Joan D. David
Joan D. David of Gainesville died Monday at Hospice House. She was 57.
She was born in Holyoke, Mass., and moved to Gainesville from Miami in 1978. She was a homemaker and a member of Campus Church of Christ.
Survivors include a son, James Davis; five daughters, Jackie Hager of Newport News, Va., and Patricia McElroy, Brenda Siebert, Marie Davis and Catherine Davis, all of Gainesville; a brother, John Friel; and seven grandchildren.
Robert Edward Dees Jr.
Robert Edward Dees Jr. of Gainesville died Saturday at the Veterans Affairs Nursing Home. He was 79.
Mr. Dees was born in Archer and was a former owner of Yellow Cab Co. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II and was a Baptist.
Survivors include four sons, Larry Dees of Ringgold, Ga., Ricky Fogerty of Graham, Randall Dees of Gainesville and Bobby Dees of Ocala; a brother, Joey "Buddy" Dees of Gainesville; two sisters, Bessie Goodbred of Gainesville and Robbie Foster of Ringgold; five grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren.
James H. Faulkner III
STARKE -- James H. Faulkner III died Sunday at his residence in Starke following a brief illness. He was 74.
Mr. Faulkner was born in Jacksonville and moved to Starke in 1962.
He retired from Bethlehem Tank & Steel Corp. in Jacksonville.
He was a member of the Keystone Heights Christian Church.
Mr. Faulkner was a U.S. Army veteran.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Grace Faulkner.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Ann Roberts Faulkner of Starke; three daughters, Carolyn Carver, Kathy Tedder and Christie Allen, all of Starke; a son, James "Butch" Faulkner of Merritt Island; three sisters, Barbara Davidson of Orange Park and Betty Sue Guzman and Beverly Tyrrell, both of Jacksonville; a brother, Harry Faulkner of St. Augustine; 10 grandchildren; and two great- grandchildren.
Percy Ira Gardner
STARKE -- Percy Ira Gardner of Starke died Saturday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Starke. He was 71.
Mr. Gardner was born in McAlpin and moved to Starke 21 years ago.
He was a beekeeper and an entomologist at the University of Florida.
He was a Baptist and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Survivors include his wife, Marie M. Gardner of Starke; three daughters, Terry Martin of Gainesville, Janet Ferguson of Lake Butler and Donna Youngblood of Hampton; two sons, Wyatt Gardner and Rockey Gardner, both of Hampton; a sister, Bennie Lee of O'Brien; three brothers, Price Gardner of McAlpin, and Bud Gardner and Billy Gardner, both of Live Oak; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Virginia Stubbs Leps
Virginia Stubbs Leps of Gainesville died Sunday in Gainesville. She was 93.
Mrs. Leps was born in Miami and raised in Macon, Ga. She moved to Gainesville from Winter Haven in 1943.
She worked as a schoolteacher for 30 years, many of which were spent at J.J. Finley Elementary School.
She was a member of the Alachua County Retired Teachers Association and Delta Kappa Gamma.
Mrs. Leps did graduate work at the University of Florida.
She was a member of First Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Leps was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph M. Leps; and a daughter, Virginia Leps Guernsey.
Survivors include a daughter, Josephine Leps Patterson of Orlando; five grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Ayleen H. Smith
MELROSE -- Ayleen H. Smith of Melrose died Saturday in Melrose following a brief illness. She was 88.
Mrs. Smith was born in Pearsall, Texas, and moved to Melrose from Palatka in 1948.
She was a schoolteacher in Putnam County for 45 years.
She was a member of Eliam Baptist Church.
Mrs. Smith was a charter member and past president of Alpha Delta Kappa in Palatka and a member of Phi Delta Kappa.
She was active in the Melrose Library Association and the Women's Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Robert L. Smith; and two sisters, Maude Sellers and Martha Tipton.
Mrs. Smith has no immediate survivors.
Veva Belle Stephenson
Veva Belle Stephenson, a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Sunday in Gainesville. She was 85.
Mrs. Stephenson was a retired secretary at the University of Florida and a member of Seventh-day Adventist Church of Gainesville.
Survivors include two nieces, Carol Y. Lehr of Taylors, S.C., and Patricia Thomas of Hurst, Texas; and a cousin, R.J. Lynn of Gainesville.
Floyd Ernest Cox
HIGH SPRINGS - Floyd Ernest Cox died Thursday at Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park. He was 89.
Mr. Cox was born in Robbinston, Maine, and raised in Vermont. He also lived in Massachusetts and Tarpon Springs before moving to Dowling Park four years ago. He was a Baptist and an electronic engineer for Gamewell.
Survivors include daughters Janice Herrick of High Springs and Wendy Circone of Sarasota; sons Michael Cox of the U.S. Navy and Richard Chapin of New York; a brother, Ralph Cox of Maine; 13 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren and great-great-great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Moring Funeral Home.
Jasper Gardner
LAKE CITY - Jasper "Skeet" Gardner died after a Tuesday boating accident in the Gulf of Mexico off Horseshoe Beach. He was 67.
Mr. Gardner was born in Washington County, Ala., and maintained residences in Lake City and Horseshoe Beach. He earned a certificate in drafting from William R. Moore School of Technology in Memphis and a certificate in golf course maintenance from Lake City Community College. He worked as a machinist and a carpenter. Mr. Gardner served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of the Fairhope Baptist Church in Tibbie, Ala., and a former member of the Loyal Order of the Moose in Lake City and the Bass Anglers Sportsmen's Society in Memphis.
Survivors include his companion, Sonja Larson of Lake City; daughters Michelle Gardner Taylor of Lake of the Woods, Va., and Bobbi Gardner Goss and Rhonda Gardner Southerland, both of Lake City; sisters Sallie Beal and Laura Sue Melendez, both of Lake City; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements by Guerry Funeral Home.
Sarah Lois Roberts
BELL - Sarah Lois Roberts, a lifelong resident of Bell, died Thursday at Shands at the University of Florida. She was 76.
Mrs. Roberts was a cottage parent and a member of Bethel Baptist Church in Trenton. She enjoyed sewing, cooking and crocheting.
She was preceded in death by a son, Simon Dillard.
Survivors include her husband, J.W. Roberts of Bell; sons Don and Darrell Boyette, both of Bell, and Ronnie Boyette of Chiefland; daughters Charlotte Philman of Chiefland, Sharon Landcaster of Neptune Beach and Laura Spears of Bell; a sister, Louise Sparkman of Trenton; 16 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Yates-Gooding Funeral Home.
Scott G. Straub
Scott G. Straub of Gainesville died Wednesday at Shands at AGH following a brief illness.
He was 42.
Mr. Straub was born in Indianapolis, Ind., and moved to Gainesville from Fort Walton Beach 17 years ago.
He was a former health and safety officer with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and a member of The Rock of Gainesville. He was a graduate of Florida Institute of Technology.
Survivors include his wife, Leslie E. Straub of Gainesville; his parents, Ret. Lt. Col. Peter and Barbara Straub of Gainesville; and a brother, Peter Blish Straub of Fort Walton Beach.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Sylvia Mary Brown
CHIEFLAND - Sylvia Mary Brown died Wednesday at her residence. She was 84.
The New York native moved to Chiefland 20 years ago.
She retired from Hazelton Electronics. She was a member of Hardeetown Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, J.C. Brown of Chiefland; a daughter, Melissa B. Greve of Mastic, N.Y.; and a grandchild.
Arrangements by Hiers Funeral Home.
