Bryant Mathews Mickler

Bryant Mathews Mickler, son of Bryant Hampton Mickler and Norma Ponce Mickler was born June 11, 1938, in Jacksonville, Florida but his home and heart were in the woodlands of Palm Valley, Florida where he lived most of his life until moving to Grandin, Florida in 2002.

Bryant lived in an era when the call "mullet on the beach" summoned him and his cousins to grab the cast net and head to the ocean at Mickler's landing for a big catch of fish. It was a time when family and friends would go gopher pulling and then gather for the gopher stew; a time when firewood was the fuel his mama used to cook the venison, the squirrel, or wild hogs brought to the table from the woods; a time when it was legal to ride the beach with friends in home-fashioned dune buggies, a season when it was legal to hunt and gather sea-turtle eggs and common for him to cut a cabbage from a palm tree when hungry.

Bryant worked in the concrete industry for several years before establishing Mickler's Concrete Service. His charismatic nature endeared him to hundreds of people, all instrumental to successfully providing for his family, the apple of his eye. Bryant's life changed dramatically when "he got saved". The Holy Spirit grabbed him on Saturday, September 9,1978 and told him to "get right or get gone". He asked Jesus into his heart that day, baptized the next day, and has lived for Him ever since, spending the next 47 years of his life telling anybody who would listen about his Jesus and how they could have the same Jesus and promise of eternity with Jesus in Heaven. Bryant was a product of a revival that broke out in Palm Valley that engulfed the community and beyond. The commission given there to "Go Make Disciples" continues this day in the many places where God scattered those believers!

Bryant is survived by his wife Mary Jo who continues to love him with all her heart. He also leaves behind their son Marc (Lisa) and their children: Ciara (Kevin), Brooklyn (Rod), Ashley (Toren), Marcus (Rebekah); son-in-law Frank (Krissy) and children Brandy (Blake), Brian (Jamie), Kayla (Chad), Christina (Ronnie), Alana (Alaina), Mary Beth; Angel (Lane); daughter Sherri (Tim) and their children: Christy (Matt), Timothy (Hannah), Christopher (Jenna), Caleb Bryant (Melissa), Lacey (Landon), Lindsay (Anderson); daughter Paula (Rob) and their children: Sebastian, Bella and Isaac; sister Norma Jean (Joe), Clara (Francis); and sister-in-law Connie. Papa would often say, "I've got so many great-grandchildren that I can't remember their names." We are hoping we are including all of them. Great-Grandchildren: Abbigail, Kaden, Konnor, Aisley, Adilynn; Aksel, Mary Jo; Silas, Colton, Brody, Hanson; Bryant, Beau, Charlotte, Walker, William; Asialyn (Jerrod), Trenton (Alex); Caden, Reese, Kaeleigh, Brady, Liam, Levi, Braelynne, Daisy; Connor; Kara (Royce), Kaeleigh, Dalton, Grayson, Kimber, Westen, Raelynn; Caroline, Jett. Great-Great-Grandchildren: Aiden, Nevaeh, Everleigh, Wade; Kaleigha, Beau; Elias, Ezra; and Johnny.

Bryant also leaves behind dear kin: Gary Amonette, Hugh Oesterreicher, Robert Baer, Bobby Ponce, Hugo and Hampton Mickler and his surrogate daughters: Melodie, Melinda, Sandy and Shona; a large extended family, a multitude of dear friends, and his beloved church.

Bryant was preceded in death by daughter Brenna Marie Christian; son Brennan Mathews Mickler; daughter Rebecca Maria Mickler; great-grandson Trace Manuel; parents Bryant and Norma; Mary Jo's parents: Harold and Jennie; brother Merlin Mickler; brother-in-law Marshall Sullivan; and dear friends Virgil Courts and Vic LeNoble.

A Family Graveside Service will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 at 10:00 am at Keystone Memorial Gardens, 7304 SR 100 Keystone Heights, Florida 32656. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:30 am at First Baptist Church of Keystone Heights, 550 E. Walker Dr. Keystone Heights, Florida 32656.