Floyd Nelson Eads

In the early morning on September 2nd, 2025, Floyd Nelson Eads passed away at home surrounded by family after a heroic battle with stage four metastatic cancer.
Throughout his life, he was known by many names. He was nicknamed Rusty as a child due to the auburn tint in his hair. In his adult years, Floyd, dad and pop, his work call name, GI-4. And in his later years, he took on a new name, the name he cherished the most, Poppy.
Floyd was born in Manhattan, NY, on Valentines Day of 1946. His family eventually relocated to Keansburg, NJ. He had many fond memories of his childhood, including building sand castle cities on the beach, riding bikes throughout town and enjoying soft serve ice cream. Much of those early years shaped who he was and the abundant joy he had in the simple pleasures of life. Even after many years had passed, he always enjoyed the opportunity to visit the area and share stories of his childhood. Floyd graduated from Middletown Highschool in 1965. His early twenties were spent exploring in his Jeep, dune buggy, motorcycle, or touring bicycle with his faithful companion Duke, his German Shepherd by his side.
Drawn by his love of all things outdoors, his professional life led him to always be outdoors, and connected to nature in some way. He worked for over 55 years in various horticultural roles before his retirement in 2021, including Foreman at Shadowlake Nursery, Supervisor of Landscape and Irrigation at Great Adventure where he was pivotal in the designs surrounding the infamous Roaring Rapids ride that still stands today, and Garden Irrigation in Morganville, NJ for over 35 years with a host of clients that only wanted Floyd to work on their homes and/or businesses. He held various certifications including in 1969 from the Electronic Computer Programming Institute of Central New Jersey and the New Jersey Environmental Protection Agency Certification as a pesticide applicator of turf and ornamentals. Throughout his life he was active and volunteered in Scouting and 4H and enjoyed passing those interests and hobbies unto his children.
It was while working at Shadowlake Nursery in Colts Neck in July of 1971 that he met Marrianne Allen Eads. They connected immediately, finding a love that would last both their lifetimes and were married three short months later. Together they welcomed a son, Edward, and a daughter, Erin. Floyd was a devoted husband and father who loved and cared for Marrianne and his two children through their entire marriage and was Marrianne's sole caregiver in her final days. After she passed in 2013, he kept her memory alive in all that he did and learned to live a new life on his own after 42 years of marriage. He boldly forged ahead and melded traditions of the past while creating new traditions and focusing on being present and celebrating life at every turn with those he loved most.
Floyd "Poppy" Eads is survived by two loving children, Edward Eads and Erin Eads, a beloved daughter-in-law, Jennifer Eads, and three grandchildren that were the light of his life, Kyla, Evergreen and Bear. He built a special relationship with each of his grandchildren, recognizing them in their uniqueness and embracing, loving and supporting them always. He is also survived by his brother-in-law William Allen and his wife Jennifer Allen, and their children and grandchildren, who he so cherished. His "adopted" daughter, Alice Houck, her husband Mark and their three children, all who simply knew him as Poppy. His sister-in-law Katherine Marchese, brother-in-law William Goodman, and countless nieces and nephews.
Floyd is predeceased by his parents, Kenneth and Fern Robinson Eads and his dear sisters Monica, Beatrice, Irene, and Ellie, whom he always remained close to and credited his sister, Bea in being pivotal in raising him. He is also predeceased by his two brothers Thomas and Kenneth.
Floyd lived with a lust for life that all who knew him experienced firsthand. He showed up for everyone in his life every time he was granted the opportunity. He loved good food, good company and good times. There was nothing that he couldn't figure out how to do, from learning how to fix cars, or making Marrianne's Gazpacho, to showing up and showing out for all people in his life, regardless of the distance between them.
He'll be remembered for his love of the outdoors-especially camping, fishing, crabbing, and enjoying campfires. He found joy in cooking, gardening, and spoiling his grandkids and grandpets at every opportunity. He celebrated every holiday-Halloween, Christmas, Easter, St. Patrick's Day, and the Fourth of July-with the magic and excitement of a kid, and he met everyone he knew with a warm embrace and unmatched generosity.
His will live on in all who knew him, the memories and moments we cherish, and the way he shaped our lives.
Memorial Services will be held at Bugbee-Riggs funeral home in Barnegat, NJ on Saturday the 13th of September from 3-5pm.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to The Nature Conservancy or Alliance for a Living Ocean.