Daily Commercial Obituary:
James "Jimmy" Conrad Singer, age 29, passed away in his residence early Saturday morning, July 16, 2011. Jimmy was a partner with his parents in their family business, Floors of Distinction in Leesburg, Florida. He was born in Hagerstown, MD, and moved to the Leesburg area in 1991 at the age of nine. He was a member of the 2000 Leesburg High School Graduating Class and played the trumpet in the Yellow Jacket Marching Band. He was a passionate offshore fisherman who loved to cook for his family and friends and was well known for his regular "Crab Parties". He was also an avid sports fan who enjoyed all things Gator! He enjoyed watching NASCAR and cheering on Tony Stewart. He loved to play the guitar, dance, and most of all enjoyed spending time with his wife and children. He also served as a volunteer as a coach for youth tee ball, soccer, and Smart Start programs. He will be always remembered as an incredible husband, father, son, brother, son-in-law, and friend to all he came into contact with. He is survived by his loving wife of 8 years, Kelly; his adoring children: James "J.R." Roland Singer, 5, and Ashlee Jo Singer, 3; his parents, Steve and Patti Singer of Wildwood; his paternal grandmother, Florence Singer of Boynton Beach; his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Ruth Singer of Orlando, and his in-laws: Lee and Nancy Sutherland and Holly Efethan and Annaleigh Smith. A celebration of his life will be held 6:00 PM, Thursday, July 21, 2011 at the Morrison United Methodist Church in downtown Leesburg. Page-Theus Funeral Home and Cremation Services - Leesburg, Florida has been entrusted with all arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, a savings account has been set up for Jimmy's children, J.R. and Ashlee Jo Singer, at the Regions Bank (Mall Branch) 10670 U.S. Hwy. 441, Leesburg, FL 34788
Story in Orlando Sentinel:
James "Jimmy" Singer was a hard-working family man who looked forward to the day he would take over the family flooring business.
The 29-year-old Leesburg resident relished his responsibilities as a father and could envision his children as grownups visiting him with little ones of their own.
"He poured everything he had into his parents' business and the kids," his wife, Kelly Singer, said Wednesday. "He'd work sometimes on his hands and knees until 2 or 3 in the morning and he'd still get up at 6 in the morning and take the kids to school."
Singer died unexpectedly on Saturday. He woke around 4:30 a.m. breathing heavily and collapsed. His wife called 911 and frantically performed cardiopulmonary resuscitation on her husband until medical help arrived. Family members were awaiting a medical examiner's report with the cause of death. Singer's death was all the harder to take because he was "a picture of health," his father-in-law Lee Sutherland said.
Born in Hagerstown, Md., he moved with his family to the Leesburg area when he was 9. He graduated from Leesburg High School in 2000 and starting working at his parents' business, Floors of Distinction in Leesburg. He put down hardwood and tile floors and installed carpeting. For 2 1/2 years after graduation, he also worked as a kitchen manager at Ramshackle Cafe in Leesburg.
He married his high-school sweetheart in 2003 — they celebrated their eighth anniversary four days before he died. Friends said his life revolved around his wife and their 5-year-old son James Roland "J.R." and 3-year-old daughter Ashlee Jo.
He would look after the children in the morning while his wife got ready to go to her job as a registered cardiac sonographer at the Institute of Cardiovascular Excellence in the Villages. He'd make breakfast and drive them to preschool at Morrison United Methodist Church in Leesburg. He got a kick out of serving as a parent coach for their youth soccer, T-ball, karate and basketball pursuits.
Singer "did a fantastic job" raising his children, said Scott Combs, 34, of Leesburg. He said his friend taught his kids to be polite and were respectful at restaurants.
He took his responsibilities seriously, but he also liked to have fun. Combs said Singer was "always a happy-go-lucky guy." Singer enjoyed driving his truck through the Ocala National Forest, going fishing, holding crab boils and cheering on his beloved Florida Gators.
His mother, Patti Singer, 58, of Wildwood said her son was "full of enthusiasm" since childhood. The last time she spoke with him was hours before his death.
"I had the golden opportunity to tell him I was proud of him," she said. "Those were the last words I said to him."
Sutherland, 53, of Leesburg, said he respected his son-in-law's work ethic and morals. Singer worked for everything he had, provided for his family and saved for the future.
"That makes the hurt a lot worse," he said, "because they were all about the future."
Singer's wife is left to try to answer their children's questions about their dad.
"He had big dreams," said Kelly Singer, 29. "He was just taken way too soon."
Singer is also survived by his brother Tom Singer of Orlando, his father Steve Singer of Wildwood and his grandmother Florence Singer of Boynton Beach.
