Sydnor "Syd" Speer, 93, of Boynton Beach and formerly of Gulfstream, FL and Meridian, MS, passed away on September 2, 2016 at his home and nursery in Boynton with his two children by his side. Syd was born in a log cabin in Goshen Springs, Mississippi and raised on his family's farm and cotton plantation until leaving during the Great Depression as part of the Civilian Conservation Corp projects to help build the national parks in Death Valley and Yosemite. He served in the Army in World War II and was a P.O.W. following the Battle of the Bulge until the end of the war. He began business as a Wholesale Florist in the late 1940's, and continued in the horticultural trades thereafter, for the last 46 years as a local nurseryman and internationally iconic Seedsman ; he was joyfully active in his business until he passed at the end of last week. Syd enjoyed coin collecting, and was also a lifetime member of the Lion's Club.
He is preceded in death by 2 sons, Presley and Jack Speer and by his wife, Suzanne, to whom he was wholly devoted to since the first day he met her to his last breath, their 63rd anniversary being this same weekend as his passing. They enjoyed dancing and friends, traveling and spending time with family as they built their business together.
Syd is survived by his son, Syd Speer Jr. of Ashville, NC, daughter, Pollyanne Speer ( Kenneth Washington) of Brandon, FL, 7 grandchildren, Charles Packard Jr., Ariel (Adam) Randall, Zoe Rodriguez, Samantha Rodriguez, Alexander Washington, Nicholas Speer and Ethan Speer and 2 great grandchildren.
A visitation will be held on Friday, September 9, 2016 from 5PM to 7PM with a 7PM funeral service at LORNE & SONS FUNERAL HOME, 745 NE 6th Ave. (N. Federal Hwy.) Delray Beach. Burial will be held at a later date in Meridian, MS.