Elmer O. Friday Jr.

Obituary

Retired from the Circuit Court of Florida in 1990, Judge Friday was a 6th generation Florida cracker, whose ancestors settled in Florida before it became a state. He was the son of Elmer O. Friday, Sr. and Mayo (Yates) Friday.

Judge Friday is survived by his wife of 58 years, Betty Jo (Guthrie) Friday, originally of Punta Gorda, his son Richard of Fort Myers, his three daughters Genie Hanke of Tampa, Jo Friday of Litchfield, CT and Mitchel Friday of Fairbanks, Alaska, 12 Grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren and sister Lonnie (Friday) Persons of Punta Gorda.

Judge Friday was born in a logging camp in Lake Garfield and grew up primarily on Babcock Ranch east of Punta Gorda where his father ran the Commissary and the logging operation. He graduated from Charlotte High School, served in the Navy in WWII, and played football for the University of Oklahoma where he was the starting left tackle until he injured his knee. He obtained his law degree from the University of Florida and was an avid Gator throughout his life.

Judge Friday's legal career in Florida included serving from 1950-1955 as president of Lawyer's Title Guaranty Fund, Lee County Judge from 1957-1961; a member of the Florida Senate from 1961-1970, when he served as chairman of the Rules Committee. He was very proud that then Republican Governor Claude Kirk labeled him as one of Ten Florida Democrats that the Governor most wanted to get rid of. (Along with Lawton Chiles)

He served as Secretary of the Senate from 1970-74, then as capital chair of the Florida Appellate Court for workers compensation before returning to his beloved Southwest Florida when he continued to serve as a Circuit Judge until his retirement. Judge Friday served on many boards and commissions during his career, including the Florida Constitutional Advisory Commission, the Florida Constitutional Reform Commission, the Judicial Counsel of Florida, the Board of Governors of the Florida Bar, the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission and the Supreme Court Study Commission.

After retiring he served on the Board of Crossroads Wilderness Institute. He was a 32 Degree Mason, a Shriner, Optimist, and Rotarian. Judge Friday loved hunting, fishing and all things Florida. He especially enjoyed good food, good music and good friends. He will be missed.

The family will receive visitors Tuesday, January 24th, from 2-4 pm and from 6-8 pm at Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Home, 1600 Colonial Blvd. in Fort Myers. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 28th, 1 pm at the First Methodist Church in Punta Gorda. In lieu of flowers, family asks that donations be made to Crossroad Wilderness Institute, 45991 Bermont Road, Punta Gorda, FL, 33982.