Jerry Davies Millett, 80, of Port St. Lucie, Fla., and West Tisbury, died on April 5 in Port St. Lucie from a heart attack. He was 80.

At the time of his death, his youngest son, J. Davies Millett was living with him in Florida.

He was born in Newton to Stella Mayhew Davies Millett and James Millett. As a young boy, he spent his time in Needham and the family property of Glimmerglass off Middle Road in West Tisbury. As a young man, he enjoyed fishing, gardening and raising prize poultry on the Island. During his summers at Glimmerglass, Jerry worked for Louis Greene at Hillside Farm, the Fishers at Flat Point Farm, and the Fergusons at Arrowhead Farm, Indian Hill and Everett Poole of Menemsha.

His love of farming carried over into his adult life as he proudly produced the earliest tomatoes in Framingham. He played softball every Sunday in the Toomey field in Chilmark, and enjoyed a wide circle of friends. He loved fishing, beach parties, playing cards and the usual summer activities on the Vineyard. His college and summer friends included Dan Cabot, now of West Tisbury, a frequent visitor at Glimmerglass where Dan met, fell in love with and married Jerry’s cousin, Nancy Pardy. Jerry was best man at their wedding.

Following high school graduation, he attended Northeastern University where he majored in industrial engineering. After graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers. While he was planning to complete his officer training and continue in the reserves, he was called to active duty in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis. During his 7-year military career, he was stationed in Fort Benning, Ga., Fort Stewart, Ga., Orleans, France and Vietnam. While he enjoyed his military career, he decided to leave the service and raise his three boys following a year long tour in Vietnam. For his Vietnam service, he was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service during combat operations. He was honorably discharged as captain and started his civilian career as IT program manager for the Honeywell Corporation. Using the GI Bill, he attended Babson College and received a master’s in business administration. He retired from Honeywell and enjoyed over 35 years of retirement on the Vineyard and in Florida. He married Elsie Johnstone Kingsbury of Tisbury in 1962; they had three boys. The marriage ended in divorce in 1981. Jerry remarried Linda Millett in 1983. She preceded him in death three years ago.

Jerry was everyone’s best friend, a man of high intelligence and leadership skills who made friends easily. Throughout his life he was lucky. If a door prize was given at an event, Jerry won it. He will be missed.

Survivors include his sons, U.S. Army Col. (retired) Samuel Kingsbury Millett of Missoula, Mont.;, Craig James Millett of Marblehead, and J. Davies Millett 2nd of Tisbury; a sister, Susan Millett Boass; seven grandchildren; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A celebration of life is planned for late summer at Glimmerglass; details will be announced.

Donations can be made to the West Tisbury Free Library Foundation.