Hugh S. Kearney II (Spud)
64, a lifelong resident of Clearwater, passed away Jan. 1, 2009 at Morton Plant Hospital. He was the son of the late Hugh and Agnes Kearney. He graduated with the first senior class of Dunedin High School in 1962. After high school, Spud joined the United States Marine Corps, where he served in Okinawa and Cherry Point, NC as an electrician. After being honorably discharged in 1966, he briefly worked as an installer of air conditioning systems before finding his calling as a parts counterman and manager, earning the sobriquet “Captain NAPA” due to his encyclopedic knowledge of automobile parts. Spud is survived by two children (Steve and Amy) and one grandson (Owen). A memorial service is planned for 12:45pm on Tuesday, Jan 6, 2009, at Bay Pines National Cemetery in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Arrangements entrusted to Veterans Funeral Care, 15381 Roosevelt Blvd., Clearwater, Florida 33760.
Hughie, Rest in peace my Brother. You were the Best Parts Man I have ever worked with. We sure had fun! I will miss you Captain NAPA and I know I will see you again in that Big Parts House in the Sky. I Love You Bro.
Your Friend and Brother,
ButchSquidlips
Uncle Hughie,
You are sure going to be missed. You and Jerry Burr were my best friends growing up in Clearwater even though I was a kid. I always looked forward to you coming over to visit my Dad (George Aubrey McMullen). Now you Jerry, and my Dad can drink a beer together once again! I love you man. Have a cold one ready when it is my turn to come! Sincerly,
David L. McMullen
Spud, My you rest in peace.I remember spending Saturday mornings around you and your mom, Almost like yesterday. Yet I know it wasn’t. May you be at peace and once again be with faimly.Talking old times. You are already missed.
Love Tom
Dear Amy and Steven, I am so sorry to hear about your dad..I have known your dad since junior high school and we graduated from dhs together. He was a good friend to my sons David and LEE McMullen and to their awesome dad,George.My prayers are with you and you have my heartfelt sympathy;your dad loved you guys so much.
Dear Steve, Amy, Mel and Owen,
My thoughts and prayers are with you as you go through this sad time. I know you have lots of good memories of your dad, as do I, during my trips down to Florida to stay with you guys on Clark Street. These good memories are the part of your dad that you will have forever. I know he loved you dearly.
Steve and Amy, I want you to both know how sorry I am for the loss of your Dad. You are both in my thoughts and prayers. I love you both.
Love,
Helga
Oh my gosh. Heaven is really going to be in for a surprise with George, Jerry, and Spud. Fond memories of “Slim”, George, Herb DiSalvo, and of cours Mike Means wmy favorite cousin, Spud. Amy, Steve, Spud was a really neat guy to have grown up with and a girl could never have had a better cousin to lean on. He did the best he could with the path he took and I loved him dearly.
His mom and my granny were sisters. The last time I saw Spud was at granny’s funeral almost 2 years ago
keep the good memories alive of him and love him for what he was: your dad.
Flo
Please extend my deepest sympathy to Hugh’s family. He will truly be missed by all he came in contact with. When we worked together at PVTI, he was another walking Encyclopedia Brittanica when it came to auto parts numbers and applications. When Jack Ruga joined up with him there, it was like watching a daily dose of “The Odd Couple”. He was so very special to the students and staff at PVTI. When they closed his Auto Parts Program, he continued to make his customers and friends feel special at both the NAPA stores and the Maintenance Garage for the City of Clearwater. I’ll never get over us going up to Moon Lake Road one Saturday for him to show me the finer points of black powder shooting right along with the customary 6-pack of group tightener (Busch Beer). Godspeed my good friend; there will never be another friend as special as Hugh Kearney.
I was saddened by the news of Spud’s passing. We grew up and graduated together. I haven’t seen him in many years but always tried to keep in touch whenever I was in Clearwater but it’s been years now since we’ve spoken. He will be missed. My sympathy to the family. Love, Diane
Amy, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers…..Kelly Hopkins and many others also offer their condolences and prayers!!! Please remember, we are all there and will be willing and happy to do anything you all need!!!! Becky Miller Snider
Steve and Amy, our thoughts and prayers are with you. Keep the good memories of your Dad with you always. So sorry for your loss. Love, Gus, Julie and Skyler