David T. Horner
David Thomas "Tommy" Horner, 39, of North Port, Fla., died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004, in Port Charlotte, Fla.
He was born
Oct. 20, 1965, in Arcadia, Fla., and raised in Port Charlotte where lived his whole life.
Tommy graduated from Charlotte High School in 1983. He then entered law enforcement and was a deputy with the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office since 1989.
He took pride in his work with the Sheriff's Office and loved helping the people of the community. He received many commendations for his service to the public.
Mr. Horner is survived by his wife of 17 and a half years, Suzanne (Roach) Horner; his son, Joshua Kevin, 11 years old; daughter, Caitlin Marie Horner, 8 years old; his mother, Janice Horner of Monticello, Fla., brother, Randall Horner of North Port; and sister, Robin Bergstrom of Big Cabin, Okla. He was preceded in death by his father, Julion Horner; brother, Kevin Horner; and sister, Pamela Horner.
Viewing hours will be from 10 a.m. until the service at noon Friday, Dec. 31, 2004, at Lighthouse Baptist Church at 14251 Chancellor Blvd., North Port. The Rev. Phil Sheffield, pastor, will officiate at the funeral service for family, friends and co-workers. A Burial service will be at Royal Palm Memorial Gardens with the Sheriff's Office Color Guard.
Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
Margaret M. Knappe
Margaret Mary "Peg" Knappe, 77, of Rotonda West, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004, in Pleasanton, Calif.
She was born
April 26, 1927, in Brooklyn, N.Y., to Francis and Gertrude (Glencorss) Gallagher.
She was a resident of Rotonda West for 11 years, coming from River Vale, N.J. Peg was a loving, devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She left a lasting impression on everyone she met. She always had a willing ear and a soothing word, and was quick to find the "good" in all things. She was a licensed practical nurse for 10 years prior to her retirement. Peg was a communicant and a choir member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Roger E. Knappe of Rotonda West; five sons, Roger E. (Marla) Knappe of Flemington, N.J., David G. Knappe of New York, N.Y., Mark A. (Laura) Knappe of Chesterfield, Va., Bruce F. (Lisa) Knappe of Roanoke, Va., and Douglas S. (Christine) of Laguna Niguel, Calif.; brother, William G. (Elizabeth) Gallagher of Riverside, Conn.; five grandchildren, Eric, Anthony, Christopher, Grant and Garrett; sisters-in-law, Doris K. McManus of Pleasanton, Calif., Jane Gallagher of Laguna Woods, Calif., and Renata Gallagher of New York, N.Y.; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, with a prayer service at 4:30 p.m. at Englewood Community Funeral Home, 3070 S. McCall Road, Englewood. A funeral liturgy will be said at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, at St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
Arrangements are by Englewood Community Funeral Home, Englewood.
Harriet V. Combs
Harriet V. Combs, 92, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Friday, Dec. 24, 2004.
She was born
June 30, 1912, in Harrisville, W. Va.
She moved to Florida in 1999 from Illinois.
Mrs. Combs was a retired physical therapist and was a member of Christ Community United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Mary Dixon of Punta Gorda; sons, Charles of Surprise, Ariz., Leonard of Lakeville, Ind., and Leslie of Enterprise, Ala.; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren. Mrs. Combs was preceded in death by her husband of 70 years, Charles.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Christ Community United Methodist Church, 27000 Sunnybrook Road, Harbour Heights, FL 33983.
Arrangements are by National Cremation Society of Venice, Fla.
Robert L. Cox
Robert L. Cox, 47, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, in Punta Gorda, Fla.
He was born
Jan. 1, 1957, in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Mr. Cox moved to the Port Charlotte area 25 years ago from Key Largo, Fla. He worked as a senior crew chief for the city of Punta Gorda, Charlotte County Public Works. He was of the Baptist faith.
Mr. Cox is survived by his wife, Paula J. (Cushing) Cox of Port Charlotte; parents, Leon and Genevieve Cox of Carbondale, Ill.; and sister, Neva Wilkins of Port Charlotte.
Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 1, 2005, at Ponce de Leon Park in Punta Gorda.
Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
James Eldridge
James Eldridge, 68, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel.
Marcella R. O'Connor
Marcella Rita O'Connor, 92, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2004, at Punta Gorda Elderly Care Center in Punta Gorda.
She was born
Feb. 23, 1912, in Chicago, Ill., to Michael and Bridget Cunningham Crowe.
Mrs. O'Connor moved to the Punta Gorda area in 1998, from Geneva, Ill. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda.
She is survived by her two daughters, Kathleen (Charles) Zajicek of Punta Gorda and Maryann (Patrick) Burns of Ellisville, Mo.; four grandchildren, Charles Zajicek Jr., Christopher Zajicek, Michael Burns and William Burns; and four great-grandchildren, Quinn, Mallary, Collin and Charles III.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be at St. Patrick Catholic Church in St. Charles, Ill., with the Rite of Committal at St. James at the Sag Cemetery in Lemont, Ill.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens, Punta Gorda.
Raymond J. Cleary
Raymond J. Cleary, 83, of Rotonda West, Fla., died Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004.
He was born
Sept. 4, 1921, in East Orange, N.J..
Mr. Cleary served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He owned and operated City Glass Works in Upper Montclair, N.J., and moved to the Rotonda West area 12 years ago from Wayne, N.J. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Grove City, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Doris; three sons, Donald, Michael and Gary; one brother, Robert; nine grandchildren, Kimberly, Donald, Raymond, Linda, Michael, Mark, Scott, Sean and Heather; and three great-grandchildren, Christopher, Amber and Michael.
Visitation will be from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Englewood Chapel of Lemon Bay Funeral Home, 2 Buchans Landing, Englewood. Funeral liturgy will follow at 10 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. Entombment will be at Gulf Pines Memorial Park in Englewood.
Arrangements are by Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel.
Joe N. Wright
Joe Nathan Wright, 72, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Monday, Dec. 27, 2004, in Sarasota, Fla. Robarts Funeral Home Inc., Arcadia, is in charge of arrangements.
Clifton C. McNeely
Ret. U.S. Army Sgt. Maj. Clifton C. "Mac" McNeely, 85, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004, at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, Fla.
He was born
June 2, 1919, in La Follette, Tenn.
Mac was a Pearl Harbor survivor and a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1977 from Petersburg, Va. Mac was a Methodist and a member of American Legion Post 110, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5690, Loyal Order of the Moose 2121 and Eagles Arie 3296, all of Port Charlotte.
He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, June L. McNeely of Port Charlotte; a daughter, Pauline (Robert) Hayden of Manassas, Va.; three sons, Donald A. (Wanda) McNeely of Chester, Va., Steven R. (Judy) McNeely of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and Gary P. (Bonny) McNeely of Mechanicsville, Va.; two brothers, George (Helen) McNeely of Pensacola, Fla., and Burton McNeely of Honolulu, Hawaii; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Visitation will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 2, 2005, at the Port Charlotte Chapel of Roberson Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 3, 2005, with the Rev. J. Ralph Burton Jr. officiating, followed by interment with full military honors by the U.S. Army, at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Marea Tomyn
Marea (Skakun) "Baba" Tomyn, 82, of White Rock, British Columbia, Canada, and formerly of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, passed away Sunday, Dec. 19, 2004, with her children at her side.
She was born
Sept. 6, 1922, in Edmonton.
Mrs. Tomyn, who was also called "Baba" and Mom, enjoyed the fresh outdoors and the warmth of the sun on her face. She touched the lives of so many people. She was a gentle person who put everyone else before herself. She loved to see people happy. She believed in God, and felt closest to Him outdoors. She found time to smell the roses, watch the sun rise and set, and to hug her children. She also enjoyed music, good food and martinis. She was a fabulous cook and loved animals. Late in life, she started oil painting, soapstone carving and creative writing. She enjoyed being a volunteer at Peace Arch Hospital and the White Rock Museum.
