Irving Bayer
Irving Bayer of Gainesville died Friday at North Florida Regional Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 88.
Mr. Bayer was born in New York City. He lived in Miami for 53 years and moved to Gainesville nine months ago.
Mr. Bayer was a retired life insurance agent and former employee of the city of Miami.
He was an active member of Temple Beth David in Miami for more than 50 years.
Survivors include two sons, Laurence Bayer of Gainesville and Mark Bayer of Arlington, Va.; a sister, Ceil Shankman of Margate; a brother, David Bayer of Margate; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Velma Buchanan
PANAMA CITY BEACH -- Velma Buchanan of Panama City Beach died Thursday. She was 50.
Mrs. Buchanan was born in Live Oak.
She was a Baptist and a homemaker.
Mrs. Buchanan was preceded in death by her son, Andrew Buchanan.
Survivors include a daughter, Tracy Moon of Fort Walton Beach; two sons, Ford Buchanan of England and Mitchell Buchanan of Jacksonville; five sisters, Charlotte Wood of Lake City, Celia Goodson of Boston, Ga., and Lavon Andrews, Carolyn Johnson and Alice Bonds, all of Live Oak; and one grandchild.
Willie and Ramona Janet Cook
Willie and Ramona Janet Cook of Gainesville died Thursday following a car accident on E. University Avenue. They were both 77.
Mr. Cook was born in Justice, W.Va. Mrs. Cook was born in Gilbert Creek, W.Va. They moved to Gainesville 42 years ago.
Mr. Cook was a retired biomedical engineer at Shands at the University of Florida, and Mrs. Cook was a homemaker.
Mr. Cook served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a radar instructor and worked for the Sperry-Rand Corp. of Gainesville. The couple owned and operated an appliance store in West Virginia. They were Baptist.
Mr. Cook received an honorary degree in electrical engineering from UF.
Survivors include three sons, Randy Cook and John W. Cook, both of Gainesville, and Mark R. Cook of Virginia Beach, Va.; and three grandchildren.
Mrs. Cook is also survived by two sisters, Romaine Cline of Baisden, W.Va. and Kitty Chen of Milford, Del.; and a brother, Harry Cline of Baisden.
Mr. Cook is also survived by a sister, Ruby Hatfield of Iaeger, W.Va.; and a brother, Ernest Cook of Gainesville.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the American Cancer Society 2119 SW 16th St., Gainesville, 32608.
Deborah Ann Cooper
OLD TOWN -- Deborah Ann Cooper, a lifelong resident of Old Town, died Wednesday at her residence in Old Town. She was 42.
Mrs. Cooper was a homemaker and a member of the Church of God in Cross City.
Survivors include her fiance, William L. Johnson of Old Town; a daughter, Stephanie Bailey of Williston; her father, James Earl Cooper Sr. of Cross City; a sister, Twyla Blumenburg of Old Town; a half-sister, Alisha Cooper of Cross City; a brother, James Earl Cooper Jr. of Old Town; a half-brother, Christopher Cooper of Cross City; and her grandparents, Elvie Newman of Cross City, and Mitchell and Bernice Keen of Old Town.
Agnes Patrice Dougherty
PALATKA -- Agnes Patrice Dougherty of Palatka died Saturday at Columbia-Putnam Medical Center after a long illness. She was 74.
Mrs. Dougherty was born in Philadelphia and moved from Gainesville to Palatka 2-1/2 years ago.
She was a Catholic and a homemaker.
Mrs. Dougherty was preceded in death by her husband, John Joseph Dougherty.
Survivors include two daughters, Linda Atchison of Palatka and Donna Van Ryzin of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.; five sons, Richard E. Dougherty, Michael P. Dougherty and Robert L. Dougherty, all of Gainesville, John J. Dougherty of Lakeland and William E. Dougherty of Flagler Beach; a sister, Mary Maffei of Wallingford, Pa.; a brother, Bill Thomas of Fishing Creek, N.J.; 15 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Betty Lou Brannen Gaubatz
LAKE BUTLER -- Betty Lou Brannen Gaubatz, a longtime resident of Lake Butler, died Thursday at Shands at the University of Florida following an extended illness. She was 70.
Mrs. Gaubatz was an elementary and middle school teacher in Union County and a member of First Christian Church of Lake Butler.
Survivors include her husband, Robert F. Gaubatz of Lake Butler; two daughters, Carol Roney and Lizbeth Croft, both of Lake Butler; a son, Gregg Gaubatz of San Francisco; a sister, Patsy Cason of Worthington Springs; two brothers, Joseph Brannen of Miami and George Robert Brannen of Wildwood; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
John Rosko Sr.
