May Tipton Trieste
May Tipton Trieste of Waldo died Monday at her daughter's home following a brief illness. She was 93.
Born in Estill County, Kentucky, Mrs. Trieste moved to Waldo 60 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Baptist Church of Waldo.
Mrs. Trieste is survived by daughters Thelma Agnes Bay and Sue Trieste, both of Waldo; stepdaughters Odessa Beville of Miami, Gertrude Dudley of Barefoot Bay and Virginia Roche of Ocala; sisters Lillian Tipton Tapp of Winchester, Ky., and Mary Ruth Turley of Falmouth, Ky., four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Clarence R. Craft
Clarence R. Craft of Jekyll Island, Ga., died at his daughter's home in Gainesville on Friday. He was 88.
Born in Lovell, Kan., Mr. Craft was a retired federal civil service employee and U.S. Navy commander who served in World War II and the Korean conflict.
He was a member of the Jekyll Island Methodist Church and the American Legion and was a former member of Kiwanis Club.
Survivors include one daughter, Gloria C. Comstock of Gainesville; one son-in-law, Richard Comstock of Gainesville; and one grandson, Nathan Oliver of Alexandria, Va.
Arrangements by Moring Funeral Home.
Selma Gottlieb Davis
LEESBURG - Selma Gottlieb Davis died at home on Thursday. She was 76.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., she moved to Leesburg from Miami 20 years ago. She was an artist.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude Davis.
Survivors include a daughter, Sharon Ketts of Gainesville; a son, Wayne Davis of Greenville, S.C.; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
Grace Marie Fleming
Grace Marie Fleming of Gainesville died Tuesday. She was 98.
She was born in Cranston, R.I., and moved to Gainesville seven years ago from Cabot, Ark.
She graduated from Commercial High School and attended Bryant and Stratton Secretarial School in Providence, R.I. She retired from New England Telephone and was a life member of the Telephone Pioneers of America and St. Timothy's Rosary and Altar Society.
She was a staunch supporter of the March of Dimes and served as a military assistance and disaster volunteer for the American Red Cross.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Edward M. Fleming. She is survived by a son, Dr. Edward M. Fleming of Gainesville; two grandsons; and a granddaughter.
John D. Hester
WILLISTON - John D. Hester died Friday at Nature Coast Regional Hospital. He was 77.
Born in Macon, Ga., he moved from Homestead to Williston 10 years ago. He enjoyed small engine repair and playing with his dog.
He was preceded in death by his son Steven Hester.
Survivors include one daughter, Sandra Hester of Williston; one son, John D. Hester of Big Flats, N.Y.; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Anne Leta Garrett
Anne Leta Garrett died Saturday at home in Gainesville. She was 89.
Born in Ithaca, Mich., Mrs. Garrett moved to Gainesville from Lake Placid in 1986.
Educated in Michigan, she moved to South Florida before World War II and was part of a University of Michigan antivenom research program, providing antivenom for the Allies in the Pacific Theater.
She also helped establish a reptile farm that was the precursor of the Miami Serpentarium.
She was a national parliamentarian and a member in the Woman's Club and the Episcopal Church.
She held positions with the Constitutional Officers of Highlands County.
She was a member of Holy Trinity Episcopal Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James J. Garrett Sr.
Survivors include a son, Lowell P. Garrett of Gainesville; a stepson, James J. Garrett Jr. of Leesburg; a brother, George Surdu of Mark, Ill.; sisters Vi Colson of Merritt Island and Mary Kline of Rochester Hills, Mich.; and two grandchildren.
Dean Charles Hall
BRONSON - Dean Charles Hall died at home Thursday. He was 80.
Born in St. Louis, Mo., Mr. Hall moved from Indian Harbor Beach to Bronson 21 years ago.
He was a general foreman for McDonnell Douglas Astronautics Corp. for 27 years.
He enjoyed gardening.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Shirley Hall of Bronson; one daughter, Kathleen Carmichael of Oviedo; sons John Hall of Cape Canaveral, Kevin Hall of Melbourne and Richard Hall of Dotham, Ala.; one sister, Marion Brewster of Chesterfield, Mo.; 10 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Jack Beeter Parker
OLD TOWN - Jack Beeter Parker died at his home on Friday following an extended illness.
He was 77.
Mr. Parker moved to Old Town in 1987 from Clearwater, where he taught auto body at St. Petersburg Vocational Education for 10 years.
He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was a member of the Old Town United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Ethel Parker of Old Town; sons John Burnett Parker of Miami and Robert Alton Parker of Shalimar; one brother, Alton B. Parker of Clearwater; one sister, Frances Rossini of Clearwater; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Rick Gooding Funeral Home.
Randy S. McFarland
STARKE - Randy S. McFarland died of cancer at his home Saturday.
He was 49.
Mr. McFarland was born in Winchester, Va., and moved to Starke from Williston 15 years ago.
He attended school in Fort Lauderdale. He also worked as a plasterer for Lynn's Construction Co. and was a member of the Bayless Highway Baptist Church.
Survivors include his parents, Charles and Marian McFarland of Starke; a daughter, Della McFarland of Palm Harbor; a sister, Janice Garber of Starke; and a brother, Gaylon McFarland of Interlachen.
Arrangements by Archie Tanner Funeral Home.
William Allison Osteen
CROSS CITY - William Allison Osteen died Friday following an extended illness.
He was 67.
Mr. Osteen was born in Cross City, where he remained his entire life.
He owned a scrap metal business and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Cross City.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Missy Osteen.
Survivors include his wife, Carol Osteen of Cross City; sons Buddy Osteen, Mike Osteen and Thomas Allen Driggers, all of Cross City; daughters Eve McDaniel of Tarpon Springs, Patsy Osteen of Cross City, Collette Reyes of St. Petersburg, and Debbie Harris and Tuffy Sapp, both of Cross City; brothers Bill, Ed, Tommy and Bobby Osteen, all of Cross City; sisters Gladys Thompson, Pat Medlen and Ina McLeod, all of Cross City; 14 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Rick Gooding Funeral Home.
Annie Ree Thomas
LAKE CITY - Annie Ree Thomas died Friday at Shands at Lake Shore Hospital following an extended illness.
She was 85.
A Lake City native, Mrs. Thomas was valedictorian of Baldwin High School, class of 1934, and briefly taught school after receiving her teaching certificate.
She was a tailor and a charter member of the candy stripers at Yorks Hospital.
She volunteered as a Brownie and Girl Scouts leader, and she was a Youth Foster Mother at Dowling Park and a guidance supervisor at the Trenton Detention Center.
She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Lake City Second Ward.
Survivors include daughters Selwia Ann Chapple of Lake City, and Betty Ann Csercsics of Grover Beach, Calif.; a brother, Charlie P. Adkins of Chiefland; a sister, Leona Barker of Lake City; seven grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.
Arrangements by Guerry Funeral Home.
