitz III and family

Her four children: Linda, Dale Sandra, and Diane

Thirteen grandchildren

Six great-grandchildren

And countless relatives and lifelong friends who all knew her simply as Mema

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Thank you, Mema-Miss Ann, Annie, Fire Commish, our fierce and fabulous matriarch-for the example you set, the life you lived, and the love you poured into all of us.

We love you BIG.

Shine on.