Floyd P. McDermitt, age 81 of Carrollton, passed away on Tuesday, May 07, 2019 at Tanner Medical Center.  He was born on January 21, 1938 in Gatun, Panama, as an only child to Floyd R. and Ethel P. McDermitt.  After graduating from Cristobal High School, he joined the US Navy.  During his four years in US Navy, he sailed on a merchant Navy ship delivering supplies in the Mediterranean.  In 1963, he graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Industrial Engineering.  In 1966, Floyd married the love of his life, Sara Mobley.  They had five children, two boys and three girls.  Tragically in May 1985, the family experienced enormous pain with the loss of their second son, Tim at the age of 14.  

Floyd was a smart man of many talents.  His early career included teaching mechanical drawing, working for General Motors as a design engineer, IBM, Fluor Daniels Construction and Southwire.  In the 1970’s, Floyd started a backyard greenhouse, eventually expanding to a fully operational business, McDermitt & Sons Greenhouse.  In the 38 years of operation, they provided the community and beyond with germaniums and the famous McDermitt potting soil.  Floyd used the greenhouse as a catalyst to teach his children about work ethics and business knowledge.   

After Tim’s passing, Floyd felt strongly about ensuring his children saw as much of the country as possible, just as he had.  The family travels lead them to the great west where he later began contracting to manage US Forest Service Campgrounds. His fifteen years of contracting took them to Montana, South Dakota, Colorado and Michigan.  His children have many fond memories including sleeping in an old military tent, washing clothes with a wringer washing machine, learning to drive an old jeep, and kayaking on Lake Superior.

Floyd was a colorful charter that never meet a stranger and always had a story to tell.  He enjoyed learning about history, particularly the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  

He was an active member of the First Christian Church where he has been a member since 1969.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Sara Mobley McDermitt of Carrollton; son and daughter-in-law, Kenny and Kayla McDermitt of Carrollton; daughters and sons-in-law, Deborah and Ryan Lacey of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Teresa and Matt Cooke of Carrollton, and Jessica and Michael Warren of Roopville; eighteen grandchildren and one great grandchild.

Floyd was proceeded in death by his parents Floyd and Ethel McDermitt and son Timothy Scott McDermitt.

Funeral service will be conducted on Friday, May 10, 2019 at 3:00 PM from the First Christian Church with Min. Ken MacHarg officiating. Interment will follow in the Carroll Memory Gardens.  The family will receive friends on Thursday, May 9, 2019 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Flowers are welcome, but those who desire may make memorial contributions to the South Indian Christian Mission at P.O. Box 224, Carrollton, GA 30112. Messages of condolences can be sent to the family at www.martin-hightower.com .