Francis G. Smith lll
Francis Gurney Smith III, 69, of North Port, Fla., died Sunday, Aug. 8, 2004, at his residence. Arrangements are by Paul Schelm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte, Fla.
James Reid
James Reid, 63, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Wednesday, July 28, 2004, at Hospice House of Palmetto, Fla.
He was born
June 27, 1939, in St. Mary, Jamaica, West Indies, to Theodore and Henretta Graham.
Mr. Reid will be greatly missed and is survived by two brothers, Theadious Graham and Seabert Graham; four sisters, Hazel Graham, Victory Greenland, Ethlyn Davis and Icyoda Graham; nieces; nephews; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 11, 2004, at Hickson Funeral Home Chapel, Arcadia. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Arcadia.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hickson Funeral Home, Arcadia.
Jean T. Popovich
Jean T. Popovich, 89, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Saturday, Feb. 28, 2004, in Deep Creek, Port Charlotte.
She was born
Oct. 17, 1914, in Baltimore, Md. She moved to Punta Gorda in 1987. She was a Catholic.
She is survived by two sons, Daniel J. Kratz of Edgewater, Fla. and Milton A. Kratz of Punta Gorda; three brothers; Ed Nagrabski of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Steve Nagrabski of Wimauma, Fla. and Tony Nagrabski of Edgewater; two sisters, Laura Martini and Bertha Wajbel, both of Baltimore; five grandchildren, Herbert Warren Hickman Jr. of Bozman, Md., Gary Kratz of Hewitt, Texas, Tony Kratz of Charlotte, N.C., Michael Kratz of Orlando, Fla. and Michele Durrance of Tampa, Fla.; six great-grandchildren, Herbert Warren Hickman III, of Baltimore, Harrison Hickman of Bozman, Melissa Kratz of Hewitt, Cole, Noah and Madison Durrance, all of Tampa.
A private family viewing was held Feb. 29, 2004 at Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Punta Gorda.
Harold Beardsworth Jr.
Harold "Hal" Beardsworth Jr., 68, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004.
He was born
Oct. 27, 1935, in Fall River, Mass., and was the son of Harold and Hannah (Plouffe) Beardsworth Sr. Hal served in the U.S. Army. He retired from Polaroid Corp. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1998 from New Hampshire, and was currently working at Heritage Oak Park in Port Charlotte as a gate attendant. Hal was a member of St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, the Elks Club of Deep Creek and Loyal Order of the Moose in Port Charlotte. He loved horseshoes, working in his home workshop and spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.
Hal is survived by his devoted loving wife of 30 years, Sandy; father, Harold of West Newton, Mass.; sons, Steven (Susan) Beardsworth of Blackstone, Mass., Sean Beardsworth and Lance (Karen) Beardsworth, both of Nashua, N.H.; daughter, Deborah Peter of Stamford, Conn.; brother, Ronald of Methueh, Mass.; sisters, Delores (David) White and Barbara Beardsworth, both of Las Vegas, Nev.; and eight grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his brother, Kenneth.
A memorial Mass in celebration of Hal's life will be at 9:45 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Port Charlotte. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorfuneral.com and sign the guest book.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 22107 Elmira Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Center, Murdock, Fla.
Verona D. Leonard
Verona D. Leonard, 93, of Tampa Fla., and formerly of Charlotte Harbor, Fla., and Englewood, Fla., passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, in Tampa.
She was born
March 24, 1910, in Belgium. Mrs. Leonard was a recreation director for General Development Corp.'s recreation center in Port Charlotte, Fla. She was a director of the Miss Charlotte County Pageant, and developed many other shows with her husband, Marston S. Leonard. When she was a resident of Englewood, she was chosen "Woman of the Year" by the Business and Professional Women in that community. At the age of 93, she was still teaching tai chi for the Tampa Recreation Department.
She is survived by her two sons, Marston C. (Barbara) Leonard of Tampa and Lawrence B. (Jeanette) Leonard of West Lafayette; and three grandchildren, Christopher Leonard of Chicago, Ill., and Priscilla and Robert Leonard of Tampa.
Family memorial services will be at Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Fla.
Arrangements are by Farley Funeral Home, Venice.
Hugh McBrien
Hugh McBrien, 89, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, at Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte.
He was born
Sept. 10, 1914, in Attleboro, Mass. He was a 1933 graduate of Attleboro High School and a 1938 graduate of Providence College with a degree in business and accounting. He was an accountant and a former employee of Reeves Co. and M.S. Co., both of Attleboro. He retired in 1978 from Real Reel Corp. in East Providence, R.I. He moved to Port Charlotte in 1979.
He is survived by a daughter, Jane M. Mooney of Upton, Mass.; and a brother, Vincent McBrien of Auburn, Mass. He was preceded in death by his wife, Florence Fox McBrien, in 1997.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 1 p.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Port Charlotte. Inurnment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Providence College Alumni Association, 549 River Ave., Providence, RI 02918.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Joan Russell
Joan (Lantz) Russell, 80, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004.