She is survived by her loving and devoted children, Nikki (Peter) Pohynayko, Mary Ann (Raymond) Aldus, Denise (Daniel) Tomyn-Thomas, all of White Rock, BC, and Myron (Patti) Tomyn of Punta Gorda, Fla.; her brother, Casey (Sandi) Skakun of Wabamun, AB; sister, Zena Skakun of Edmonton, AB; grandchildren, Jessica and Christie Knodel, April and K.C. Tomyn, Jason Carriere, Chris (Alexa) and Jeff (Rhonda) Aldus, Johnny (Marlene) Pohynayko; great-grandchildren, Jenna and Justin Aldus, Cory Pohynayko; a large extended family including Terry, Cheryl, Robyn and Jason Driscoll, and many relatives, friends and four-legged animals. She was preceded in death by her husband, Nick; her daughter, Elaine; and son-in-law, Helmut Knodel.
A celebration of life will be held in Canada. The graveside service will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Marea Tomyn may be made to Heart & Stroke Foundation, Ste. 200, 1212 W. Broadway, Vancouver, B.C. V6H3V2; or any Animal Rescue or Animal Shelter agency of the donor's choice.
Arrangements are by Victory Memorial Park Funeral Centre, Surrey, B.C.
Elba R. Lebron
Elba R. Lebron, 92, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Saturday, Dec. 25, 2004, at Tandem Health Care of Port Charlotte. Arrangements are by National Cremation Society of Venice, Fla.
Grace R. Stark
Grace Robey Stark, 92, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Monday, Dec. 13, 2004.
She was born
Nov. 20, 1912, in Washburn, Wis., to James and Ada Nordquist Robey.
Mrs. Stark moved to Florida in 1974. She was a member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Port Charlotte, Port Charlotte Gardens Club, Peace River Garden Club and the Wisconsin Club.
She is survived by her children, Richard A. (Catherine) Stark of Louden, Tenn., Kathleen E. (Anthony) Borden of Port Charlotte and Thomas N. (Donna) Stark of Brandon, Fla.; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Florence Poehlman, Alice Urban and Barbara Bergeron, all of Milwaukee, Wis. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 71 years, Archie Stark, on Oct. 18, 2004.
Visitation will be at 1 p.m. followed by the funeral service at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2005, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2565 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte. Entombment will be at Charlotte Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 5200 Indian Springs Cemetery Road, Punta Gorda, Fla.
The family requests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238; or to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 2565 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33952-6401.
Arrangements are by Charlotte Memorial Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Punta Gorda.
Larry S. Waddell
Larry S. Waddell, 55, of Englewood, Fla., died Thursday, Dec. 23, 2004, at Englewood Community Hospital in Englewood. Englewood Community Funeral Home and Cremation Service have been selected to handle arrangements.
Lawrence W. Pauli Sr.
Lawrence W. "Larry" Pauli Sr., 72, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at his residence.
He was born
Dec. 29, 1931, in Indianapolis, Ind.
Funeral services were held Aug. 20, 2004, at Harden/Paul Funeral Home, in Eustis Fla., with Burial at Greenwood Cemetery, in Eustis.
Larry is survived by his children, Lance, Melinda and Bob; nine grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Frances E. Pauli, on Jan. 24, 2002. Arrangements were by Paul Schelm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
A reception to remember Larry's life will be from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 29, 2004, at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, Aaron Street, Port Charlotte, in Conference Rooms A & C. The family requests all of Larry's friends and customers of Easy Drugs, to come share hors d'oeuvres, beverages, and fellowship. There will be pictures, albums, books, and music to remember Larry's happiest times of life in Charlotte County.
R. Alice Cecere
R. Alice Cecere, 91, of Port Charlotte, Fla., and formerly of Fort Myers, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at her residence.
She was born
July 27, 1913, in Pittsburgh, Pa.
