Jack Odean Fisher

"Sorrow comes in great waves...but it rolls over us, and though it may almost smother us, it passes and we remain." - Henry James Apollo Beach — Jack O. Fisher, age 74, died Saturday September 30, 2017 at home, surrounded by love, after a short battle with Cirrhosis of the Liver and Kidney Disease. Mr. Fisher is survived by a wife, Joy; four children, Jackie (Cleatus) Griffin, Thomas Fisher, Michael Fisher and Ralph Fisher; three step-daughters, Traci Austin, Carol (Jackey) Newell, and Misty (Tim) Nikel. He also leaves behind his mother and father – in – law, Jeanette (Steve) Tucker; 15 grandchildren; 5 great-grandchildren; and 3 sisters, Ruth Ann Pace Fain, Veta Jane Waldrop, and Katherine Elaine Miller, all of whom he loved with all of his heart and loved to spend time with. Jack is a veteran of the Army, where he earned the honor of being known as a sharpshooter. He also earned several medals, including the Good Conduct Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. He was part of the Army Med Corp and served 3 years in the Army. He grew up in Benton, Tennessee and was the son of Tom and Rosa Fisher. As a child, he grew up playing in the foothills of the mountains and learning how to fish and farm. As he grew older, after the army, he learned the floor covering trade, at which he became a master. That knowledge became a family legacy he passed down to his children. Well-known in his home town of Brandon for being the best in the floor covering business, he spent many years working closely with his longtime friend, Fred Heil and giving Scott’s Carpet a reputation that was second to none. After the death of his friend Fred, he retired from the floor covering business only doing work for close family and friends and helping his sons hone their trade. His success in business can be directly attributed to his work ethic and his integrity with customers and employees alike. His attention to detail was legendary. He took pride in the fact that he always left his customers satisfied and many were repeat customers, multiple times over. Jack retired from the floor covering business to spend time enjoying his other passions, which included, golfing, fishing and cruising in the Caribbean with his family and friends. Jack was a loyal and true friend, meeting many friends via one of his other hobbies and billiards. Jack and another lifelong friend, Lenny Greco, captained and co-captained many pool teams in both the APA and BCA pool leagues. A skill he taught his wife, Joy, and step-daughter, Traci, whom he also spent time with on various teams throughout the years. The skill and patience he learned as a sharpshooter in the Army helped him become a well-respected member in the billiards community around town. In his retirement, when he wasn’t busy with the one of his pool teams or spending time out on the open ocean cruising, he loved to take his granddaughter, Jade, and grandson, Cole, fishing, as well as his sons Thomas and Ralph. Jack was known for always having a joke on hand and the ability to make most anyone laugh even when they were feeling down. He was loved by all who knew and spent time with him having fun. He was preceded in death by both his parents, Tom and Rosa; sister, Mary C. Fisher Lang; and brothers, Boyd L. Fisher, Charles Fisher, Ralph Fisher and Jerry Fisher. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at Sarasota National Cemetery at a later date. Words of comfort may be expressed for Jack's family by clicking on the “Share a Memory” link below.