SCHLEY COUNTY, GA - OBITS Robert Sears Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Harris Hill" Table of Contents page: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/monroe.htm Georgia Table of Contents: http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm Kissimmee Gazette Late October, 1953 Robert Sears Died Tuesday in Lake Wales R.J. "Dad" Sears, 94, of Lake Wales passed away in a Bartow Hospital Tuesday after a lengthy illness. One of Florida's oldest pioneer citizens, he was a native of Ellaville, Ga. He moved to Kissimmee when a young child and his family traded the family buggy for forty acres of land, where they built a two story general store and engaged in the merchantile business, serving both white settlers and indians, and since his father, Dr. W.J. Sears was a doctor, the store became Kissimmee's first drug store. He was a saw mill operator and contractor and built some of the first homes in Kissimmee, later moving to Loughman, Sanford, Tampa, and Fort Pierce where he followed the contracting business. He had been a resident of Lake Wales since 1923. Sears was a lifelong member of the First Baptist Church, and was a life member of the Knights of Pythias, having sixty years membership. Survivors include one son, Joe Sears, Lake Wales; one step-daughter Mrs. T.O. Lewis, Lake Wales; a nephew, W.J. Sears, Jr., Jacksonville; three nieces, Mrs. Ruth Head, St. Petersburg; Mrs. Bessie Lou Lightner, Ellaville, Ga.; Mrs. R.J. Rainey, Buena Vista, Ga.; one grandchild and two great grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Grissom Funeral Home.