Timmons-Mayhall - Person Sheet
Timmons-Mayhall - Person Sheet
NameSUMMERS, Graden Richard
Birth Date10 Jan 1955 Age: 67
Birth PlaceFulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi
OccupationHydrographic Surveyor
FatherSUMMERS, William Graden (1921-1993)
MotherHOWELL, Angie Lou (1925-2007)
Misc. Notes
Professional Career

Immediately after graduating from Mississippi State University in May of 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering, Richard Summers began his forty year career with Fugro.

In 1979 Richard was promoted to Party Chief and in the following years managed numerous rig moves, pipelays, derrick barge installations, and hazard surveys.

Through the next ten years Richard continued to build his expertise in the field and in 1990 began working with an in-house Unix based 3D navigation package. Because of this project, the company moved from a “Top Down” array calibration to a “Box In” method and procedure, laid the groundwork for all future construction projects in the 90’s.

In 1992 Richard participated in the installation of the Santa Ynez pipelines in the Santa Barbara Channel. Previous to this project, Fugro Lafayette’s LBL experience was mostly for towfish navigation and this project proved the company with the opportunity to learn LBL construction methods.

Then in 1993 Rick was Survey Lead on the ROV vessel during the Augur P/L installation. During this period Richard developed the company procedure for USBL calibration. The basics of this procedure are still in use today.

In the following years Rich was Acoustic Survey Lead on many GOM world record setting projects. In 1998 Richard worked with Survey Lead Jim Waters on a Subsea 7 project project in the Cayman Trench. During the project Richard and Jim provided USBL positioning on a record 5,022 meter (16, 465 feet) dive. At that time it was the deepest dive recorded for a working class ROV. After the project, the Lead Engineer exclaimed to the pair “I can’t tell you how good it makes me feel to be able to look at the survey screen and know that it is exactly where the ROV is. Before Fugro joined this project, we could not tell which side of the boat the ROV was on, much less if it was even in the water.”

In the early 2000’s Richard added ROV mounted SSS data acquisition and processing to his skill set, along with vessel mounted MBES for ultra-deep water. Recently he added AUV data acquisition and processing.

Throughout his forty years career, Richard’s innovations and contributions have had a lasting effect and continue to be in use today.
Spouses
Birth Date16 Feb 1955
Birth PlaceRed Bay, Franklin County, Alabama
Death Date26 May 2020 Age: 65
Death PlaceTupelo, Lee County, Mississippi
Burial PlaceHayfield, Timmons Farm. Itawamba County, Mississippi
OccupationTeacher
FatherTIMMONS, Alvie Hubert (1916-1989)
MotherMAYHALL, Leatrice Wyanette (1926-1997)
Misc. Notes
Mary Melanie Timmons, 65, passed away Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at North Mississippi Medical Center from complications following open heart surgery.

She was born February 16, 1955 in Red Bay, Alabama to the late Hubert and Leatrice Timmons. She grew up on the Timmons farm surrounded by a menagerie of animals from the mundane horses and cows to the more unusual pet skunk that lived behind the toilet. She also loved her pet goat Iggy and sheep Obidi.

Her great love of horses was passed on to her from her father, Hubert, who as child she would follow everywhere. She grew into an accomplished equestrian winning competition all over the southeast with her best friend Patti Coggins.

She later graduated Summa Cum Laude in 1977 from University of North Alabama with a double major in English and Spanish. Mary received the Turris Fidelis Award upon graduation with a bachelor’s degree at the University of North Alabama.

Note: the Turris Fidelis key may be awarded to not more than two graduating seniors at spring commencement. The award is made on the basis of outstanding service to the University and scholastic achievement. This honor is the highest that can be conferred upon a graduating senior, and recipients are selected by a joint committee of faculty and students.

Early in her adult life, one of her favorite jobs was working as a social worker in Greenville, MS where she helped families and children in need. Then, following in the footsteps of grandmother, Delaphare Mayhall, and mother, Leatrice, she spent several years in education. She spent 10 years as the career counselor at Itawamba Agricultural High School where she touched many lives. She was known for her colorful storytelling and welcoming nature. She loved getting to know the students and welcomed all to her room as a respite from the grind of daily school life.

After a 30-year gap, she collided again with Rick Summers, who from that point on became her partner in life and marriage. She then retired to her beloved farm continuing to care for old horses, chickens, and dogs. She will always be remembered for red lipstick, her eccentric style, and bright personality.

She is survived by her husband, Rick Summers, daughter, Meg Hester, son-in-law, Jonathan Hester, son, Ralph Dickey, daughter, Raven Menard, son-in-law, Shawn Menard, and daughter Kendra Summers. She had 3 grandchildren, Will Carstens, Ivan Hester, and Myles Gary. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hubert and Leatrice Timmons and brother, William Timmons.
Marr Date21 Dec 2018
Marr PlaceFulton, Itawamba County, Mississippi
Last Modified 20 Oct 2020Created 15 Apr 2022 by Robert Avent