Betty J. Wade
OLD TOWN -- Betty J. Wade of Old Town died Sunday in Old Town. She was 69.
A native of Georgia, Mrs. Wade moved to Old Town 35 years ago.
She was a homemaker, a business owner and a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Deward P. Wade of Old Town; two daughters, Susan Nessmith of Fanning Springs and Donna Lord; a son, Bill W. Wade of Chiefland; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Nelson Pritchett
Area man gets dying wish
Nelson Pritchett, the former Gainesville resident who had battled Lou Gehrig's Disease while campaigning for his right to die, finally got his wish.
Pritchett, 59, died at his son's suburban Boston home Jan. 21.
He was active in the Hemlock Society, an organization that supports "death with dignity" laws. On Nov. 27, Pritchett traveled to Washington, D.C., to speak at a Hemlock Society press conference. He was protesting U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft's decision to go after physicians in Oregon who under that state's voter-approved law may prescribe lethal doses of prescription drugs to terminally ill patients who request them.
"I want to ask Ashcroft why he won't let me have a choice, " Pritchett said.
Two days earlier, Pritchett was featured in a Hemlock Society quarter page ad in the Sunday New York Times that carried the caption: "I am dying: Either I will decide how I die or someone will decide for me."
Pritchett, who was retired from the Federal Aviation Administration, was well known in the Gainesville running community, and in his lifetime competed in 21 marathons, three times running the distance in a clown costume to collect funds for Shrine hospitals that work with crippled children.
But his running ended more than two years ago when doctors confirmed he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, the same disorder that crippled and eventually killed the famous Yankee first baseman, Lou Gehrig, whose name is now often linked with the disease.
ALS kills off nerve cells that send messages to the muscles, slowly paralyzing the body. In the interview in November, he said he could barely walk across his living room. His speech had slowed and eating and breathing were difficult. He was adamant he wanted no machines to help prolong his life, and expressed his anger at physicians who profited from keeping the terminally ill alive against their wishes. "I don't want to sit here like a cabbage for them to water and fertilize, " he said.
In his final two years, he kept in touch with family and friends with e-mail, frequently passing on the best jokes that had come his way. Evidence of his sense of humor can be seen chiseled on the gray granite tombstone he purchased last summer. It carries the greeting, "Thanks for stopping by."
His sister, Arlene Santa Cruz of Cedar Park, Texas, said her brother died in his sleep Jan. 21. She said she did not know the specific cause of death, but said her brother had not been eating and was receiving care from hospice, before his death.
Pritchett was veteran of the U.S. Air Force and a graduate of the University of Southern Mississippi. In addition to his sister he is survived by his mother, Nettie Pritchett of Cedar Park, Texas; sons Eric Pritchett of Boston and Brian Pritchett of Hattiesburg, Miss.; and brothers, Wyatt Pritchett of Orlando and Darrell Pritchett of Keystone Heights.
Gary Kirkland can be reached at 338-3104 or kirklag@gainesvillesun.com
Candace Diane Bartleson
Candace Diane Bartleson of Gainesville died Saturday at Shands at the University of Florida. She was 43.
Mrs. Bartleson was born in Alma, Mich., and moved to Gainesville from Tampa in 1999.
She was an operations research analyst and a member of Phi Mu Sorority and Mensa. She enjoyed cross-stitching, computer games, cats and science fiction.
Survivors include her husband, Richard J. Bartleson of Gainesville; her mother, Lorna Canterbury of Pensacola; a brother, Calvin Dicks of Denver; and sisters Lynne Nimocks of Merritt Island and Darcia LaCour of Little Rock, Ark.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Joan Lorenzen Keller
Joan Lorenzen Keller of Gainesville died Sunday at Shands at AGH. She was 66.
Mrs. Keller born in Clinton, Iowa, and moved to Gainesville from Miami in 1987. She was a nurse and a Catholic.
Survivors include sons Neil F. McGuinness of Miami and Brian J. McGuinness of St. Petersburg; daughters Kathleen M. McGuinness of Gainesville and Maureen McGuinness Cote of Aurora, Colo.; and five grandchildren.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Ethel Brown Krpan
Ethel Brown Krpan of Gainesville died Sunday at Palm Garden. She was 77.
Mrs. Krpan was born in Jersey City, N.J., and moved to Gainesville in 1975. She retired from Suntrust Bank. She was a relief worker for the American Red Cross during World War II.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Martin S. Krpan.
Survivors include a daughter, Mary Lyn Krpan of Jacksonville; a son, Martin Krpan of Gainesville; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
Bernice Haddix Middleton
ARCHER - Bernice Haddix Middleton died Sunday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 82.
Mrs. Middleton was born in Powell County, Ky., and moved to Archer from Lexington, Ky., in 1968. She was a retired nursery school attendant and a member of Tower Road Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William N. Middleton.
Survivors include daughters Susan Teijeiro of Gainesville, Phyllis Ann German of Hastings and Ellen Stollings of Detroit; a son, William N. Middleton II of Archer; four grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Mary Pandos
Mary Pandos of Gainesville died Saturday of natural causes. She was 96.
She was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, and moved to Gainesville from Hollywood two years ago. She was a homemaker and Catholic.
Survivors include sons Robert Pandos of Gainesville and William Pandos of Oviedo; brothers Joseph and Albert Petras, both of Pittsburgh; a sister, Elizabeth Whipple of Wilmington, N.C.; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Rosalie E. Stell
WILLISTON - Rosalie E. Stell died Friday in Williston. She was 89.
Mrs. Stell was a lifelong resident of Williston.
She was a retired secretary with the Levy County School Board and a member of First Baptist Church of Williston.
She has no immediate survivors.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Calvin Woodrow Watson
LIVE OAK - Calvin Woodrow Watson died Saturday at Lake City Medical Center following a brief illness. He was 80.
Mr. Watson was born in Jennings and lived in Live Oak most of his life.
He retired after 25 years with Florida Power Corp. He was a farmer and a member of Mount Gilead Baptist Church and the Hayward Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Willie Mae Watson of Live Oak; a daughter Barbara Bittman of Owensboro, Ky.; sons Gary, Mitch, Phillip, Donald and Ray Watson, all of Live Oak; brothers Henry Watson of Branford and Wiley Watson of Santa Margarita, Calif.; 21 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Daniels Funeral Home.
Elizabeth Miller Battles
Elizabeth Miller Battles of Rochester, N.Y., died of an extended illness on Feb. 6 in her sister's home in Rochester. She was 82.
Mrs. Battles moved to Rochester 48 years ago from Lawtey.
She was a retired employee of General Motors Co. She attended the schools of Bradford County.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Battles.
Survivors include sisters Uether Miller of Micanopy and Minnie L. Boutte of Rochester; and brothers Henry, Isaac and Nathaniel Miller, all of Rochester, Jacob Miller of Orlando, and Bernard Miller of Titusville.
Arrangements by Haile Funeral Home.
Lillian Virginia Brown
Lillian Virginia Brown of Gainesville died Monday. She was 87.
Born in Hawkinsville, Ga., Mrs. Brown moved to Gainesville from Yankeetown in 1983. She raised her children in the Newberry area.
She was a Methodist and a waitress. She loved her grandchildren, flowers, garage sales and old country music.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harry L. Brown; a son, William D. Hoyt; and a brother, Lamar Scarbrough.
Survivors include daughters Dottie Davis Gibson of Newberry, Judy B. Baxter of Tampa and Cheryl B. Stanton of Jacksonville; a son, Harry L. Brown Jr. of Jacksonville; 16 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
