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CASTEEL, Paul Casteel, 88,
passed away peacefully, on February 21, 2012. He was a beloved
father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Paul was born in Middleburg,
Fl. and was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville. As a United States
Navy Veteran, he served his country as a Naval Signalman during World
War II and Korean War on the USS Electra (AKA-4). He was honorable
discharged in 1954. He then worked at USF&G Insurance Company for
31 yrs. and retired in 1985. After retirement, he worked as a
Silversmith/Jewelry Designer where he passed on his passion by teaching
classes at local schools in the Jacksonville area including DuPont
Middle School. He was also a Director, teacher
and mentor of the William Holland School of Lapidary Arts in Young
Harris, Ga. He also taught at John C. Campbell Folk School in
Brasstown, NC. He was a member of The American Legion Post No. 88 and a
Lifelong member of The Jacksonville Gem and
Mineral Society.
He
is predeceased by his loving wife of 67 years Jackie Casteel. Children
Paulette Casteel Burke (John), James Casteel (Elizabeth), Douglas
Casteel; Grandchildren Kimberly Casteel Guerra (Travis), James Casteel
(Connie); Great-grandchildren Blair, Chase, Madison, Noël, Hannah and
baby Casteel due in September; cousins, Kathy and John Hendershot.A
Graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 25,
2012 in Oaklawn Cemetery. The Family will receive friends at the
funeral home at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. HARDAGE-GIDDENS
OAKLAWN CHAPEL, 4801 San Jose Blvd is serving the family.
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RAY MICA MINE CLOSURES
2/25/2011
According to a notice I just received in the mail from the US Forest
Service, Pisgah National Forest, Appalachian Ranger District, a
specific area for rockhounding for the Ray Mica Mine has been
designated; it is north of the un-named creek that flows through the
base of the spoil piles. Rockhounding outside the designated area,
including along the creek, is not allowed. The USFS has also proposed
to close four existing shafts at the Ray and Little Ray Mines. These
mines are the Dolph Hensley or Bailey shaft, the Brownie shaft, the New
South shaft and one of the Little Ray Mine shafts. The locations of
these mines can be seen on the following maps taken from my field trip
reports:
You can see
the proposal by clicking on the following link: http://mcrocks.com/images-5/RayMinesClosure.pdf
As indicated on page 3, you can submit questions or concerns to
the USFS prior to March 12, 2011 for their consideration.
Again, as it stands right now, rockhounding (digging) is no longer
allowed along the creek, but there is a large area just to the north
where plenty of excellent minerals may be found with some effort (see
map on page 4 of the above proposal for location). Please adhere to the
new rules and hopefully we will be able to collect at the Ray for many
years to come.
Mike Streeter,
SFMS North Carolina State Director
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October
9, 1931-12/01/2010
 It
is with a very heavy heart
that I report that Olin Banks passed
away today. We at the Cobb County Gem & Mineral Society owe
Olin a
debt of gratitude for his many hours of volunteering at the workshop as
well as his constant smile and support of our club and workshop.
Ruth Rainey
CCGMS
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Olin will also be greatly missed by The
Georgia Mineral Society where he volunteered to exhibit and
demonstrate his faceting expertise at our many club shows,
presented many programs at our membership meetings, and did what
ever he could to promote our society to the general public.
He was also a GMS trustee for many years.
Jim Flora
GMS Webmaster
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Olin Banks had been the SFMS
Georgia State Director for many years during the 1990's and early
2000's!
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Jeanette Banks
(September
6, 1933 - June 16, 2009)
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Jeannette had been on the
board of directors of the Mayo Foundation since 2000. She and her
husband, Olin, were longtime Georgia state directors for the SFMS and
involved in the SFMS stamp program. Jeannette was also a longtime
member of many Georgia gem and mineral clubs and was especially
involved with the Georgia Mineral Society, the Cobb County Gem and
Mineral Society, and the Cotton Indian Mineral Society.
Sign the Guestbook at White Columns Funeral
Chapel.
Share your thoughts and memories about Jeanette
Banks in the guestbook.
Sign
the guestbook
Read the guestbook
5/27/2009
 2009
SFMS Bulletin Contest Chair
- It is with great sadness that I inform you that
Ed Johnson, our former president, died last night.
Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society of
Jacksonville, Florida
 David T.
Tuttle, 67, of Yulee, passed away,
August 22, 2008.
David had been undergoing chemotherapy at the
Baptist Medical Center in downtown Jacksonville for
his recently diagnosed aggressive form of leukemia.
David was a past president of the Southeast
Federation of Mineralogical Societies, Inc.(1994) and
a 30+year
lifetime member of the Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society
(Jacksonville, FL) . He was also a member of the North East
Florida Astronomical Society.
David was an accomplished author and writer. He began
writing in the 5th grade, but didn't get serious until retiring with 32
years military and civilian government service.
