Gayla Gull
OVIEDO -- Gayla Gull of Oviedo died Monday at Florida Hospital in Altamonte Springs after a long illness. She was 46.
Mrs. Gull was formerly employed at Shands at the University of Florida and later taught in Florida public schools.
Born in Logan, Utah, she moved from South Dakota to Oviedo four years ago.
She graduated from Gainesville High School, University of Florida and Brigham Young University. She also attended Ricks College in Rexburg, Idaho.
Mrs. Gull was a member of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a voluntary mission in South America.
She enjoyed hiking and traveling.
Survivors include her husband, Daniel Worthington of Oviedo; three stepsons; two stepdaughters; her parents, Dwain and Isabel Gull of Gainesville; two sisters; and a brother, Mark Gull of Gainesville.
John Edward Hatcher
John Edward "Bill" Hatcher of Gainesville died Wednesday at Palm Garden of Gainesville. He was 87.
Mr. Hatcher was a design engineer and was a former chief design engineer on the Savannah River Project at DuPont. He also retired as a lieutenant colonel from the U.S. Army.
Born in Cordele, Ga., he moved from Ormond Beach to Gainesville last year. He graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology and received a doctorate from Cornell University.
Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Beverly Bailes Hatcher of Gainesville; two sons, John Hatcher Jr. of Orlando and David Hatcher of Mercer Island, Wash.; a sister, Virginia Taylor of Memphis, Tenn.; a brother, Jamie Hatcher of Meridian, Miss.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to First Presbyterian Church in Gainesville or to the Ormond Beach Presbyterian Church.
John C. Nash Jr.
CHIEFLAND -- John C. Nash Jr. of Chiefland died Wednesday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville due to cancer.
He was 67.
Mr. Nash was a retired aircraft mechanic for Pan American Airways. He also served in the U.S. Navy.
Born in Miami Springs, he moved from Miami to Chiefland 12 years ago.
He was a member of Pam-Am Retirees Club and the American Legion. He enjoyed fishing, plants, animals, and building radio-controlled airplanes and boats.
Mr. Nash was a Catholic.
He was preceded in death by a son, John Conrad Nash III; and a daughter, Andrea Jeanne Nash.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanette Nash of Chiefland; two daughters, Judith Duncan of Orlando and Jo Ann Parrish of Granbury, Texas; and one granddaughter.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Fortune Hudson Sims Scholarship Fund in Chiefland or to Hospice of North Central Florida in Gainesville.
Audrey "Scottie" Pfeiffer
TRENTON -- Audrey "Scottie" Pfeiffer of Trenton died Friday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 71.
Mrs. Pfeiffer was a homemaker.
She moved three years ago from Cedar Key to Trenton.
Mrs. Pfeiffer was a member of the Community Church of the Nazarene in Trenton.
Survivors include two brothers, Andrew Baker of Milton and William J. Baker of Canada.
Lorenzo Franklin Williams
Lorenzo Franklin Williams of Gainesville died Tuesday at his home of a long illness.
He was 75.
Mr. Williams was a retired welder.
Born in Wilson, N.C., he moved two years ago from Miami to Gainesville.
Mr. Williams belonged to the Emanuel Baptist Church in Gainesville.
Survivors include his wife, Grace Williams of Gainesville; five daughters, Robin Hobdy and Martha Williams, both of Gainesville, and Nina Williams-King, Mary Williams and Kishia Williams, all of Miami; four sons, Ray Lewis of Gainesville and Larry Williams, Dennis Williams and Scott Williams, all of Miami; a sister, Ora Brown of Brooklyn, N.Y.; 17 grandchildren; and five great- grandchildren.
Harold Hugh Davitt Jr.
Harold Hugh Davitt Jr. of Gainesville died Thursday in Gainesville.
He was 82.
Mr. Davitt was born in Jacksonville and moved to Gainesville from Colorado Springs, Colo., in 1993.
He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Florida in 1936 and was a construction company estimator.
Mr. Davitt served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a lieutenant colonel, participating in the relief operation at the Battle of the Bulge with the 3rd Army 11th Armored Division.
He was awarded the Bronze Star and the Order of the Purple Heart.
After the war, he lived in Vandalia, Ill., until 1953. He then spent 40 years in Colorado Springs.
Mr. Davitt is preceded in death by his wife, Elinor Rose Smith Davitt.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Anne Davitt of Boulder, Colo.; one son, Harold Hugh Davitt III of Washington, D.C.; and two sisters, Mary Ellen Johnson and Louise Summerlin, both of Gainesville.
Jack P. "J.P." Koon
ALACHUA -- Jack P. "J.P." Koon of Alachua died Friday at Hospice House in Gainesville.
He was 85.
Mr. Koon was born in O'Brien and moved to Alachua from High Springs 41 years ago.
He was a retired Alachua County Sheriff's deputy, former High Springs police officer and former Alachua police chief.
Mr. Koon was a member of High Springs Masonic Lodge 137 for 56 years and Santa Fe Chapter 105 Order of the Eastern Star for 53 years. He was a member of Forest Grove Baptist Church, where he was an elder. Hobbies include hunting, fishing and gardening.
Survivors include his wife, Flora Koon of Alachua; one son, Jack D. Koon of High Springs; three daughters, Florence J. Yarbrough of Jackson, Ga., Linda N. Conner of White Springs and Gail Jerrell of Alachua; two sisters, Ida Sexton of Lake City and Frances Jones of Gainesville; nine grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice of North Central Florida, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606-3809.
Otto F. Douglas
HIGH SPRINGS -- Otto F. Douglas of High Springs died Saturday at North Florida Regional Medical Center following a brief illness.
He was 83.
Mr. Douglas was born in Alachua County and moved to High Springs from Bland 55 years ago.
He was a retired car inspector for Seaboard Coastline Railroad.
Mr. Douglas also was a member of the Alachua County Farm Bureau and New Oak Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Lurette Douglas of High Springs; two daughters, Darlene Presley of High Springs and Barbara McElroy of Newberry; one brother, Drefus Douglas of Keystone Heights; four sisters, Willa Mae Richards of Lake City, Alva Bellows of Jacksonville, Dorothy Griffith of Tallahassee and Mildred Robideere of Oviedo; and three grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Phillippi cemetery Association Inc., Route 1, Box 1880, Fort White, FL 32096, or to Hospice of North Central Florida, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.