She was born
Oct. 19, 1923, in Franklin, Pa., and served in the U.S. Army during World War II, in the South Pacific. She retired as a postal clerk from the U.S. Postal Service. She was a member of the Eastern Star in Mayville, N.Y. Mrs. Russell moved to Port Charlotte in 1989 from Chautauqua County, N.Y. She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Port Charlotte.
She is survived by her spouse of 57 years, Thomas; sons, Geoffrey A. (Linda) of Oregon, Joel E. (Kim) of Utah, and Eric D. (Marilyn) of New York; brother, Andrew Lantz of Elmira, N.Y.; and nine grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her three infant children, Jonathan, Constance and Christopher; and one sister, Jeanette Lantz.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at First Presbyterian Church of Port Charlotte.
Donations may be made to Peace River Wildlife Center, 3400 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda, FL 33950; or Parkinson's Disease Foundation, William Black Medical Research Bldg., Columbian Presbyterian Medical Center, W. 168 St., New York, NY 10032.
Fannie Seda
Fannie Seda, 83, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003, at Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte.
She was born
May 28, 1920, in New York City, N.Y., Mrs. Seda retired as a clerk from the New York City court system. She was a member of St. Spyridon Greek Orthodox Church in New York. She moved to Port Charlotte from New York City in 2000.
She is survived by a son, Regino N. "Nick" (Cindy) Seda of Port Charlotte; a sister, Mary Rodriguez of Fort Lee, N.J.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Funeral services were held in New York, with interment at Mount Hope Cemetery at Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. Local memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, 2004, at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 24411 Rampart Blvd., Port Charlotte, with the Rev. Demetrios A. Kavouras, friar, officiating.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Harry B. G. Hight
Harry B. G. Hight, 74, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004.
He was born
Feb. 2, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Hight served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a retired contractor and traffic manager for the Department of Defense. He moved to Englewood 13 years ago from Levittown, Pa. He was a member of St. Raphael's Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Rev. Stanley Kromer Council 11553 and Respect Life, both at St. Raphael's in Englewood. He was also a member of South County People for Life, West Charlotte County Republican Club and American Legion Post 110 of Port Charlotte.
He is survived by his wife, Anna M. Hight; three sons, Charles H. (Susan) of Philadelphia, Michael J. (Vicki) of Fort Worth, Texas, and Harry F. (Cheryl) of Hatboro, Pa.; two daughters, Diane M. (Francis) Huber of Port Charlotte and Christine A. Hight of North Redington Beach, Fla.; and 15 grandchildren.
Visitation will be private. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at St. Raphael's Catholic Church. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pregnancy Solutions, 1680 B Tamiami Trail South, Venice, FL 34293.
Arrangements are by Lemon Bay Funeral Home, Englewood Chapel.
Joseph C. Strunz
Joseph C. Strunz, 90, of Englewood, Fla., passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, at Bon Secours-Venice Nursing and Rehab Center in Venice, Fla.
Joseph was born
July 11, 1913, in New York, N.Y., to Joseph and Frances (Neudert) Strunz. He served in the U.S. Air Corps during World War II. He spent three years at air fields in the United States and India. He was employed with Allied Chemical Corp. for more than 37 years in Haledon, N.J., and retired as a manager of industrial relations. He then moved from Franklin Lakes, N.J., to Rotonda West, Fla., and Englewood, where he resided for 25 years. Joseph was a member of Community Presbyterian Church, Rotonda American Legion Post 113, and a life member of Englewood Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 10178. He was an avid golfer and fisherman and volunteered for many years at Englewood Community Hospital and at the Englewood-Charlotte library.
Joseph is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Marion (Vanderbush); daughters, Catherine (Leonard) Bolzan of Bloomingdale, N.J., and Lorraine (David) Leonardi of Ewing, N.J.
A memorial service in celebration of her life will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, 2004, at the Mitchell Gallery of Englewood Arts Center, 350 S. McCall Road, Englewood. Private inurnment will be at a later date convenient to the family.
Memorials may be made in the name of Joseph C. Strunz to Englewood Arts Center, 350 S. McCall Road, Englewood, FL 34223; or to Community Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 405 S. McCall Road, Englewood, FL 34223.
Lemon Bay Funeral Home and Cremation Service has been selected to handle the arrangements.
Monica Watson
Monica Watson, 59, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, at her residence.
She was born
Aug. 10, 1944, in St. Mary's Parish, Jamaica, West Indies, to Cassandra and Arthur DeRizzio. She held a bachelor's degree from the College of New Rochelle, N.Y. Monica was a longtime resident of Mount Vernon, N.Y., where she was active in city politics. She held the position of director of emergency services, and served as a chairperson at the Housing Authority. She was president of the Mount Vernon Day Care Center, and was a longtime member of the Caribbean Club and All Islands Association. Monica was also an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Mount Vernon, where she served in various capacities, including deaconess, elder and chairwoman of the personnel committee. Monica was also a real estate investor, owning and managing several properties in the county of Westchester, N.Y. She moved to Port Charlotte in 2002, and was a member of Port Charlotte United Methodist Church.
