Clara Tyson
Clara Tyson of Gainesville died Sunday at Alachua Nursing Center following an extended illness. She was 85.
Mrs. Tyson was born in Sylvester, Ga., and moved to Gainesville from Alachua 44 years ago.
She was a homemaker and a member of Springhill Baptist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Willie Mae Poole and Mamie Blackshear, both of Gainesville, Irelene London of Atlanta and Pauline Stephenson of Largo; six sons, James L. Tyson of Alachua and Robert Tyson, John Tyson and Offie Lee Tyson, all of Gainesville, Henry Tyson of Brandon and Joseph Tyson of Ocala; 28 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Catherine Alexander Williams
Catherine Alexander Williams of the Daysville Community of Gainesville died Saturday at Shands at the University of Florida following a sudden illness. She was 82.
Mrs. Williams was born in Gainesville and lived in New York City before returning to Gainesville in 1983.
She was a member of Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church, where she was formerly an usher.
She was also a member of the Female Protective Society.
Survivors include her husband, Ernest Williams of Gainesville; a daughter, Hattie Lazie of Miami; two sisters, Nellie Williams of Gainesville and Lucille Small of Riviera Beach; a brother, Leroy Alexander of Jacksonville; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Lillie Bell Welch Williams
NEWBERRY - Lillie Bell Welch Williams of the Jonesville Community in Newberry died Saturday at the Oaks Residential and Rehabilitation Center.
She was 101.
Mrs. Williams was born in the Whittaker Community and moved to the Jonesville Community as a young child.
She was a housekeeper with Private Homes. She also worked at Sunland Training Center, now Tacachale, and Duval Elementary School as a foster grandparent.
She was a member of the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness.
Survivors include a daughter, Ella M. Wilson-Bly of the Jonesville Community; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Charles Junior Fitch
OLD TOWN -- Charles Junior Fitch of Old Town died Wednesday at Shands at the University of Florida after an extended illness. He was 73.
Mr. Fitch was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, and moved to Old Town from Riverview 17 years ago.
He was a mechanic in the phosphate industry.
He was a Protestant.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Rosemary Fitch of Old Town; two daughters, Brenda L. Wheeler of Swanton, Ohio, and Linda K. Schwab of Trenton; five sons, Charles L. Fitch of Tampa, Steven D. Fitch of Defiance, Ohio, Gary M. Fitch of Riverview and Ronald A. Fitch and Douglas L. Fitch, both of Old Town; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the Hospice of North Central Florida.
John Curtis McFarland
HAWTHORNE -- John Curtis McFarland of Hawthorne died Thursday at Shands at AGH. He was 78.
Mr. McFarland was born in Ashland, Ky., and moved to Hawthorne from Harrodsburg, Ky., in 1975.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of the Disabled American Veterans.
He was a member of Woodland Baptist Church in Johnson.
Survivors include four daughters, Janice Reeves of Harrodsburg, Ky., Minerva Heckman of Seffner and Rebecca Lovell and Jo Ellen Strunk, both of Hawthorne; a son, John W. McFarland of Hawthorne; a sister, Margaret Baldwin of Sturgis, Mich.; a brother, Don McFarland of Fort Wayne; 12 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Velma D. Menzen
BREVARD COUNTY -- Velma D. Menzen of Brevard County died Thursday at National Healthcare Merritt Island. She was 86.
She was born in Omaha, Ala., and moved to Brevard County from Naples in 1989.
She was a retired partner in the egg and poultry business.
Survivors include a son, Robert E. Menzen of Keystone Heights; a daughter; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Betty Ruth Nicholson
CROSS CITY -- Betty Ruth Nicholson died Wednesday at her residence in Cross City. She was 57.
Mrs. Nicholson was born in Ponce de Leon and moved to Cross City from Sebring 31 years ago.
She was a homemaker, and enjoyed spending time with her grandchildren. She also enjoyed fishing.
Survivors include her companion, W.J. Hammonds of Cross City; three daughters, Joyce Bond and Rhonda Gallion, both of Cross City, and Sherry Herring of Old Town; a son, Bobby Rhymes of Old Town; two sisters, Francis Lamar of Cross City and Odell Scoggins of Old Town; and nine grandchildren.
Mary L. Siverson
MORRISTON -- Mary E. Siverson died Thursday at Oakview Care Center after brief illness.
Mrs. Siverson was born in Rimby, Canada, and moved to Morriston from Tampa four months ago.
She was a retired laundry worker for St. Anthony's Hospital.
She was a Protestant and a member of the Eastern Star in New York City.
Survivors include a daughter, Beverley E. Reed of Pocomoke City, Md.; three sons, Wilbur D. Spearin of Elyria, Ohio, Frankline D. Spearin of Lake Jackson, Texas, and Daniel G. Spearin of Morriston; three sisters, Joan Hadley, Dot Berkeley and Elsie Hefner, all of Canada; 16 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Kathleen Elaine Wakefield
CHIEFLAND -- Kathleen Elaine Wakefield died Thursday at her Chiefland residence. She was 67.
She was born in Chicago and moved to Chiefland from Sarasota 12 years ago.
Mrs. Wakefield was an LPN.
She was a member of Hardeetown Baptist Church in Chiefland and she served as church librarian.
Mrs. Wakefield loved to quilt and sew.
Survivors include her husband, Marion Alva Wakefield of Chiefland; two sons, Russell Wakefield of Seattle and Mickey Wakefield of Columbus, Ohio; two sisters, Florence Henderson and Deborah Poole, both of Spring Hill; and a brother, Bruce Burnette of Clearwater.
Beatrice W. Burns
GAINESVILLE - Beatrice W. Burns of Gainesville died Friday night at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 83.
Mrs. Burns was a homemaker.
Mrs. Burns was born in Monteocha and moved from Hollywood to Gainesville 36 years ago.
She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, David Burns of Lake Butler and Grant Burns of Gainesville.
Maria Louise Bird Chamberlin
Maria Louise Bird Chamberlin died Saturday at Shands at AGH. She was 76.
Mrs. Chamberlin was a homemaker.
Mrs. Chamberlin was born in Monticello and came to Gainesville 29 years ago.
She attended the Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church.
She served as a member and chairman of Day Lily Garden Circle and also belonged to the Skippers Social Club, the Retired Officers' Wives Club, the Gainesville Golf and Country Club and the Gainesville Garden Club.
Survivors include her husband, retired U.S.A.F. Lt. Col. Lloyd William Chamberlin Jr. of Gainesville; her son, Lloyd William Chamberlin III of Tampa; her sister, Betsy Bird Anderson of Mt. Pleasant, Tenn.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Patricia Elaine FitzHarris
Patricia Elaine FitzHarris died Thursday in Gainesville after a sudden illness. She was 46.
Ms. FitzHarris was a beautician.
Ms. FitzHarris was born in Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Gainesville 15 years ago
Survivors include her parents, Leo J. and Mary B. FitzHarris of St. Augustine; two sisters, Mariel Falbo of Austin, Texas, and Anne Molavi of Cherry Hill, N.J.; and five brothers, Jim FitzHarris of Jamestown, R.I., Joe FitzHarris of Alexandria, Va., Walt FitzHarris of Dayton, Bob FitzHarris of Farmersville, Ohio, and Greg FitzHarris of Fayetteville, N.C.
