Florence Chowanec Watkins
HAWTHORNE - Florence Chowanec Watkins of Hawthorne died Monday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville. She was 75.
Mrs. Watkins was a homemaker and a carrier for The Gainesville Sun.
She was born in Columbia, Conn., and moved from Hebron, Conn., to Hawthorne 30 years ago.
Mrs. Watkins attended the First Congregational Church of Interlachen.
Survivors include her husband, Paul W. Watkins of Hawthorne; six daughters, Juanita Rowland of Colchester, Conn., Jessica W. Carroll of Hawthorne, Mildred W. Beckham of Waycross, Ga., Cynthia L. Hastings of Russellville, Ky., Veronica W. Freeman of Old Town and Janice W. Tharpe of Hawthorne; and six sons, William P. Watkins of McRae, Andrew G. Watkins of Lancaster, Calif., James O. Watkins of Summerfield, and Leonard C. Watkins, Michael S. Watkins and Eric C. Watkins, all of Hawthorne; a brother, Peter Chowanec of Columbia, Conn.; two sisters, Dorothy Knapp and Tessie Chowanec, both of Columbia; 19 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Philene Cargle Williams
OTTER CREEK - Philene Cargle Williams of Otter Creek died Monday at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. She was 67.
Mrs. Williams formerly co-owned and operated Williams Country Store in Otter Creek.
She was born in Chiefland and lived most of her life in Otter Creek.
Mrs. Williams was a member of the Otter Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Howard Williams Jr. of Otter Creek; a daughter, Charlotte Yearty of Gulf Hammock; a son, Carl Williams of Otter Creek; and three grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Otter Creek Baptist Church Building Fund.
Edwin Wood Cake Sr.
Edwin "Ned" Wood Cake Sr. of McIntosh died Saturday in Gainesville after a long illness. He was 87.
Mr. Cake was a retired agriculture economics extension specialist and associate professor at the University of Florida.
Born in Norfolk, Va., he was raised in Lynnhaven, Va. He came to Gainesville 47 years ago and later moved to McIntosh.
He received his bachelor's degree from Virginia Polytechnic Institute, and his master's and doctorate from Cornell University.
An avid gardener and fisherman, he spent his retirement as a volunteer tax preparer. He belonged to the McIntosh Presbyterian Church, serving as a lifelong Sunday School teacher and choir member.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Dorthy "Dottie" Cake.
Survivors include two daughters, Barbara Ann Estes Nickel of Ormond Beach and Mary Ester Husa of Irving, Texas; three sons, Bill Cake and Robert Bruce Cake, both of Gainesville, and Edwin Wood Cake Jr. of Ocean Springs, Miss.; 11 grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Arlis F. Clark
BELL -- Arlis F. Clark of Bell died Saturday at his home after a long illness. He was 72.
Mr. Clark was a representative for Broyhill Furniture Factory and also served in the U.S. Army.
Born in Red Boiling Springs, Tenn., he moved from Bayamon, Puerto Rico, to Bell 10 years ago.
He was a Spanish and English voluntary teacher and received many high sales achiever awards. He also founded the Puerto Rico C.B. Club.
Mr. Clark belonged to the Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Marta A. Clark of Bell; four sons, Bruce H. Clark of Coral Springs, James E. Clark and Stephen H. Clark, both of Miami, and William D. Clark of Bayamon; a daughter, Karen C. Clark of Hato Rey, Puerto Rico; a brother, Neil A. Clark of Red Boiling Springs, Tenn.; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Shirley A. Davis
COLUMBIA, Pa. -- Shirley A. Davis, a part-time resident of Starke, died Thursday in Columbia, Pa. She was 62.
Mrs. Davis was homemaker.
She lived in Pennsylvania and part-time in Starke.
Mrs. Davis belonged to the Bible Baptist Church in Starke.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph K. Davis, and a daughter, JoAnn Davis.
