1927
Thomas
2018
Thomas King McQuarrie
November 19, 1927 — October 19, 2018
Thomas King McQuarrie, 90, of Williston, Florida died Friday, October 19, 2018 at Autumn Care in Cornelius, North Carolina.
He was born in China on November 19, 1927 to the late Ruth Woodward McQuarrie and General Claude Monroe McQuarrie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 37 years, Katherine Wallace McQuarrie, he was also preceded in death by his second wife of 27 years, Lela Smith McQuarrie; and brothers, General Claude Monroe McQuarrie, Jr., and Robert W. McQuarrie.
Thomas is survived by his daughter, Theresa McQuarrie Neel and husband Joe of Denver, NC; two sons, Thomas King McQuarrie, Jr. and wife Barbara of Mt. Holly, NC, and David Wallace McQuarrie of Tierra Verde, FL; four grandchildren, Kimberly Lewis, Gregory Lewis, Keith McQuarrie, and Shana McQuarrie; four great-grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan, Brendan, and Aleissia; and one sister, JoAnne McQuarrie Kendall of Crystal River, Florida.
Thomas graduated from Georgia Military Academy in College Park GA, and spent several years in the U.S. Navy, with sea duty in the Pacific and the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb testing sites. After working for Delta Airlines in Atlanta GA and Birmingham AL, he relocated his family to Crystal River, FL, where he and his wife Katherine began a long career of promoting tourism and recreational activities. In 1953, he built and operated the Fishermen’s Pier, located at what is now the Kings Bay Park. He transitioned into the scuba diving business in 1957, and founded the Aqua Peer in 1960, the first dive shop in Crystal River. He was a YMCA and PADI Scuba Instructor. In 1965, he and Katherine opened the Blue Grotto, an underwater cavern diving business in Williston, FL. His entrepreneurial approach to the recreational business influenced tourism growth in Crystal River, including national campaigns for manatee awareness through his business advertising and underwater photography. His Aqua Peer and Blue Grotto businesses were featured in national dive magazines that attracted divers from around the country. Thomas, Katherine and their children were members of the First Baptist Church of Crystal River.
During his retirement years, Thomas and his second wife Lela, enjoyed traveling the country in their motor homes, and taking various Caribbean and world ocean cruises. He and Lela enjoyed home life on the 18th fairway of the Williston Highlands Golf and Country Club, where he was an avid golfer and club member. He continued to enjoy his love of boating, fishing and diving for many years, including time spent at his Ozello, Florida river house.
A visitation will be held from 2:00PM to 3:00PM on November 10, 2018 at Brown Funeral Home in Crystal River, Florida. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 3:00PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Angels, 6600 Wilkinson Blvd, P.O. Box 710, Belmont, NC 28012 or holyangelsnc.org.
The family of Thomas McQuarrie is under the care of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Huntersville. Online condolences may be made at raymerfh.com.
He was born in China on November 19, 1927 to the late Ruth Woodward McQuarrie and General Claude Monroe McQuarrie. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife of 37 years, Katherine Wallace McQuarrie, he was also preceded in death by his second wife of 27 years, Lela Smith McQuarrie; and brothers, General Claude Monroe McQuarrie, Jr., and Robert W. McQuarrie.
Thomas is survived by his daughter, Theresa McQuarrie Neel and husband Joe of Denver, NC; two sons, Thomas King McQuarrie, Jr. and wife Barbara of Mt. Holly, NC, and David Wallace McQuarrie of Tierra Verde, FL; four grandchildren, Kimberly Lewis, Gregory Lewis, Keith McQuarrie, and Shana McQuarrie; four great-grandchildren, Jackson, Dylan, Brendan, and Aleissia; and one sister, JoAnne McQuarrie Kendall of Crystal River, Florida.
Thomas graduated from Georgia Military Academy in College Park GA, and spent several years in the U.S. Navy, with sea duty in the Pacific and the Bikini Atoll atomic bomb testing sites. After working for Delta Airlines in Atlanta GA and Birmingham AL, he relocated his family to Crystal River, FL, where he and his wife Katherine began a long career of promoting tourism and recreational activities. In 1953, he built and operated the Fishermen’s Pier, located at what is now the Kings Bay Park. He transitioned into the scuba diving business in 1957, and founded the Aqua Peer in 1960, the first dive shop in Crystal River. He was a YMCA and PADI Scuba Instructor. In 1965, he and Katherine opened the Blue Grotto, an underwater cavern diving business in Williston, FL. His entrepreneurial approach to the recreational business influenced tourism growth in Crystal River, including national campaigns for manatee awareness through his business advertising and underwater photography. His Aqua Peer and Blue Grotto businesses were featured in national dive magazines that attracted divers from around the country. Thomas, Katherine and their children were members of the First Baptist Church of Crystal River.
During his retirement years, Thomas and his second wife Lela, enjoyed traveling the country in their motor homes, and taking various Caribbean and world ocean cruises. He and Lela enjoyed home life on the 18th fairway of the Williston Highlands Golf and Country Club, where he was an avid golfer and club member. He continued to enjoy his love of boating, fishing and diving for many years, including time spent at his Ozello, Florida river house.
A visitation will be held from 2:00PM to 3:00PM on November 10, 2018 at Brown Funeral Home in Crystal River, Florida. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 3:00PM. Memorial contributions may be made to Holy Angels, 6600 Wilkinson Blvd, P.O. Box 710, Belmont, NC 28012 or holyangelsnc.org.
The family of Thomas McQuarrie is under the care of Raymer-Kepner Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Huntersville. Online condolences may be made at raymerfh.com.
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