VALRICO, Fla., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- An Oct. 26 funeral has been scheduled for Roman Catholic priest John Scully, who died during mass in the Tampa area, church officials said.
Monsignor Scully collapsed Friday while consecrating the bread and wine at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico.
St. Stephen's Father Bill Swengros told the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times that Scully "died with his boots on."
Father Len Plazewski called Scully "one of those legendary priests."
Scully spent 62 years in the priesthood. He started out in his native Boston and moved to Florida in the 1950s amid a shortage of clergy in the rapidly growing sunbelt state.
The Times said Scully was involved in the formation of a number of Catholic schools in the Tampa area. He was the first president of Tampa Catholic High and of the Bishop Barry School, which is now known as St. Petersburg Catholic High School.
Scully formally retired about 10 years ago but lived at St. Stephen and performed some duties such as mass and confession.
Scully will be buried in his family's plot in Boston.
