Fred Lee Driver

CINCO BAYOU - Fred Lee Driver, II, 67, of Cinco Bayou, Florida passed away Monday, April 28, 2025, in his home. He was the husband of Laura Anne Fravel Driver. Born in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on October 30, 1957, to parents, Fred Lee Driver and Mary Louise Eubanks Driver, Fred grew up in Mountlake Terrace, Washington for seventeen years before serving in the Navy for eighteen years and settling in Cinco Bayou, Florida.

Fred served in the United States Navy for eighteen years, joining out of Seattle, Washington at 17 years of age. Fred served his country in a variety of roles, including as an Aviation Boatswain’s Mate, a Firefighter, and a Gunner’s Mate. Fred’s various duty stations included NAS Sigonella, NSA Naples, Naval Base Coronado, Naval Base San Diego, and Naval Station Newport. Fred’s commendations included Good Conduct Medals, Overseas Service Ribbons, Sea Service Deployment Ribbons, the Armed Force Expeditionary Medal, the Navy “E” Ribbon, the Humanitarian Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. Fred’s notable deployments in the Navy consist of active involvement in the Gulf War and the 1980 Irpinia Earthquake. In the Navy, Fred had the opportunity to visit the world over, including calling upon ports in Diego Garcia, Singapore, Japan, Guam, Hong Kong, Macau, the Persian Gulf, Italy, Germany, California, Washington, and Rhode Island. Fred had the honor of crossing the equator twice in his years of service, participating in the treasured King Neptune’s Line-Crossing ceremony. Fred also had the privilege of serving on several types of vessels including up to aircraft carriers, but the vessel he called home was the Samuel Gompers-class destroyer tender USS Samuel Gompers. Fred retired from the Navy after eighteen years, taking an early-out offer at his duty station in Newport, Rhode Island where he met his wife, Laura.

Following the Navy, Fred had fruitful careers in various fields including as a maintenance man at apartment complexes, supervising the manufacturing of satellite systems for KVH Industries Incorporated, and custodial work at Niceville High School where he quickly became a student and faculty favorite. Fred took an early retirement due to spinal injuries he received in his past, and devoted his time to caring for his family and his home.

Fred’s favorite music included Classic Rock bands like the Rolling Stones, Black Sabbath, and Queen, as well as, New Wave outfits like the Talking Heads, Men at Work, and the former members of Genesis. He was an avid collector of a vast array of vinyl albums. Fred was a film buff, sharing his appreciation for Science Fiction, Action, and Documentary movies with his family.

Fred loved car culture, with his most prized possession being a blue Pontiac Firebird that quickly became his staple calling card among family and friends. Fred enjoyed spectating several sports, including American Football, Golf, Hockey, MMA, and Formula One racing. His favorite teams were the Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Fred passed his love of video games and new technologies on to his son, with his favorite game being Conflict: Desert Storm.

Fred was audacious in his love for different cuisines, noting his predilection for Southern, Italian, and Asian foods in particular. He often boasted of his experiences in Singapore trying various exotic animals on sticks for example!

In his youth, Fred was known as an adventurous prankster who played many jokes on his childhood family and as an easy-going party animal who was loved by many in his young adult years. As he transitioned into fatherhood, Fred became a stern protector and provider who instilled his family with wisdom and whimsy from his years traveling the world.

Fred was known by many to have always said that he had seen and done it all! Fred was proud of obtaining his GED after prematurely leaving High School, and was even prouder of his son’s Bachelor of Arts Degree, as he promoted a strong importance in educational achievements for his family. His favorite quote was, “Red Skies at night, Sailor’s Delight!”

Fred was an amazing father, husband, son, uncle, and brother with a tenacity for life that few have ever experienced before.

Fred leaves behind his wife, Laura Anne Fravel Driver, 57, and son, Nicholas Preston Driver, 25, both of Cinco Bayou, Florida; his mother, Mary Louise Eubanks Driver, 92, and his sister, Phyllis Sue Driver-Machado, 70, both of Monroe, Washington; three nephews, Justin, Jordan, and Joel Uecker, as well as two nieces, Jennifer Lenz and Amanda Hepler, located throughout Washington and Oregon; two sisters-in-law, Christie Perrone and Diana Martin; two brothers-in-law, Mario Perrone and Brian Martin, three nephews-in-law, Mario Perrone, Jr., Anthony Tingley, and Braydon Martin; and one niece-in-law, Julia Perrone, located throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. His extended family consists of countless cousins and friends located throughout the United States in places such as Arkansas, Maine, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, Georgia, and many more places in between.

He was preceded in death by his son, Sean Lee Driver; his father, Fred Lee Driver; and one sister, Pamela Diane Driver Lenz. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, an organization which benefits wounded service members much like Fred. Fred is to be cremated according to his wishes but his final resting place will be with his wife and has yet to be determined. No formal Funeral will be held according to his wishes, and any Celebration of Life proceedings will be announced by his family in the future.