David Tuttle's books -
Fernandina's Lost Island-co-authored by David Tuttle /
Cara Curtin
Leopard of Fernandina by David Tuttle
Murder in Fernandina - collaborative work with lead
author David Tuttle
Pirates, Gamblers and Scalawags- book of short stories
by David Tuttle
| David
T. Tuttle Sr. |
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(The Florida Times-Union.) |
TUTTLE Mr. David T. Tuttle, Sr., age 67, of
Yulee, passed away on
Friday evening, August 22, 2008 at Baptist Medical Center-
Jacksonville. Born in Newton, New Jersey, he was a son of the late
Lauren and Elizabeth Thomas Tuttle. Mr. Tuttle and his family had lived
in north Jacksonville for many years before locating to Yulee in 1989.
Mr. Tuttle served 4 years in the U.S. Air Force as a Ground Radio
Operator and 24 years in the Florida Air National Guard as an aircraft
electronics technician. While serving in the U.S.A.F. he was part of
the 2nd Mobile Communications Squadron, an Emergency Recovery Team in
Africa assigned to NASA for project Mercury and several NATO and UN
African missions. After 28 years of combined service, he retired in
1994 as a Master Sergeant. In 1994 he began working at Publix in
Fernandina Beach, which he retired from in 2000 as a manager of the
Photolab. An avid rock and gem hunter and collector since 1975, he had
served as President of the Jacksonville Gem and Mineral Society and the
Southeast Federation of Mineralogical Society. As a Facetor and Mineral
Collector, along with his wife Barbara, they had co-directed Lapidary
workshops in Little Switzerland, NC. A licensed commercial pilot, Mr.
Tuttle collected any stamps containing a photo of a plane. Other
interests include Astronomy, which he enjoyed through his membership in
the North Florida Astronomical Society and the Saxophone, which he
played with the New Horizons Band, affiliated with the Amelia Arts
Academy. A published author, he was in the process of completing the
fourth and final book in a murder mystery series. Mr. Tuttle had been a
longtime member of the Northside Bible Church where for 13 years he had
served as Treasurer. Also for a 13 year tenure he had served as Troop
Leader for Boy Scout Troop No. 535 at St. Patrick's Catholic Church in
Jacksonville. He is preceded in death by: a son, Jon Tuttle, who passed
away in December of 2007, and three brothers, Lauren P. Tuttle, Jr.,
Richard B. Tuttle and John P. Tuttle, Sr. He leaves behind, his loving
wife of 48 years, Barbara Halter Tuttle, Yulee, one son, David T.
Tuttle, Jr., and his wife Deborah, Jacksonville, a daughter in law,
Linda Graham Tuttle, Jacksonville, one sister, Andrea Toohey,
Jacksonville, grandchildren, Thomas Henry Tuttle, Charlotte Marie
Tuttle, Joseph Edward Graham, Sean David Tuttle, Cameron Elizabeth
Tuttle and several nieces and nephews. Also, Harold Tuttle, uncle and
Gwen and Bob Erdlitz, aunt and uncle.
Funeral services will be at 2:30
pm on Wednesday, from the Burgess Chapel with Reverend Wayne Bailey,
officiating. Mr. Tuttle will be laid to rest beside his son, Jon, in
Bosque Bello Cemetery, Fernandina Beach with full military honors. His
family invites guests and friends to visit on Tuesday from 5:00 - 7:00
pm at the funeral home.
Please share his life story at
www.oxleyheard.com OXLEY - HEARD FUNERAL DIRECTORS
Please Sign the Guestbook @ Jacksonville.com
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In Memory of Mary Evelyn
Chambliss
October 10, 1948 - July 5, 2008
Mary’s involvement with the
Jacksonville Gem and Mineral
Society was “multifaceted”. She attended field trips and meetings,
worked the
fairs, outfitted the picnics, exhibited her collection of rocks and
minerals
and gifted many of her pearls and treasures. Her
official duties over the years included being
field trip co-chair
with Charlie Broome, angel program chair, JGMS treasurer, and JGMS
president. For the
past 8 years, Mary chaired the annual
club show committee while battling her cancer and was always present at
her
show “desk”. She
will be deeply missed
as a dedicated member, enthusiastic rockhound, and loyal friend.
Mickey Cecil
Jacksonville Gem and Mineral
Society
11/15/2007
TriState Lapidary
Club of Johnston County, North Carolina, lost a valued
member on November 9th. 2007. Ira A. Abernathy, Jr,
was not only the founder of the club, but the Membership Chairman, the
Federation Liaison, and the Editor of "The Prospector
Newsletter". Ike, as we knew him, was 90
years young. Living in Benson, North Carolina, he was
formerly from North Canton, Ohio. He was born in Newland,
North Carolina; and resided in the Canton area most of his life,
returning to North Carolina in 1995. Ike was the founder and
owner of the Custom Machine Shop in Canton, which he operated until his
retirement in 1980. He pass away un-expertly in Johnston
Memorial Hospital in Smithfield, North Carolina, preceded in death by
his wife, Marjorie. Survived by two daughters, Tammy Abernethy and
Holly Brewer and her husband Albert and two grandsons, Trey &
Aaron Brewer. Memorial service was held on Sunday 11th, at
the Elizabeth United Methodist Church in Smithfield. His body
was taken to Canton, Ohio, for burial at the Forest Hills Cemetery.
