Obituary of Francis Morgan Scarritt Jr.

We rejoice that Francis “Frank” Morgan Scarritt Jr. is now in heaven.

Frank passed away in Jacksonville, Florida on February 4, 2024, with his devoted daughter, Lynn Scarritt Polley-Hoffman by his side. He had 94 wonderful years here with us.

Frank was born on January 6, 1930, in Pensacola, Florida. The family moved to St. Petersburg, Florida in 1946 when his father, Francis Morgan Scarritt Sr., opened a LincolnMercury dealership. His father joined the Ford Organization in 1928 and was the youngest dealer in the country. Frank attended the Bolles School in Jacksonville in 1946. Coincidently, this is where his grandchildren, Courtland and Shayne Polley, graduated from high school. Frank transferred to Plant High School in 1946, graduated from St Pete High School, and earned his psychology degree from Tulane University, New Orleans, LA.. There he met the love of his life, Dahlgren Miller Scarritt. Frank attended a year of medical school before he decided to enlist in the Navy. He served in Japan during the Korean War from 1952 to 1956 as a Lieutenant JG.

Returning home to St. Petersburg, he stepped into the car business with his dad. Frank was responsible for moving the dealership from downtown St Pete to 34th street in 1961, and then later to Seminole/Clearwater FL. He had Lincoln-Mercury, Rolls Royce, and Detomaso Pantera franchises, and he ran the dealership until he retired at age 85.

Frank was a long-time member of the St. Pete Yacht Club and served as Commodore from 1987 to 1988, during which time he spearheaded the new construction of the current clubhouse. Frank also supported several community organizations and charities. He enjoyed coaching youth sports for several years.

Frank had a love for all people, was grounded in Christ, and had his special flair for humor. There were countless times throughout his life, even on the day he passed, that he would say “That reminds me of a story”. Humor and a tremendous smile were the tools he used to unite everyone as well as a mechanism to overcome all hardships. Frank also had the special gift of remembering everyone’s name and genuinely getting to know them. These are among the gifts Frank gave to the countless lives he touched.

Frank enjoyed windsurfing, even in hurricane weather. He started a windsurfing club in St. Pete and was well known throughout Florida among windsurfers. Frank also enjoyed cooking, landscaping, playing the piano, “driving”, and traveling. Perhaps his real passion was snow skiing, which he took up at age 50. He skied for 35 years, including two heliskiing tours in Canada and …his last day of skiing was on his 85th birthday.

Frank never met a stranger. He built a wide circle of friends in St. Petersburg during his 70+ years living there. Of all the friends, none were closer or had a longer relationship than Toby and Carole Marie Krayer. They were his “brother and sister”. The Krayer family remains our family too.

Frank leaves behind his three children, Lea Scarritt, Morgan Scarritt, and Lynn PolleyHoffman; two grandchildren, Courtland Polley MD married to Stephanie, Shayne Polley MD married to John Kirsch, and one great grandson, William Francis Polley. Frank’s life was also enriched with his new family, Nick Hoffman married to Monna Lea, Alex Barrett married to Mike, and Michael Hoffman engaged to Ayana, a great granddaughter, Ryland Barrett, and twin great grandsons, Tyler, and Bryant Hoffman.

Frank lived with Lynn and her husband, Jerome Hoffman in Ponte Vedra Beach, FL for the past five and a half years. Battling heart disease since he was 85, Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic were God’s instruments that gave him and us the gift of nine extra years of wonderful memories and love.

He additionally leaves behind: Dahlgren’s older sister Carol Baker, 95, Frank’s nephews, Reese Baker married to Chris, Robin Baker M.D. married to Susan Baker MD., and Bert Baker, married to Felicia. Frank will miss all their children: Austin married to Lauren, Dahlgren engaged to Sumant, Catherine, Marjorie, Caroline, Lizzie, Bryce, and Kylie. On Frank’s mother, Rose Ephler McLellan’s side, he leaves behind his dear cousins Cindy Anderson and Sally Gronda, and their children, Charissa, Noah, Kirby, and Todd. Frank also leaves behind his sister’s grandchildren, Nevin, Scott, Erin, and Kenny.

His celebration of life will be held on Saturday, April 27th at 1 p.m., at The First United Methodist Church, St. Petersburg, FL. Burial ceremony will follow at Memorial Park Cemetery.

To view the service live at 1pm on Saturday, April 27, 2024, CLCIK HERE

Instead of flowers, the family suggests that those who choose can make a donation to these hospitals in Frank Scarritt’s honor:

Baptist Medical Center, 88 Prudential Drive, Jacksonville, Fl 32207.  To Donate, CLICK HERE 

               OR

Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road South, Jacksonville, FL 32224. To Donate, CLICK HERE