John Rosko Sr. died suddenly at Park Place Retirement Residence on Saturday. He was 84.
Mr. Rosko was born in Rahway, N.J., and grew up in Czechoslovakia. He returned to the United States in 1937. He moved to Gainesville from Jupiter last year.
Mr. Rosko was a retired carpenter.
He was a member of Carpenters and Joiners Local 715 of Elizabeth, N.J., a member of St. John the Baptist Russian Orthodox Church in Rahway, where he served as president of the church building committee, and he was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Jupiter-Tequesta.
Survivors include a daughter, Elaine J. Frost of Canton, Ga.; two sons, John Rosko Jr. of Edison, N.J. and George Rosko of Gainesville; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Virginia Whitehead Dorsey
Virginia Whitehead Dorsey of Gainesville died Saturday in Gainesville. She was 86.
Mrs. Dorsey was born in Atlanta, Ga., and moved to Gainesville from Jacksonville Beach in 1942. She was the owner of Alert Answering Service and was a nurse with the American Red Cross in World War II. She was also a former member of the Gainesville Woman's Club and was a member of University First United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Dorsey was preceded in death by her husband, Marvin L. Dorsey. Survivors include one son, Paul Dorsey of Gainesville.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to University First United Methodist Church, 1320 W. University Ave., Gainesville, 32603.
Margaret Goodman
JACKSONVILLE -- Margaret Goodman of Jacksonville died Friday in Jacksonville. She was 74.
Mrs. Goodman was born in British Columbia, Canada, and grew up in Newfoundland, Canada. She lived in Gainesville for many years, working as an accountant at the University of Florida. Mrs. Goodman also sang with the UF choir for many years.
Survivors include one son, Robert Goodman; two daughters, Patsy Waterhouse and Pam La Mont; one brother, Doug Mawer; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Elbert John Nettles
NEWBERRY -- Elbert John Nettles of Newberry died Saturday in Newberry following an extended illness. He was 79.
Mr. Nettles was born in Brewster and moved to Newberry from Ocala in 1999. He was a radio dispatcher with Seaboard Coastline Railroad and was a Presbyterian.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara Nettles of Newberry; one daughter, Marsha Nettles Cook of Atlanta, Ga.; three sons, Elbert John Nettles Jr. of Johnson City, Tenn., Ronald Nettles of Pembroke Pines and Donald Nettles of Fort Lauderdale; one stepdaughter, Diane James of Bristol, Va.; one stepson, Steve James of Citra; one sister, Delores Nettles Manning of Newberry; one brother, Willard Eugene Nettles of San Mateo; two grandchildren; and six step- grandchildren.
John Spafford Carlton
ALTOONA -- John Spafford Carlton of Altoona died Friday at the Lakeview Terrace Retirement Center in Altoona. He was 95.
Mr. Carlton was born in Chicago and moved to Central Florida after his retirement from Pan American Airways in Miami, where he worked as an engine tester and inspector for 25 years.
He was a member of the Lions Club.
He enjoyed space history, growing roses, Major League Baseball and travel.
Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Frances Overton Carlton of Altoona; a brother, Joseph T. Carlton of High Springs; and many nieces and nephews.
Rebecca Louise Green
OLD TOWN -- Rebecca Louise Green of Old Town died Saturday at Shands at AGH. She was 86.
Mrs. Green was born in Taylor County and lived most of her life in Old Town. She was a member of Old Town Methodist Church.
She is survived by her husband, John Oliver Green of Old Town; two daughters, Gloria Kelley of Old Town and Patricia Griffen of Old Town; and 10 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.
Kurt Stuart McConnell
Kurt Stuart McConnell of Gainesville died Thursday in a wood chipper accident. He was 14.
Mr. McConnell was born in Metzger, Ore., and lived in Gainesville most of his life. He was a student at Westwood Middle School
He played quarterback on a Pop Warner football team and was a member of the Boys Club. He helped in many ways at the Gainesville Community Play House theater.
He is survived by his father, David F. McConnell of Gainesville; his mother, Deborah Kellum McConnell of Gainesville; two brothers, Jace L. McConnell and Colby L. McConnell, both of Gainesville; two sisters, Erin R. McConnell of Gainesville and Alea Moss of Marietta, Ohio; a paternal grandmother, Mary McConnell of Gainesville; and a maternal grandmother, Sydney Kellum of Bogalusa, La.