Not only was he a master with cabochons, but was also a master in wood
working. He enriched, empowered, and encouraged the lives of
all with whom he came in contact. The club members will feel
a lasting loss and he will greatly missed.
Respectfully Submitted, Clea
Gallian, Secretary of TriState Lapidary Club.
SFMS Field
Trip Committee:
HACKNEY
FARM
BLUE RIDGE,GA.
"Staurolite"
(The
state mineral
of Georgia)
This property has been SOLD
and is CLOSED
to ALL mineral collecting.
The new
owners have posted no trespassing signs with an additional, and I
quote, "No Rock Hunting" sign.
HACKNEY
FARM WAS
a world class site for Staurolite (Fairy
crosses) and
had been open
to collectors for over 70 years!
SFMS Field
Trip Committee:
Important
- Black
Mt., NC Kyanite Location Closed
Attention All
rockhounds
This Black
Mountain Kyanite site
listed on
page 26 of my book, "A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue
Ridge
Mountains" is now closed to all collecting. I have just been informed
by
a local property owner that "rockhounds" have been accessing his
property
to collect without permission. To make matters far worse, certain
individuals
had the gall to use a chainsaw to cut trails while others stole boards
from a nearby construction site to lay down over wet areas and build
small
foot bridges.
I can't
begin to express my disgust
for the
complete disregard of common courtesy demonstrated by these fools.
These
are the types of individuals who sully the reputation of all rockhounds
and cause sites to be forever closed. Before these unfortunate events,
the owner was more than willing to allow rockhounds to access his
property
to collect.
On page 18
and 19 of my book, I wrote
the following
that should be taken to heart by every rockhound:
"Common
courtesy and good manners are
as important
in the field as any equipment. Too many sites still bursting with
minerals
have been closed forever because of the boorish nature of just one
person.
A collector would do well to adhere to the following Code of Ethics put
forth by the American Federation of Mineral Societies:
1. I will
respect both private and
public property
and will do no collecting on privately owned land without the
owner’s permission.
2. I will
keep informed on all laws,
regulations
or rules governing collecting on public lands and will observe
them.
3. I will,
to the best of my ability
ascertain
the boundary lines of property on which I plan to collect.
4. I will
use no firearms or blasting
material
in collecting areas.
5. I will
cause no willful damage to
property
of any kind – fences, signs, buildings, etc.
6. I will
build fires in designated
or safe
places only and will be certain they are completely extinguished before
leaving the area.
7. I will
discard no burning material
– matches,
cigarettes, etc.
8. I will
fill all excavation holes
which may
be dangerous to livestock.
9. I will
not contaminate wells,
creeks, or
other water supply.
10. I will
cause no willful damage to
collecting
material and will take home only what I can reasonably use.
11. I will
support the rockhound
project H.E.L.P.
(Help Eliminate Litter Please) and will leave all collecting areas
devoid
of litter, regardless of how found.
12. I will
cooperate with field trip
leaders
and those in designated authority in all collecting areas.
13. I will
report to my club or
federation
officers, Bureau of Land Management, or other proper authorities, any
deposit
of petrified wood or other material on public lands which should be
protected
for the enjoyment of future generations for public educational and
scientific
purposes.
14. I will
appreciate and protect our
heritage
of natural resources.
15. I will
observe the “Golden
Rule,” will
use “Good Outdoor Manners” and will at all times conduct
myself in a manner
which will add to the public stature and public “Public
Image” of rockhounds
everywhere.
The author
can not stress enough the
importance
of obtaining permission to enter private property to rock collect. Too
many collecting sites have been closed forever by angry landowners that
became upset because negligent rock hounds chose to dig on their
properties
without permission. How would you react if you looked out your front
window
and saw someone digging a hole in your front lawn? YOU MUST OBTAIN
PERMISSION
TO ACCESS ANY SITE LOCATED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY. PLEASE GET PERMISSION
BEFORE
YOU ENTER AND DIG!"
Property
access and ownership can
change at
the mere stroke of a pen or whim of a landowner. Therefore, except for
a few sites, no ownership information is provided in this book.
However,
obtaining permission to enter a property should always be obtained
prior
to any collecting trip. You should be prepared to track down the owner
of a property by knocking on a few doors in the vicinity or by visiting
the County courthouse for records. Take time to visit with a property
owner
to gain his trust. Talk about the weather, his livestock, his family,
your
family or any other small talk that comes to mind. But, whatever you
do,
wait until it appears that the owner is losing interest before you ask
for permission to access his property to collect. If the owner is a
commercial
enterprise, he may require a brief safety training session and/or that
a waiver be signed before granting permission to enter. If it appears
that
an owner is reluctant to grant permission, it may! be prudent to offer
some money for the privilege to collect. But, be careful, offering
money
is construed by some to be an insult. A doctorate in psychology might
be
a real plus for some of the more delicate negotiations."
Please
strictly adhere to the code of
ethics
and obtain permission to collect. We have only ourselves to blame for
the
closing of yet another site.
Please help
me by spreading the word
about
the closing of the Black Mountain kyanite site.
Mike Streeter
SFMS North Carolina
State Director
"A Rockhounding Guide to North Carolina's Blue Ridge
Mountains" by Mike
Streeter
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