04/04/2025
James Andrew Petty Jr. was born on November 3, 1954 in China Lake, CA to James Andrew Petty and Alice Ellen (Sampson) Petty. He passed away on March 30, 2025 in Lake City, Florida. He is survived by his daughters Mary Alice Petty and Susan Jean Petty. He is preceded in death by both his mother Alice and father Jim.
He grew up a Navy brat, but the family settled down in Florida’s Space Coast in his teen years, and he thrived in the easygoing beach vibe of it all, a cool surfer dude who could always make his friends laugh. Always creative and talented with his hands, he made his own surfboards for himself and his friends which were aptly coined the “Petty Jetty Smashers.” He graduated from Satellite High in 1973.
He spent 4 years in what he always called “Jimmy Carter’s Navy” where he was a firefighter, shipfitter, and welder, and where he made lifelong friendships and smoked a lot of re**er (in his own words). On a “Report of Enlisted Performance Evaluation” from August 1977, it reports that after being assigned to the scullery in the enlisted dining facility, Jim was selected “Mess Man of the Month” for getting along well with his superiors and peers alike.
Jim had a natural talent for making, eating, and sharing good food. Growing up the eldest son of Alice, the best southern home cook there possibly ever was, it was only natural that he gravitated toward a culinary career after his honorable discharge from the Navy. He apprenticed under local Chef Mickey Miyamoto in Melbourne, FL, who helped hone and direct his raw natural talent, and foster and nurture his love of cooking and ambitions to be a chef.
It was here he met his (ex) wife of 22 years, Nancy, with whom he raised his two daughters, Mary and Susie. The love story of Jim and Nancy was one of beauty and tragedy, listen to Eric Clapton’s album “Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs” if you want the gist of the sad and beautiful trajectory of that relationship, but just know that at the end they both separately found peace, and loved their daughters very much.
After his eldest daughter Mary was born in Rockledge Florida in 1987, and after training with Chef Mickey Miyamoto inspired his passion to become a Chef, Jim traveled with his young family to Poughkeepsie, NY to train at the esteemed Culinary Institute of America. His youngest daughter Susan was born there, and he graduated from the Culinary Institute in 1989. Though he was a dedicated student and graduated with honors, his friendly demeanor and party vibe earned him the nickname “Cool Breeze” from his buddies at the CIA, who even embroidered it for him on his chef coat.
Jim worked in many restaurants up and down the east coast, but his daughters have fondest memories of the rockin Elvis themed barbecue joint Old Glory All American Barbecue in Georgetown in Washington DC. World famous barbecue by day and a blues club by night, Jim’s spirited zest for life and culinary prowess earned him accolades and many satisfied diners, and a really cool article in Southern Living Magazine to boot.
Jim moved back down to Florida in the late 90s to follow the natural trajectory of the dreaded but inevitable restaurant industry to real estate pipeline, where he was a good realtor in a sh*tty economy. Unfortunately, 2008 got the best of him, but that didn’t stop him from pivoting and graduating with honors from Wyotech, a motorcycle tech school, and from pursuing an online degree in what he referred to as “Online TV Preacher School.” Jim loved the Lord and was a dedicated and studious reader of the bible and really exemplified the best qualities of kindness, compassion, and love that he learned from the teachings of Jesus Christ.
Jim was charming, funny, and so full of life, even in his later years as his health declined. He loved to listen to music, and he loved to share his passion for music with anyone who would sit and listen to a song with him. He loved to make and share food with his loved ones, for him it was a form of communion, a way to connect with people on a soul level. He could light up a room with his laughter, he loved hard and was fiercely proud of his daughters. He was a lover of animals, cats and dogs were naturally drawn to him because they could sense the kindness and kinship he felt toward them. His beloved deceased dogs (Levon aka Totally Gnarly to the Max for Sure, Beardog, PJ, La Femme Nikita aka Nikki the Slasher, and Sampson the Bone Crusher aka Sammy) and cats (Captain Hornblower and Muad D’ib) are surely delighted to see him in heaven.
Jim was the best father there ever was. He believed his daughters could do anything they set their minds to and always encouraged their aspirations. They miss him so much.
Per Jim’s wishes, there is not going to be a formal service, but Jim’s daughters are going to take a trip to the beach where he and they grew up and honor their father there by going to some of his favorite places and thinking of all the good times, and in the meantime, anyone who would like to honor his memory, please make and eat some good food with your loved ones, listen to some good rock and roll and blues, and (if you partake) light up a big fat doobie.
