Eunice Mae Perryman Thomas
WORTHINGTON SPRINGS -- Eunice Mae Perryman Thomas of Worthington Springs died Tuesday at Oaks Rehab Center in Gainesville. She was 99.
Mrs. Thomas co-owned and operated the former W.L. Perryman grocery store on Depot Avenue in Gainesville with her husband, W.L. Perryman.
She was born in Campville and moved from Gainesville to Worthington Springs three years ago.
Mrs. Thomas was a member of Santa Fe Baptist Church and of Colfax Rebecca Lodge of Gainesville.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, W.L. Perryman; her second husband, Lee A. Thomas; and two sons, Harold Perryman and Alec Perryman.
Survivors include three brothers, Harry Townsend of Melrose, Clarence Townsend of Lecanto and Kenneth Townsend of Panama City; her caregiver, Betty Perryman Temes of Worthington Springs; three granddaughters; five great-grandchildren; and seven great- great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Alzheimer's Association or to the Townsend cemetery in Grove Park.
Terrie Gatchell Ecker
Terrie Gatchell Ecker of Williston died Saturday in Marion County after an automobile accident. She was 33.
Mrs. Ecker was an insurance agent with the former Big Sun Insurance Agency in Williston.
Born in Austin, Texas, she moved 30 years ago to Williston, where she graduated from Williston High School.
Mrs. Ecker belonged to the First United Methodist Church in Williston. She also was a majorette in her high school marching band.
Survivors include her paternal grandmother, Barbara Gatchell of Beverly Hills; her mother, Philles Gatchell; a son, Gary Ecker of Williston; a daughter, Baylie Ecker of Williston; and a sister, Donna Williams of Williston.
Edward B. Bateh
Edward B. Bateh of Gainesville died Friday at his home following a long illness. He was 39.
Mr. Bateh was born in Jacksonville and moved to Gainesville in 1983. He served in the U.S. Navy, was a member of the Ramalla American Club and was a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Clora M. Bateh of Gainesville; one daughter, Cammie M. Bateh of Gainesville; parents Benny and Sara Bateh of Jacksonville; and four sisters, Jeanette Schneider, Nancy Bateh, Connie Bateh and Tracy Bateh, all of Jacksonville.
Dana Lucille Desselle
Dana Lucille Desselle of Gainesville died Saturday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 62.
Mrs. Desselle was born in Norfolk, Va., and moved to Gainesville in 1982 from Highlands, N.C. She received a music degree from William and Mary College in Virginia, and was a volunteer bookkeeper and seamstress at Celebrate Formally. She loved music, sewing, the beach and was an accomplished soloist in piano and voice.
Survivors include two daughters, Donia Kirchman of Gainesville and Dawn Lee Desselle of Maxton, N.C.; and four grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to The Rock at 9818 NW 24th Ave. or the American Heart Association.
Norma M. Tisdale
Norma M. Tisdale of Gainesville died Sunday in North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 78.
Mrs. Tisdale was born in Amity, Ark., and moved to Gainesville in 1958 from Green Cove Springs. She was a retired secretary at the University of Florida College of Medicine, a member of North Central Baptist Church, a Sunday school teacher and a former member of Carol Estates Baptist Church, where she served as clerk. She was also a clerk for the Santa Fe River Baptist Association. She loved gardening and genealogy.
Survivors include two sons, David Tisdale of Ellicott City, Md., and Richard Tisdale of Melrose; one daughter, Barbra Tisdale of New York City, N.Y.; two brothers, Frank Murdock Williams of Cambria, Calif., and Charles Williams of San Pedro, Calif.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Angelus Children's Home, 12413 Huson Road, Hudson, FL, 34669.
Patricia Ann Watmough
WALDO -- Patricia Ann Watmough of Waldo died Friday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville after a long illness. She was 64.
Mrs. Watmough co-owned and operated Town and Country in Waldo with her husband.
Born in Winslow, Maine, she moved from Warren, Maine, to Waldo 24 years ago.
