Donald Mcgurer Hussey

Donald McGurer Hussey was born in Colombus, Ohio and grew up learning the contracting business from his father, a general contractor and road-builder. He learned even more from his stepfather, Don Baker, president of the bridge-building business, Baker and Hickey. Hussey started his own commercial contracting business, The Don M. Hussey Company and completed literally hundreds of projects over 18 years in Colombus and surrounding mid-west cities and states.

He attended Ohio State University where he was a cheerleader and belonged to the Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, before joining the Navy Air Force in World War II to become a bomber pilot flying the Aleutian chain from Alaska to the island of Attu. He returned to Ohio State University after the war where he completed his BA degree in Commerce and Business Administration.

In 1976 he headed for sunnier shores to Fort Myers Beach, Florida where he started his own development and real estate company.

He built and developed the 28-unit, luxury condominium Surf Song with his oldest daughter, Deborah, followed by Pelican Watch and Dolphin Watch. He also developed Island Shores for the Pink Shell Corporation and was instrumental in the building of the Island Shores Beach Club. He spearheaded efforts to incorporate Ft. Myers Beach and led the fundraising effort to put in sorely-needed sidewalks along Estero Boulevard.

During his fourteen years on Ft. Myers Beach he served a term as president of the Board of Realtors, was named Realtor of the Year in 1983, served a term as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and of the United way. He was a member of the Chapel By the Sea Presbyterian Church on Fort Myers Beach where he served as an elder. He also founded meeting facilities for recovering alcoholics in both Colombus, OH and in Fort Myers, Florida. He was on the Kiwanis Board and was president-elect before retiring to North Carolina in 1990.

In Montreat, NC, he was on the board of directors of the Montreat Conference Center Development Foundation, (emeritus), Past Chairman of the Annual Conference Center Patron’s Fund, Chairman of the Committee to Build a New Dam in Montreat, Chair of the Town of Montreat Board of Adjustments, Chair of the Arts Alive program, Board of Visitors of Montreat College and the Past President of the Montreat Summer Club. He was also on the initial board of the Asheville Lyric Opera, in Asheville, NC in 2000.

He was a member of the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder and on many committees.

Don was known for his easygoing nature and for his love of improving and beautifying his surroundings, whether it was at his home in Montreat, NC, or in the communities where he lived. He loved dancing and music from the 30s and 40s and could recite verbatim almost every lyric from the Big Band era.

He is survived by his wife, Gale Tomlinson Hussey; his four daughters, Debbie Hussey, Donna George, Diane Kuwahara and Mindy Harris; his grandchildren; Laurie Ciccarone and Chris George; Eika Jung, Mika Deshotels, Chifuku Kuwahara, Katsunori Kuwahara, D.J. Harris and Dana Harris; and two great-grandchildren; Sophia Ciccarone and Judy Jung; five stepchildren; Charlotte, Taylor, Jack, Lucy and Beverly Morris; and step grandchildren, Edgar Taylor Morris IV and Samuel Cantamissa- Morris.

Services will be held on Saturday, June 4th at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church, 16 N. Third St., Lake Wales, FL.
A memorial service will be held in Montreat, NC during the summer.

In lieu of flowers, please make contributions to:
Good Shepherd Hospice, Development Department, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823
Montreat Conference Center, Development Office, P.O. Box 969, Montreat, NC 28767
Black Mountain Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 39, Black Mountain, NC 28711