She is survived by her loving husband, Vernon Watson of Port Charlotte; two daughters, Vanessa Watson and Tarsha Del Campo, both of Mount Vernon; a son, Gregory Watson of DeSoto, Texas; four sisters, Berryl Steele of Queens, N.Y., Victoria DeRizzio, Valerie Shaw and Millicent DeRizzio, all of Mount Vernon; three brothers, Lloyd DeRizzio of Melbourne, Fla., Vincent DeRizzio and Errol DeRizzio, both of Mount Vernon; three grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, 2004, at Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 23, 2004, at Port Charlotte United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Laura C. Easter officiating. Entombment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 22107 Elmira Blvd., Port Charlotte, FL 33952.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Larry M. Bradshaw
Larry Michael Bradshaw, 32, of Punta Gorda, Fla., passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004.
He was born
Aug. 5, 1971, in Fort Myers, Fla. He was the son of Tony Bradshaw and Margaret Hyatt. He was raised in Port Charlotte, Fla., where he lived most of his life. Michael served in the U.S. Navy from 1994 to 2000, and was a pilot for Anderson Aviation. He was a member of Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.
Michael will be missed by his loving wife of more than one year, Heidi; his father and stepmother, Tony (Sheila) Bradshaw of Tennessee; mother and stepfather, Margaret (Benjie) Hyatt; brother, Colby Bradshaw of Tennessee; and sister, Brianna Bradshaw of Tennessee.
Services will be private. To express condolences to the family, please visit www.LTaylorfuneral.com to sign the guest book.
Arrangements are by Larry Taylor Funeral and Cremation Center, Murdock, Fla.
Clara I. Ford
Clara I. Ford, 94, of Port Charlotte, Fla., passed away Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, in Port Charlotte.
She was born
Sept. 1, 1909, in Croswell, Mich. She was a resident of Grand Blanc, Mich., since 1942. She moved to Port Charlotte in 1968 from Grand Blanc. Clara was a "Pink Lady" at Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte. She was a member of the Port Charlotte Golf Club and First Presbyterian Church.
Clara is survived by her son, Lawrence (Carol) Ford of Arcadia, Mich.; daughter, Sheila (Robert) Almli of Clayton, Mo.; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
No memorial service is planned.
A graveside service will be held at a later date at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte.
Donations may be made in Clara's name to Alzheimer's Association Southwest Florida Chapter, P.O. Box 494708, Port Charlotte, FL 33949-4708.
Arrangements are by Kays-Ponger/Royal Palm Funeral Home, Port Charlotte.
Joan K. Griffiths
Joan K. Griffiths, 75, of Port Charlotte, Fla., died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, at Bon Secours-St. Joseph Hospital in Port Charlotte.
She was born
Feb. 17, 1928, in Shrub Oak, N.Y., and moved to Port Charlotte in 1986 from Ann Arbor, Mich. She was a former elementary school teacher.
She is survived by her husband, Steven K. Griffiths of Port Charlotte; two sons, William K. Griffiths of Boston, Mass., and Thomas K. Griffiths of Cincinnati, Ohio; a sister, Dorothy Chason of Tallahassee, Fla.; and two grandsons.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, 2004, at Roberson Funeral Home, Port Charlotte Chapel, with the Rev. J. Ralph Burton Jr. officiating. Inurnment will follow at Restlawn Memorial Gardens in Port Charlotte.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Arrangements are by Roberson Funeral Home and Crematory, Port Charlotte Chapel.
Elaine Shotto Jones
Elaine Shotto Jones, 57, of North Port, Fla., died Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2004.
Mrs. Jones was born
Oct. 22, 1946, in Kimball, W. Va., to Joseph and Ruby Shotto. She lived in North Port for nine years, coming from Sarasota, Fla. She worked for the Sarasota County School Board before retiring in 2003.
She is survived by her husband of 39 years, James Jones; her two daughters, Tina (Ken) Smith of Venice, Fla., and Alecia Jones of North Port; her grandson, Colton Smith, who was the love of her life; her three brothers, Rick (Sue) Shotto of Sarasota, Connie (Regina) Shotto and Randy (Sandy), both of North Port; her sister-in-law, Linda Shotto of Tennessee; two nieces; three nephews; two great-nephews and one great-niece. Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her brother, Danny Ray Shotto.
No services are planned.
Arrangements are by Farley Funeral Home and Crematory, North Port Chapel.
Verona D. Leonard
Verona D. Leonard, 93, formerly of Charlotte Harbor, Fla., passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2004, in Tampa, Fla.
She was born
March 24, 1910, in Belgium. Mrs. Leonard was a recreation director in Port Charlotte, Fla. Verona and her husband, Marston, developed beauty pageants and dozens of other shows. At 93, she was still teaching tai chi for the Tampa Recreation Department.
She is survived by her two sons, Marston C. Leonard of Tampa and Lawrence B. Leonard of West Lafayette; and three grandchildren, Christopher Leonard of Chicago, Ill., Priscilla and Robert Leonard of Tampa.
Family memorial services will be held at Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Fla.
Arrangements are by Farley Funeral Home, Venice.
