Frederick Hull Fred Arnett

ARNETT Mr. Frederick Hull Fred Arnett, age 82, of Yulee passed away on Saturday morning, August 1, 2015 at Baptist Medical Center - Nassau. Born in Tampa, FL, he was one of three and the last living child born to the late Daniel St. Clair and Jessie Hull Arnett. At an early age his family came to the north side of Jacksonville where he was raised and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School. After high school he served in the U.S. Army as a Paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. Upon being honorably discharged and returning home, he began a 40 year career as a Millwright with St. Regis Paper Company that would become Seminole Kraft on Eastport Road. In 1955 he married Clara Jean Haddock. The newlyweds made their home and started their family in the Riverview section of North Jacksonville. Over the years Mr. Arnett developed an interest and love for flying which fueled his desire to purchase and develop his own private airstrip. In 1969 he and his wife, Jean, purchased property that was 2 miles from a roadway, in Yulee, that would become Flying A Ranch. Mr. Arnett had earned many aircraft related licenses and ratings that included Private, Commercial and Multi Engine Licensing with Instrument rating, Aircraft Builders and Mechanics License as well as a being a Flight and Mechanics Instructor with a CFI Double I rating. In 2003, he retired from Seminole Kraft and joined his son, Freddy, and Arnett Builders and Properties. Mr. Arnett awoke everyday with things on his mind to accomplish. Whether he was building water skis through a company that he had purchased at Imeson Airport, rebuilding and adding to his collection of Cushman Scooters, restoring one of his vintage Mustangs or refinishing a new teak deck on a 1950 Chris Craft; his mind and hands were never idle. For the past 30 years, he and Mrs. Arnett have enjoyed planning trips and traveling throughout the country in their motorhome to air shows and Cushman scooter events. While living in North Jacksonville the Arnett family had been active at Riverview Baptist Church. After settling in Yulee they became members at Yulee Baptist Church where Mr. Arnett was a member of the Building Committee and served as a Men's Sunday School Teacher. Many people referred to Mr. Arnett as the smartest man they had ever known. He was always busy; but never too involved to stop and redirect his total affection and attention to whichever of his family might be in need of his nurturing nature. He leaves behind his wife of 60 years, Clara Jean Arnett, Yulee, FL, their daughter, Valarie Arnett Pikula and her husband, Byron, Yulee, FL, their son, Frederick H. Freddy Arnett Jr. and his wife, Nancy, Yulee, FL, two grandsons, Kyle Pikula and his wife, Jennifer, Jonathan Arnett, Jessica Arnett and a great grandson, Colby Pikula. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at Yulee Baptist Church with Pastor Doug Sides, officiating. Mr. Arnett will be laid to rest in Hughes Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers will be; his grandsons, Kyle Pikula and Jonathan Arnett as well as Phil Davis, Mark Davis, Matt Braddock and Danny Miller. His family will receive friends on Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:00 pm at Oxley Heard Funeral Home. Floral tributes will be gratefully accepted and memorial contributions may be made to the Nehemiah Project (Building Fund) c/o Yulee Baptist Church, P.O. Box 486, Yulee, FL 32041 Please share his Life Legacy and leave your condolences and memories at www.oxleyheard.com OXLEY - HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS