William  Cravey (June 29, 1955 - October 15, 2022)

In loving memory of
William Cravey
  • June 29, 1955
  • -
  • October 15, 2022

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Obituary

WILLIAM “BILL” WATKINS CRAVEY
JUNE 29, 1955 – OCT 15, 2022
William Watkins Cravey, age 67, passed away Saturday, October 15. 2022, at his home in
Orlando, FL. He was born on June 29, 1955 in Orlando, Florida, and grew up in Orlo Vista,
the son of George and Louise Cravey, and four siblings, David, Carole, Barbara and John.
He attended Orlo Vista Elementary, Robinswood Jr. High, and graduated from Maynard
Evans High in 1973. During his junior and high school years, Bill played soccer and varsity
football.
He attended the Florida State Fire School for firefighting and also obtained his medic
education. He began his career in firefighting with the Orlo Vista Fire Department, and
continued with the Orange County Fire Department working as a firefighter/medic , and an
inspector/fire code enforcement officer. In 1999, Bill decided it was time to prepare for
retirement; however, he wanted to end his career in the same way he started: that being
in the position of firefighter/medic. He retired in 2000, as a Lieutenant with 27 years of
service.
During his career with the Fire Department, he also attended and received his college
degree (in three years) from Florida Southern where he double majored in accounting and
finance.
Upon retiring, Bill soon decided he was too young to retire so he applied and began working
as a reservist with the Federal Emergency Management Assistance (FEMA) Department.
His first deployment was to sit on top of a bucket truck and watch as companies unloaded
storm debris. He enjoyed this position once he realized what great lenghths some
companies would go to in order to receive more pay , such as lining the beds of the trucks
with concrete blocks and even people. His next deployment was to Miami to survey debris
damage left in canals and small waterways. He and his coworkers did not like this
assignment when they realized that the “pet” iquanas, left homeless by the storm, would
crawl out on branches over the waterways, fall asleep, and suddenly fall off their branch
and land in the reservists’ boat. He eventually progressed into reviewing and writing
quotes on the city and state commercial level for reimbursement to buildings, firehouses,
schools, and like companies for damages from disasters of various kinds. During his nearly
8 year career as a FEMA reservist, he deployed to numerous places in the United States,
and to Puerto Rico and St. Croix. Bill thoroughly enjoyed his second career with FEMA as
he saw it as a way of helping people and companies in need.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, George Thomas and Louise Halford Cravey, formally of Orlo
Vista, Fl. He is survived by his wife, Bobbi-Marie Dutton; brothers: David A. Cravey and wife, Linda, of Mt.
Dora, FL; John Cravey and wife, Terry, of Astatula, FL; sisters: Carol Shelton and husband, Michael, of
Gainesville, FL; and Barbara Richardson and husband, Roy, of Orlo Vista, FL. Bill is also survived by his
stepdaughter, Tina Kidd, and husband, Tim, and their two children, Brandon and Abigail. He is also
survived by several nieces and nephews.
IN PLACE OF FLOWERS, the family would ask that donations be made to NAMI, a non-profit organization
working to educate and assist young adults in living with and coping with bipolar depression in their every
day lives. This illness was of great importance to Bill since he, himself, battled with the affects and effects
of bipolar depression in all aspects of his life

An informal gathering to honor the life of William “Bill” Watkins Cravey will be held on December 10,
2022, from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, at the Country Club of Mt. Dora, 1900 Country Club Blvd., Mt. Dora,
Florida 32757.
All are welcome to come and share as we reminisce about times we have had the opportunity to share in
Bill’s life. Feel free to bring a picture and/ or story you would like to share.
Light snacks, coffee and tea will be available on which to snack.
There is page at Baldwincremations.com where you can sharw comments, stories and sentiments. Simply
click on Obits and then type in Bill’s name.
Please feel free to post this on your facebook/media page to spread the information

 


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  1. Nancy Taylor says:
    16 Jan 2023
    I miss the text messages when we were busy and the phone calls when we had the time. I think of you often and my heart breaks. You will never be forgotten.