Survivors include her husband, Warren Watmough of Waldo; two sons, Herbert H. Cox of Washington, Maine, and Michael Cox of Melrose; two daughters, Patricia Rasmussen of Cushing, Maine, and Betty Arlene Watmough of Waldo; five sisters, Louise Goudreau of Union, Maine, Carol McLaughlin of Liberty, Maine, Alice Eldridge of Newberry, Cleo Faircloth of Old Town and Kathy Butterman of Jacksonville; a brother, Vance Webber of Maine; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
William Connell
MICANOPY -- William Connell of Micanopy died Monday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 72.
Born in Marianna, he moved to Micanopy from Ocala 17 years ago.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was among the first groups of paratroopers to occupy Japan.
A graduate of the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minn., he later became the minister of the United Pentecostal Church International.
He served as district superintendent for Florida District of the United Pentecostal Church for 19 years and as an honorary general board member of the United Pentecostal Church International.
Survivors include his wife, Lona Connell of Micanopy; three daughters, Michelle Connell, Deborah Connell and Shirley Connell, all of Gainesville; a son, Joshua Connell of Micanopy; four brothers, Ray Connell of Westville, Bob Connell of Collins, Miss., Richard Connell of Ridge Crest, Calif., and Carl Nisbet of South Haven, Mich.; and two sisters, Bernice Blizzard of Kingsland, Ga., and Myrtice Barnes of Panama City.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Building Fund of the Pentecostal of Gainesville at 8105 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606.
Catherine Smith
BRANFORD -- Catherine Smith of Branford died Tuesday at Shands at Lake Shore. She was 65.
She was a lifelong resident of Branford and was a homemaker.
She was a member of the First Baptist Church in Branford.
Survivors include her husband, Mardos Smith of Branford; her mother, Dovie Hatch of Mayo; a daughter, Jenny Adams of Branford; five sons, Perry Blanton, Timothy Blanton and Marty Smith, all of Branford, Andy Blanton of Jacksonville and Ty Smith of Day; four sisters, Nell Lewis, Pauline Fletcher and Marie Sims, all of Branford, and Loyselle Alexandra of Denver; 11 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Robert W. Battles Sr.
FORT MYERS -- Robert W. Battles Sr. of Fort Myers died Thursday. He was 87.
Mr. Battles was a general secretary for the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He had also served numerous churches throughout the United States and Canada.
Survivors include his wife, Olive Battles of Fort Myers; five sons, including Dr. Robert W. Battles Jr. of Gainesville; a sister, Betty Bauer of Rensselaer, N.Y.; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to The Great Commission Fund, C/O The Village Church, in Fort Myers.
William Earl Collins
William Earl Collins of Gainesville died Saturday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lake City after a long illness. He was 76.
Mr. Collins was a retired agricultural extension agent in Jackson County. He had served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Born in Fort White, he moved from Marianna to Gainesville one year ago. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Florida.
He was a member of the Elks Club, American Legion, Conservation Club and Cattleman's Association.
Survivors include two daughters, Joan Collins of Gainesville and Cynthia Bruner of Denver; a son, William E. Collins II of Jacksonville; and two sisters, Rosa Mae Oliver of Lake City and Sarah Cobb of Temple Terrace.
Loran Lorenza Conner
STARKE -- Loran Lorenza Conner of Starke died Sunday while visiting his daughter's home in Tavares. He was 77.
Mr. Conner was a poultry farmer. He had served in the U.S. Army Air Corps.
He was born in Starke and moved from Atlanta back to Starke 19 years ago.
Mr. Conner was a member of Pine Level Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Peggy Corliss of Tavares; a son, Steve Conner of Starke; two sisters, Ida Mae Shaw and Elna Schaffer, both of Starke; a brother, Marcus Conner of Starke; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Ruth Parmenter Holder
STARKE -- Ruth Parmenter Holder of Starke died Saturday at her home after a long illness. She was 48.
Mrs. Holder was a native and lifelong Starke resident. She was a Baptist.
Survivors include her two sons, Rusty Eberle of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and Richie Eberle of Alma, Ga.; a daughter, Mandy Holder of Starke; her father and stepmother, H.F. and Barbara Parmenter of Alma, Ga.; a sister, Janet Lawson of Buford, Ga.; two brothers, Vernon Parmenter of Hampton Lake and Danny Parmenter of Starke; and two grandchildren.
