THE DAYTONA BEACH NEWS-JOURNAL
Daytona Beach, Florida
Friday, August 29, 2003

THOMAS (TOMMY) W. DURRANCE
Oct. 26. 1928 - Aug. 27, 2003

Thomas W. Durrance (Tommy), 74, a lifelong resident of Flagler Beach, died at home Wednesday, August 27, 2003.

Funeral service will be 11 a.m. today, Saturday, August 30, at First United Methodist Church, Bunnell, with the Rev. Beth Gardner officiating. Interment will follow at Espanola Cemetery.

Tommy was from a pioneer family, his parents, Irene and Omega Durrance, both deceased.

He graduated from Bunnell High School, where he excelled in all sports. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict. He was a surveyor for 45 years, retiring in. 1990, and could tell you just about where anything was located in Flagler County. He served on the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners for 20 years. His greatest love, next to his family, was the County, fishing, hunting, the out­doors and sports.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 54 years, Patsy; two daughters, Rebecca Cowart (Gary), Seville, and Leona Arrington (Glenn), Palm Coast; three grand­children, Tom Cowart (Allison), April and Zane Arrington; one great-granddaughter, Kaylie Cowart; one brother, Custer Durrance, Bluffdale, Utah; two sisters, Norma Turner, Bunnell, and Johnnie Helms, Tallahassee; and several nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by two brothers, Bud and Bill Durrance.

Memorial dona­tions may be made to Memorial Systems Foundation, Att: Stuart Meyer Hospice House, 770 W. Granada Blvd., #102, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 or your favorite charity.


FORMER COMMISSIONER ‘TOMMY’ DURRANCE, 74
By Carl Laundrie, Staff Writer

FLAGLER BEACH - Thomas W. "Tommy" Durrance, a 20-year veteran of the Flagler County Commission, died at home Wednesday after a long illness.

Durrance, 74, was a land surveyor and served five terms on the County Commission from 1970 to 1990 in District 2. He also served three stints as commission chairman. Although elected by voters countywide, Durrance represented a district that encompassed the beachside of the county and lived in Flagler Beach.

Durrance's 20-year span in office was during a tumultuous period of growth and change in Flagler County. He took office right after ITT Corp. began to develop what was to become the city of Palm Coast.

Also while Durrance served on the County Commission, the county passed its first zoning laws, hired its first full­time planner, a full-time engineer and its first county administrator.

County Tax Collector Sue Pellicer remembered him fondly Thursday afternoon.

"Tommy was the most down-to-earth person I know," Pellicer said. "If you were his friend, you were his friend no matter what. He would go to the mat for you ... I will miss Tommy."

Before retiring from public office in 1990, Durrance was among several county leaders who opposed the formation of a charter government in Flagler County.

Durrance worked to defeat the proposal, and it was rejected by voters in November 1990.

Durrance was a native of Flagler County and a member of a pioneering family. His family farmed an area which is now part of the Flagler County Airport.

He was born in a two-story, wood­frame house owned by his parents, Thomas Omega and Irene Mathilda Durrance. The house was near the brick road that today is State Road 100.

In a 1997 interview, Durrance recalled the early days in Volusia and Flagler counties.

"I remember heading out at first light for Holly Hill on horseback," Durrance said. "They had a pound where cattle that wandered into the residential area were rounded up. My father and I would travel to Holly Hill and drive the cattle back to Flagler County. We wouldn't get back sometimes until after dark."

Durrance was an avid fisherman and outdoorsman. After retiring from politics and surveying in 1990, he spent much of his time fishing and hunting.

Property Appraiser John Seay called Tommy "a fine man, one of the pioneers of Flagler County. He will be missed."

Durrance was a graduate of Bunnell High School and a Navy veteran who served during the Korean conflict.

He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Patsy; two daughters, Rebecca Cowart, Seville, and Leona Arrington, Palm Coast; a brother Custer Durrance, Bluffdale, Utah; two sisters, Norma Turner, Bun­nell, and Johnnie Helms, Tallahassee; three grandchildren and a great-grand­daughter.

Craig, Palm Coast is in charge.

In Loving Memory of

Thomas (Tommy) W. Durrance

Born
October 26, 1928
Flagler County, Florida

Entered Into Rest
August 27, 2003
Flagler Beach, Florida

Participants in Today's Service
Pastors
Rev. Beth Gardner
Mr. Mike Boyd

Organist
Mr. Ray Mercer

Pall Bearers
Benji Cauley
Johnny Kinney
Steve McGrew
Leslie Tucker
Albert Johnston
Carl Laundrie
John Seay
Martin Tucker

Service of Death and Resurrection August 30, 2003
First United Methodist Church Bunnell, Florida
Prelude
Words of Grace
Greeting
Prayer
Scripture
Naming
Pastoral Words
Eulogy
Witness and Remembering
Family and friends are invited to voice their thankfulness to God for the glace they have received in and through the life of Tommy Durrance.
Prayer of Thanksgiving
Dismissal Blessing
Postlude
A Service of Committal will follow at Espanola Cemetery Following the Committal Service you are invited back to our Fellowship Hall to greet the family and share dinner with them.