  2. Rafael J Fanjul Jr. says:
    12 Dec 2022
    Bill was my best friend and bipolar friend for 34 years. I will miss you buddy. We met in 1988 at a bipolar support group meeting. I last saw Bill in September 2017 in Morgantown, West Virginia. I move to Stuart, Florida in 2020 in the middle of the pandemic. We planned to meet up in Orlando, Coco Beach, or Stuart but circumstances arose. I will smoke a cigar in honor of you, Bill Cravey.

  3. Gregory Earl Allen says:
    11 Dec 2022
    I’ll miss you my FB friend and fellow traveler. Wondered why you haven’t posted anything lately? I never met you in person but could relate with your struggle. Been there. You were a kind soul you did a lot of good with your time on earth.

  4. Gregory Earl Allen says:
    11 Dec 2022
    I met Bill on Facebook some years back. He rescued me from some hack who wouldn’t let an issue rest. Some keyboard warrior with 2 cents knowledge and too much time. I friended him after he made a request. From our communications over the years he was a fine guy who struggled with his illness, like many of us do and I’ll miss him a great deal! The struggle is real! Rest easy fellow journeyman! Your race is won.

  5. Bobbi-Marie says:
    10 Dec 2022
    We were supposed to have met for lunch and a movie when we talked that Saturday, but you had to go. For the better part of 29 years, we have been entangled in each other's lives for the good, the bad, and the ugly. We could always talk, laugh, argue, cry, and sometimes just be silent. We knew we loved each other; we just didn't know how to make it work - but we knew we would always be friends, caring for each other! I wish I could just pick up the phone and hear your voice. What calms me and gives me peace is knowing that the battle you fought for so long is finally over! You were and are loved; and definitely missed in this world!!

  6. Abdullah Chuhan says:
    09 Dec 2022
    I’m completely heart broken when someone told me on WhatsApp number of watkins about his death first I did not believe on it, same day I was suffered with heart attack . Watkins was my social app friend since last 7 years I alway miss you in my life you had great soul. we always discussed about politics , religion and social issues of America and my country (pakistan) , Rest in peace bro

  7. Brenda Davidson Gilpatrick says:
    08 Dec 2022
    All those times you threatened to call on the spur of the moment, I wish you had, so we could have talked one last time. Things feel so incomplete otherwise. There's no question that you are loved and adored by so many. Thanks for being the glue that kept people connected, and thanks for being my friend for all these years. Our walks home together in junior high school are some of the best times of my life. You will be missed.

  8. Jack and Cheryl Butler says:
    08 Dec 2022
    Watkins was a genuinely good guy. Cheryl and I are going to miss talking to him on Facebook. Goodbye old friend.

  9. Diana K Griffith says:
    06 Dec 2022
    I am absolutely heartbroken. I’ve lost a tremendous friend who was always there when I needed an understanding shoulder to lean on. He was funny, caring, and fiercely protective of marginalized people. He was fearless in his fight to normalize mental health challenges at our agency. I hope he knew how much I valued his friendship.

  10. Cindy CRAVEY-arroyo says:
    05 Dec 2022
    I am so devastated to learn this sad news. I was wondering I had not heard from him. I’ll miss the mental sparring with him. He loved his family and just wanted to be loved. I never met him in person but we are cousins and I love him and will forever think of him fondly even when he was a stinker!
    Rest in peace until we meet at God’s calling. Revelation 21:3,4
    Love, hugs and prayers for all that knew and loved William (Watkins)

  11. Dr. Ron Cravey says:
    05 Dec 2022
    Watkins contacted me via Facebook a few years ago and invited me to join the Cravey family group. Until then I never knew there were so many Craveys in the southeastern US. I was fortunate to have lunch with Watkins when he came to Austin for work. If not for him, I would not have contacts with many distant relatives. Thanks, Watkins.

  12. David Cravey says:
    05 Nov 2022
    Rest in peace my brother.

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