James A. Livesay, 83, died Dec. 12, 2009, at VNA Hospice House. He was born in Charleston, W.Va., and first moved to Vero Beach in 1961 then to Antioch, Calif., and most recently returned to Vero Beach. He was a race car driver and firefighter. He worked as the crash fire chief for NASA during the Mercury and Gemini projects. Later he worked in sales at many companies in Florida. He worked for and managed Hillcrest Memorial Gardens, Fort Pierce for many years. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army. He was a member of the Elks, Eagles and Vero Beach Yacht Club. He owned “Poor Betty’s,” an antique store in Vero Beach. Memorial contributions may be made to VNA Hospice, 1110 35th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960. Survivors include his daughters, Jan Livesay Chesnutt of Vero Beach and Georgee Lashill Watt of Queensland, Australia; son, David DeMarco George of Charleston, S.C.; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. At the request of the family, there will be no services. Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory, Vero Beach. A guest book may be signed at lowtherfuneralhome.com.
