Mike Willett

Ralph Michael “Mike” Willett, age 65, of Gulf Breeze, Florida passed away on September 14, 2023 at his home.

Visitation will be held at 12:00 noon on Wednesday, September 20 at First Baptist Church of Gulf Breeze, located at 555 Fairpoint Drive.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 on Wednesday, September 20 at First Baptist Church of Gulf Breeze, with Pastor Jeff Spooneybarger officiating.  A private family burial will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore, Alabama.

Mike was born at Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, Florida to Henry and Glenda Willett on    October 15, 1957.  The family moved to Gulf Breeze in 1972 and Mike attended Gulf Breeze High School.  He graduated in 1975.  Mike attended Pensacola Junior College and Liberty Bible College.  He started a career in construction where he continued to advance all the way to Site Engineer of Brett Robinson Construction.  He helped build many of the Phoenix Condominiums on Orange Beach.  Mike also worked as an Escambia County Building Inspector and later worked at NAS as an inspector.  In later years, he worked as a restaurant manager at Wahoo Stadium and also helped at the Friary of Gulf Breeze.

Mike was an avid surfer, paddleboarder and fisherman who loved Pensacola Beach.  He was extremely artistic and creative, writing many poems and songs.  Mike loved to play music.  He was awarded a plaque for heroism from Escambia County for rescuing a downing swimmer.  Mike was always smiling and had a profound uplifting impact on everyone he met.

Mike is survived by his mom, Glenda Willett, and his two sisters, Cindy Lynch (Ray) and         Susie Smithey (Walt).  He has two nieces, Amanda Elliott (Mark) and Rebecca Hancock (Andrew) and one nephew, Ray Lynch III.

Pallbearers will be Walt Smithey, Ray Lynch, Andrew Hancock, Mark Williams, Herb Turner, and Tom Hutson.