Harold Ruben Breland
"Fred"
1970 - 2026

Harold (Fred) Ruben Breland, 55, of Panacea, FL. passed away unexpectedly, on January 16, 2026, following a routine surgical procedure designed to help with his congestive heart failure.

Harold was born Sept 6,1970 in New Orleans, LA. He graduated from North Hancock County High School, in Mississippi, in 1988. Fred was a hard worker. After high school he moved to Alaska where he trained and worked as a carpenter while dreaming of being a prospector with snowmobiling in the winter.

During the financial downturn of 2008, carpentry jobs dried up in Alaska. He moved to Live Oak, Florida and was employed as a heavy equipment operator. He then started working in the river towboat industry. He was the boat deck mate on boats in the upper Mississippi, Ohio, the Illinois and Arkansas rivers transporting various agriculture and petroleum products on the inland river system. In 2015, he moved to Panacea, a place he loved, as fishing was a thing he loved to do as often as he could. He was open and talkative and made many friends in the small community. He loved to meet with this community of authentic and friendly people at the Levy Bay turnaround.

"Fred" lived his life by creating a family of friends.  Fred's friends were very special to him; he was fiercely loyal and enjoyed helping the people he counted as friends. He had friends from Alaska, friends from the boats, and a wealth of friends in Panacea. He was a great giver, mostly of his time and assistance, but he is perhaps best known for giving great hugs. In short, Harold lived his life within a four "F" philosophy, friends, family, fishing and fun.

His last few years were difficult as his health began to fail but he chose to look at things as positively as possible. He was, in fact, unusually optimistic throughout his life. Setbacks that would have defeated others were just situations you had to live through. He was always looking forward to a better, more promising circumstance.

Harold is survived by three brothers: David, Mitch and Richard Breland and two sisters, Gayle Ibarra and Patty Hicks; P. J. Rager, Hannah and Robert Sikorski, the children of a high school friend killed in Afghanistan, were loved like children of his own. Numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins will miss his readiness to spend time with them and make them feel special. He is preceded in death by one brother, James, who passed when Harold was a toddler; a sister, Deborah Williams; and his parents, J.C. and Rubena Breland.

The viewing and memorial for Harold "Fred" will be at Grace Funeral and Cremation Services (2758 Crawfordville Hwy, Crawfordville, FL) from 12:00 to 3:00 pm on Sunday, January 25, 2026. It will be followed by a gathering for friends and family at 47 Alapaha Ave. Panacea. FINALLY: A seaside sendoff is scheduled for Wednesday evening (January 28th) at the Levy Bay Boat Ramp Turn around, to commit Fred's ashes to the waters he loved.