Clyde Stewart Fountaine, a proud veteran of the United States Navy and a master of the mechanical "fix," passed away on January 19, 2026, at the age of 70 in Gainesville, Florida. Born on January 7, 1956, in Greencastle, Indiana, to Donald and Eula "Butch" Fountaine, Clyde grew up with a sense of duty that led him to enlist in the U.S. Navy. He served as a Petty Officer Third Class and Aircraft Director - a "Yellow Shirt" - on the flight deck of the USS Saratoga (CV-60). The precision and focus he used to guide aircraft through the "controlled chaos" of a carrier deck followed him home; he was a man who believed that if you built something, you built it to last. A true craftsman at heart, Clyde was a master of the "fix." He was equally at home under the hood of a car as he was wiring a house or framing a new porch. He possessed the rare ability to see a finished structure where others saw a pile of lumber, and a running engine where others saw a lost cause. His neighbors and friends knew that if something was broken, Clyde was the person to go to for a steady hand and a job done right. Clyde's journey took him to various cities across the U.S., eventually leading him to make his home in MacClenny, Florida, for over 25 years. He also spent many recent years in Logansport, Indiana, before returning to his family in Florida. While he was happiest when his hands were busy tinkering, his journey was not without its shadows. In his later years, he navigated personal storms that tested his spirit and his health. Though these years were marked by hardship and complex struggles, his family chooses to remember the master of his craft and the joy he found in his projects. Clyde is survived by his loving children, Jason E. Fountaine and Melissa K. Fountaine; grandchildren, Jason T. Fountaine and Michael E. Snow; brother, Dennis Haskew; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Robert Martin, Kenneth Holley, Alvin "J.R." Faircloth-Fountaine, Johnny Fountaine, and Rosemary Fountaine.

"To the man who signaled us through life's turbulence and kept our engines running: Bravo Zulu, Dad. We have the watch."

In keeping with his wishes and the way he lived his life, we have decided not to hold a formal service at this time. He was never one for formality, so we encourage you to celebrate him in your own way. Please take a moment to have a drink in his honor and remember the joy and laughter he brought to our lives. Cremation arrangements entrusted to the dedicated care of BLACKBURN-CURRY FUNERAL AND CREMATION, 380 N. Lowder Street, Macclenny, Florida 32063. (904) 259-2806.