George Albert Loomis
George Albert Loomis of Brunswick, Ga., died Wednesday at Southeast Georgia Regional Medical Center. He was 85.
Mr. Loomis was a retired restaurant owner who ran several restaurants in Gainesville. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
A Pennsylvania native, Mr. Loomis moved from Gainesville to Brunswick six years ago.
He belonged to the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He was a Presbyterian.
Survivors include his wife, Jo Ann Hodgin Loomis of Brunswick, Ga.; three daughters, Susan L. Whitlow and Kathy L. Hayes, both of Brunswick and Jeanne Leyden of Newnan, Ga.; two sons, Frank Loomis of Orlando and Charles J. Loomis of St. Mary's, Ga.; a sister, Katherine Ainsley of Haymarket, Va.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial may be made in the form of donations to the American Cancer Society in Sylva, N.C.
James William Massey Sr.
ST. AUGUSTINE -- James W. "Yankee" Massey Sr. of St. Augustine died Friday in Gainesville. He was 58.
Mr. Massey was a carpenter and a U.S. Army veteran.
Born in Lake Geneva, Wis., he moved two years ago from Gainesville to St. Augustine.
Mr. Massey was a Catholic and a member of Local Union No. 75.
Survivors include his wife, Loretta Abbott Massey of St. Augustine; a son, James W. Massey Jr. of Gainesville; a brother, Earl Joseph Massey of Wisconsin; three sisters, Ellen Pieters and Pat Finley, both of Wisconsin and Claire Port of California; and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made in the form of donations to the American Cancer Society or the American Heart Association.
Bessie Christina Odlund Sheppard
OLD TOWN -- Bessie Christina Odlund Sheppard of Old Town died Saturday at her home. She was 86.
Mrs. Sheppard was a retired school teacher, working 35 years in the Dixie County School System.
Born at Odlund Island, at the mouth of the Suwannee River, she was a lifelong Dixie County resident.
Mrs. Sheppard graduated from Florida State University. Her family established the Odlund fish camp on the island in 1926.
Mrs. Sheppard belonged to the Chiefland Chapter No. 251 of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Retired Teachers Association.
She belonged to the Old Town United Methodist Church and the United Methodist Women.
Survivors include a daughter, Christina Barber of Old Town; a step-daughter, Janet Kennedy of Tallahassee; a stepson, Edward R. "Buddy" Sheppard of Cross City; a sister, Bertha Shinholster of Suwannee; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren; and four great-great-grandchildren.
George Bowens
George Bowens of Gainesville died Tuesday at Shands at AGH after a brief illness. He was 80.
Mr. Bowens was a retired maintenance supervisor at the Reitz Union at the University of Florida.
Born in Dorchester, Ga., he moved from Axson, Ga., to Gainesville 33 years ago.
Mr. Bowens was a deacon at the Cohen Temple First Born Church.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Murry Gilchrist Bowens; and a son, Henry Bowens.
Survivors include four daughters, Ethel M. Hyler of Blackshear, Ga., and Eliza M. Rutledge, Sammie Mae Wells and Georgie M. Bowens, all of Gainesville; a son, Charles James of Valdosta, Ga.; two stepdaughters, Glenda Tigney of Tulsa, Okla., and Adrianne M. Mobley of Gainesville; two sisters, Geneva Johnson of Wilmington, Del., and Wilhelmena Albright of Savannah, Ga.; two brothers, Charles "Brother" Stevens of Brunswick, Ga., and Edward N. Anderson of Savannah; 23 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Joshua Adam Asbury
LIVE OAK - Joshua Adam Asbury of Live Oak died Wednesday in Lake City. He was an infant.
Survivors include his parents, Danny and Janet Asbury of Live Oak; a brother, Randy Asbury of Live Oak; his paternal grandfather, Titus Asbury of Vero Beach; his paternal grandmother, Mary Imel of Pensacola; his maternal grandmother, Betty Knight of Live Oak; and his maternal grandfather, Luke Knight Jr. of Macclenny.
Arthur W. Combs
Arthur W. Combs of Greeley, Colo., died Sunday at his home after a brief illness. He was 86.
Dr. Combs was a professor of education, chairman of the Foundations in Education Department and director of the Center of Humanistic Education, all at the University of Florida.
Born in Newark, N.J., he moved to Greeley 23 years ago and most recently taught graduate seminars in the University of Northern Colorado's College of Education.
Dr. Combs was president of the New York State Psychological Association and received the John Dewey Award for Distinguished Service to Contemporary Education and the Buhler Award for Groundbreaking Contributions to Humanistic Psychology.
He wrote 25 books in teacher education, and perceptual, humanistic and educational psychology .
Survivors include three daughters, Carol Combs Hole of Gainesville, and Lynn A. Combs and Erin E. Combs, both of Greeley; and a son, Peter A. Combs of Atlanta.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Arthur Combs Field Psych Scholarship in Carrollton, Ga.
Francis Scott Cribby
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Francis Scott Cribby of Keystone Heights died Thursday at his home. He was 68.
Mr. Cribby was an iron worker.
Born in South Portland, Maine, he moved from Broward County to Keystone Heights 13 years ago.
Survivors include a daughter, Patricia Kohle of Deerfield Beach; two sons, Michael L. Cribby of Interlachen and Scot Cribby of Tampa; a sister, Betty Briggs of South Portland; and three grandchildren.
Morris Edwards
OLD TOWN - Morris Edwards of Old Town died Thursday at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. He was 85.
Mr. Edwards was a laborer.
Born in Gilchrist County, he was a lifelong resident of the area.
Mr. Edwards was a member of the Church of Christ in Cross City.
Survivors include a sister, Ruby E. Walker of Cross City; and a niece, Maggie Valentine of Cross City.
Glenn R. Jesse
Glenn R. Jesse of Gainesville died Thursday at his home. He was 55.
Mr. Jesse formerly owned an insurance agency in Centralia, Mo.
Born in Centralia, he moved from Centralia to Gainesville two years ago.
Mr. Jesse was a member of the United Methodist Church of Centralia. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and woodworking.
He sponsored a child for many years through the Christian Childrens Fund.
Survivors include his wife, Rose Ann Jesse of Gainesville; a son, Glenn L. Jesse of Centralia; two brothers, Robert Jesse of Columbia, Mo., and Paul Jesse of Albuquerque, N.M.; two sisters, Lillie Oliver of Mexico, Mo., and Roberta Dake of Austin, Ind.; and two grandchildren.
W.H. Westmoreland
HIGH SPRINGS - W.H. "Biddy" Westmoreland of High Springs died Friday at his home after a long illness. He was 74.
Mr. Westmoreland was a retired engineer for CSX Railroad. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was a lifelong resident of High Springs and a graduate of High Springs High School.
Mr. Westmoreland was a member of the First United Methodist Church, Seekers Sunday school class, High Springs Lodge No. 137 F&AM;, Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Morocco Temple Shriners in Jacksonville, and Brotherhood of Railroad Locomotive Engineers.
Survivors include his wife of 50 years, Murl Westmoreland of High Springs; three sons, Hal Westmoreland of Missoula, Mont., John Mark Westmoreland of Orange Park and Matt Westmoreland of High Springs; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice of North Central Florida or to the First United Methodist Church of High Springs.