For many years she was an administrator for Duff's Business College in Pittsburgh, before moving to Jamaica to open a branch of Duff's in Kingston. Alice moved to Fort Myers from Kingston, Jamaica, in 1978. While living in Fort Myers she taught at the Walsh Academy for six years and was a volunteer at Lee Memorial Hospital. She moved to Port Charlotte in August of 2003 where she was a volunteer at the Charlotte County Cultural Center and started the Berkley House newsletter with a "Neighbor of the Month" column. She was a loving mother, sister and grandmother and devoted friend, teacher, and administrator. She was a wonderful woman, who lived her life according to her own terms and loved every unpredictable and exciting moment of her life.
She is survived by two daughters, Geraldine (Andrew) Benkoczy of Port Charlotte and A. Sandra (Denny) Brake of Phoenix, Ariz.; three sisters, Helene Geraci of Fort Myers, Olga Bischoff of Orlando, Fla., and Adele Stark of Pittsburgh; five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, Fort Myers, FL 33908.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home and Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Thomas P. Sommers
Thomas P. Sommers, 70, of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004, at Hospice House in Port Charlotte, Fla.
He was born
June 10, 1934, in Milwaukee, Wis.
He attended Wisconsin State Teachers college in Menomonie, Wis., until entering the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Hanau, Germany, for two years and then returned to college in Milwaukee. He married Nancy Krueger, and they had four children, before moving to Stevens Point, Wis., where he worked for 25 years with Sentry Life Insurance Company. During this time he earned the Chartered Life Underwriter and Fellow of Life Management Institute designations. Tom retired in 1989 from Sentry. He began his own business and continued to contract agents and service clients until his death. Tom and Nancy moved to Punta Gorda in 1995. Tom enjoyed fishing, golfing and hunting. He was a member of Punta Gorda Elks Lodge 2606, the Loyal Order of Moose Lodge 2121 and Sacred Heart Parish in Punta Gorda.
Mr. Sommers is survived by his wife, Nancy; his daughters, Judy (Michael) Ring of Madison, Wis. and Karen (Erik) Hepp of Green Bay, Wis.; his son, Jeffrey of Germantown, Wis.; grandchildren, Andree, Ashley, Aaron and Alaina; brothers, Richard (Loretta) Sommers of Waukesha, Wis., and Gerald (Helen) Sommers of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; and a sister-in-law, Helen Sommers of Franksville, Wis. Tom was preceded in death by his daughter, Linda; and his brother, Glenn.
A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 30, 2004, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Punta Gorda. Burial of cremains will be at Stevens Point, where Tom's daughter is buried. An additional memorial service will be held in Milwaukee at a later date.
Tom wished to be remembered in a memorial to the new church of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 511 Sullivan St., Punta Gorda FL, 33950 or to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 1144 Veronica St., Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Ruth E. Cavins
Ruth E. Cavins, 96, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 26, 2004. Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda Chapel.
Marie A. Kiesel
Marie A. Kiesel, 79, of Punta Gorda, Fla., died Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at Fawcett Memorial Hospital in Port Charlotte, Fla. Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Lydia D. Morales (Run in charlotte and northport)
Lydia Deann (Smith) Morales, 45, of Wilkesboro, N.C., died Friday, Dec. 24, 2004, at Wilkes Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Morales was born
Oct. 5, 1959, in Charleston, S.C., to James S. and Frances Joan Smith. She was a member of Morningstar Ministries.
In addition to her husband, Richard Morales, she is survived by three daughters, Casey Siobhan Moseley of Little Rock, Ark., Lauren Elizabeth Cicirello and Hunter Joan Morales, both of the home; one son, Samuel Charles Cicirello of the home; her father, James S. Smith of North Port, Fla.; one sister, Stephaney Louise Crenshaw of Augusta, Ga.; two brothers, James Scott Smith II of Augusta and Bradford Dawson Smith of Punta Gorda, Fla.; and an aunt, Peggy Rule of Ellenton, Fla.
A memorial celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Millers Creek Baptist Church, with the Rev. Brad McCllendon, the Rev. Steve Thompson, and the Rev. Rick Joyner officiating.
Memorials may be made to the Morningstar Ministries.
Arrangements are by Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home, North Wilkesboro, N.C.
