Family of boater, group at odds over memorial

Organizers of Rescue Three, a local private search group for the missing, have been planning a memorial service for Gary Lisk, 61, whose body was recovered Nov. 3 after his boat, called "What's Left," washed ashore at Cape Canaveral.

The plans were to hold a memorial Friday afternoon at Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church in Naples. An announcement was briefly posted on the group's Web site earlier this week but pulled after a rift with family members began.

The other two boaters, Neil Eddleman, 47, and his son, Neil Alan Eddleman, 13, have not been found. The threesome left Naples on an overnight fishing trip Oct. 17 and did not return the next day as scheduled.

The memorial plans became unsettled Wednesday when a letter from a Naples attorney representing the Lisk family was faxed to Rescue Three, saying the family had not authorized the memorial and would not permit it to occur.

"While the Lisk family appreciates Rescue Three's assistance, they (the family) have the unconditional right to plan and schedule the memorial service on their own terms," according to the letter from attorney Tony Lawhon.

The letter demanded Rescue Three "immediately cease and desist coordinating any memorial" for Lisk.

In the meantime, the Lisk family has scheduled a memorial for Saturday at 3 p.m. at Fuller Funeral Home, said family spokesman Wes DeMott.

The search group nevertheless is still considering holding some event of its own, said Nanette Meaux Hinnant, one of the search group organizers.

"We're still thinking of holding some sort of celebration," she said late Monday, but added that time is running short for working with businesses for flower arrangements and for giving people notice of the event.

"We have tons of people wanting to know how to plan their weekend," she said.

She had contacted her attorney, who advised her that the Lisk family had "no legal basis" to say the search group could not hold its own memorial, she said.

What prompted the Lisk attorney's letter was a communication mishap early this week between one of Lisk's daughters, Ginger Cullison, of Tampa, and the search group regarding when and where to hold a service. Previously, the search group had agreed to pay the cremation and memorial expenses.

The fellowship hall at Trinity-by-the-Cove became available at no charge, said Jerry Eddleman, twin brother of the elder missing Eddleman and part of the private search group. Cullison told him she preferred Saturday but if the church was not available that day, Friday would be acceptable, he said.

"It seemed she was OK with it," he said.

Cullison told him she would contact other family members and get back to him that evening, which was Monday, he said. When she didn't, the search group took that to mean a Friday memorial was acceptable. An announcement was posted on the group's Web site, rescuethree.org.

Cullison was angered when she saw the Web site announcement the next day and called the search group, which pulled the announcement. Web site visitors were told to check back later for information about an event to honor Lisk.

Lawhon, the Lisk family attorney, said Wednesday that Cullison was offended by the Web site announcement when she had indicated a service on Friday may be a problem for her and other family members. Cullison felt like she had no control over how the memorial was being arranged, he said.

"If (search group members) are going to honor the gentleman's memory, they can do that, but don't call it a memorial," he said. "That implies it is the only service. The Web site did not say this (event) is separate and apart from any service being conducted by the heirs or his family."

The search group is disappointed the attorney decided to send a letter rather than calling to resolve the problem, Meaux Hinnant said.

"He could have picked up the phone and called us," she said.