Charles Deaton Memorial Reef

Charlie was a born with a gypsy soul, a long time resident of Macy, Indiana he graduated class of 1976 at North Miami Highschool in the town of Denver, Indiana. He dedicated his high school years dressing up as the warrior mascot; following his true family blood lines of Cherokee and Blackfoot Indian. After high school he enlisted in the US Navy as a Electrical Mechanic for the fight line on the aircraft carriers. After 18 year of service at sea, he returned home to Macy and became an active member of the Macy, IN Fire Department where he served as both a firefighter and first responder however his heart continued to call his gypsy soul. As an Electrical Maintenance Engineer and Machinist he allowed his gypsy blood to lead him where it may. And once again he found himself are the ocean shore.
Charlie lived in Defuniak Springs, Florida for the last 10 years of his life where he has built a network of friends, many of whom have become family. He loved the FL weather and loved living near the beach where he could collect his treasures for the day and share them with his precious grandchildren which are his pride and joy. Trips to Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe were a must whenever he could break away from the mundane and sunsets spoke to his soul. The beautiful weather also gave Charlie the freedom to ride his Harley, a great joy of his life. One of Charlie’s final wished he expressed to his daughter was to be placed in a reef through MBARA so that he could be part are new live and rebirth of the ocean. Charlie was loved by many and will be missed dearly.
1 Ecosystem, 1 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef, and 1 Grouper Reef deployed 6 Apr 2012 under FWC grant 11224 and MBARA funding. 1 Florida Limestone Artificial Reef added on 2 May 2022. Position verified on 2 May 2022. Surveyed by divers Bob and Carol cox on 7 Jun 2022.