Survivors include four sons, Raymond Davis of Quarryville, Pa., Joseph K. Davis of Annville, Pa., Michael A. Davis of Columbia and Mark O. Davis of Lancaster, Pa.; a sister, Joyce Goehrig of Hanover, Pa.; two brothers, the Rev. Winfield Devonshire Jr. of Hershey, Pa., and Gene Devonshire of Millersville, Pa.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Maggie Pearl Farmer
Maggie Pearl "Margie" Farmer of Lake Butler died Friday at the Oaks Residential and Rehabilitation Center in Gainesville after a long illness.
She was 75.
Mrs. Farmer was a retired dietary worker.
Born in Elora, Tenn., Mrs. Farmer moved from Tampa to Lake Butler 11 years ago.
She was a member of the First Community Church of Brooker.
Survivors include a son, James Birchfield of High Springs; a brother, Orvil R. Farmer of Albertville, Ala.; three sisters, Dollie Box of Lacoochee, Rosie Lee Bass of Brundidge, Ala., and Clara Oliver of Brooksville; four grandchildren; and 8 great-grandchildren.
Shelby Gene Gordon
ALACHUA -- Shelby Gene Gordon of Alachua died Friday at his home. He was 71.
Mr. Gordon was a sign painter.
Born in Crystal Springs, Miss., he later moved to Cross City. He spent the last 14 years living in Alachua County.
He belonged to the Alachua Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.
Survivors include two sons, Kerry Gordon of Chiefland and Rick Gordon of Cedar Key; one sister, Naomi Richards of High Springs; and eight grandchildren.
Velma Lorraine Brooks Newcomb
LAKE CITY -- Velma Lorraine Brooks Newcomb of Lake Butler died Saturday morning at Lake City Medical Center after a long illness.
She was 72.
Mrs. Newcomb was a homemaker.
Born in Knox County, Tenn., she moved from Lake City to Lake Butler two years ago.
She belonged to the Lantern Park Baptist Church in Lake City.
Mrs. Newcomb was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Austin Newcomb Sr.
Survivors include seven daughters, Janet L. Steele of Lake City, Carolyn A. Chandler of Meridian, Miss., Susan L. Andrews of Lake Butler, Teresa G. Alford of Fort White, Patricia A. Mary of Daytona Beach, Kathryn L. DuBois of Macclenny and Helen L. Lynn of Branford; three sons, Charles A. Newcomb Jr. and William B. Newcomb, both of Lake City, and George T. Newcomb of Arlington, Texas; four sisters, Mary Donaldson, Martha Riwitis, Jean Newhouse and Bobbie Payne, all of Indiana; 20 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Luther Vincent Powell
Luther Vincent Powell of Gainesville died Thursday at his home. He was 86.
Mr. Powell was a fashion designer and World War II veteran.
Born in Convoy, Ohio, he moved nine years ago from North Miami Beach to Gainesville. He graduated from Wittenburg University, where belonged to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
He was a founding member of Alex of Miami and belonged to the First Lutheran Church of Gainesville. He also was a former member of Christ Lutheran Church of North Miami Beach.
Survivors include a daughter, Marilyn Powell of Gainesville; two sons, Gregory Powell of Atlantic Beach and Lawrence Powell of Alexandria, Va.; three brothers, Richard W. Powell of Port Clinton, Ohio, Robert T. Powell of Lima, Ohio, and Warren Powell of Camden, Mich.; a sister, Louella Coffelt of Mansfield, Ohio; and two grandchildren.
Celeta Jean Thomas
Celeta Jean Thomas of Gainesville died Saturday at her home after a long illness.
She was 62.
Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker.
Born in Bronson, she lived in Gainesville for most of her life.
Survivors include her mother, Ruth M. Harden of Gainesville; her husband, Donald Kenneth Thomas of Gainesville; three sons, Donald F. Orth of Ocala, Kenneth Edward Thomas of Brooker, and Robert Franklin Thomas of Gainesville; two daughters, Debbie Garmon of Cape Coral and Mary Lee Burton of Gainesville; a sister, Mary Bishop of Gainesville; 8 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
