Willie Briggs McCraven
Willie Briggs McCraven of Gainesville died May 9 at Alachua Nursing Rehab Center in Gainesville after a long illness. She was 97.
Mrs. McCraven was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Born in Marianna, she moved from Windsor to Gainesville about 10 years ago.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. Lonnie McCraven.
Survivors include a stepson, Simon Augusta of Micanopy; and a sister, Lillie Mitchell of Gainesville; and numerous step-grandchildren.
Kenneth Smith McMullen
TAMPA -- Kenneth Smith McMullen of Tampa died Wednesday at University Community Hospital in Tampa. He was 92.
Mr. McMullen was a retired district director of the Agriculture Extension Service at the University of Florida.
Born in Lee, he moved from Gainesville to Tampa 18 years ago. He received his master's degree in agriculture from UF.
He was a member of Temple Terrace United Methodist Church, Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity and was a former Kiwanis Club member.
Mr. McMullen won awards for his work in Florida 4-H clubs and the Florida citrus industry.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Gertrude McMullen.
Survivors include a son, Jack McMullen of Tampa; and three grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the John Knox Village Benevolent Fund in Tampa.
Eric Pernell Pelham
Eric Pernell Pelham of Gainesville died Wednesday at Shands at the University of Florida after a brief illness. He was 29.
Mr. Pelham was a pet groomer.
Born in Gainesville, he moved from Atlanta back to Gainesville three years ago. He attended Eastside High School.
Mr. Pelham was a member of Bartley Temple United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his mother, Juanita Pelham-Camps of Gainesville; his father, Donald Bradford of Atlanta; his stepfather, Louis Camps of Gainesville; a sister, Crystal Pelham of Mobile, Ala.; his grandfather, Johnnie Pelham of Waldo; and his grandmother, Lola M. Camps of Gainesville.
Oneila Munden Wood
WILLISTON -- Oneila Munden Wood of Williston died Wednesday at Hospice House of Gainesville after a long illness. She was 79.
Mrs. Wood was a retired clerk at the University of Florida.
Born in Morriston, she was a lifelong resident of Levy County.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Morriston.
Mrs. Wood enjoyed fishing and sewing.
Survivors include a daughter, Joanne Dice of Gainesville; two brothers, Hoover Munden and Ben Munden, both of Williston; three sisters, Katie Markham of Wildwood, Macey Adams of Ocala and Wilma Johnson of Corder, Mo.; and one grandson.
Betty Jean Dean
CLEARWATER -- Betty Jean "Ninnie" Dean of Clearwater died Thursday at Integrated Health Services of Clearwater. She was 69.
Mrs. Dean was born in Blaine County, Okla., and moved to Clearwater from Gainesville in 1980.
She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
Survivors include her husband of 54 years, William F. Dean of Clearwater; three daughters, Laura D. Heath and Stephanie Walker, both of Clearwater, and Rebecca M. Dean of Hollywood; two sons, Kenneth D. Dean of Ontario, Calif., and Billy Dean of Gainesville; two sisters, Maxine Kirschenmann of Bakersfield, Calif., and Norene Ingram of Delano, Calif.; a brother, Douglas Isaman of Gig Harbor, Wash.; and 11 grandchildren.
Rose Etta Gill
HIGH SPRINGS -- Rose Etta Gill of High Springs died Friday at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center of Trenton. She was 86.
Mrs. Gill was born in Live Oak and moved to High Springs from Largo 1 years ago.
She was a homemaker and a Baptist.
Survivors include a daughter, Etta Lucille Pelletier of High Springs; a son, George Gill of Largo; 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Lutrelle High
Lutrelle High of Gainesville died Friday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 82.
Mrs. High was born in Tifton, Ga., and moved to Gainesville from Miami eight years ago.
She was a member of the Gainesville Women's Club and the Northwest Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Linda Thompson of Gainesville; and a grandchild.
Mary Francis Johnson
Mary Francis Johnson of Gainesville died May 19 at Shands at AGH following an extended illness. She was 51.
A native of Mississippi, Mrs. Johnson moved to Gainesville from Hazlehurst four years ago.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Pearl Johnson.
Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Coleman of Brookhaven, Miss., Lorraine Johnson of Lake Butler and Gloria Johnson of Gainesville; two sons, Donald Johnson of Brooker and Clifton Johnson of Lake Butler; a brother, Jessie Bouie of Crystal Springs, Miss.
Oral L. Lewis
Oral L. Lewis of Gainesville died Friday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 84.
Mr. Lewis was born in Humphreys, Mo., and moved to Gainesville from Clinton, Mo., in 1994.
He was a retired maintenance mechanic and a U.S. Army World War II veteran.
He was a member of the Clinton Lodge No. 548 F & AM, the Scottish Rite Ararat Shrine in Kansas City and the First Christian Disciples of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ellen Lewis of Gainesville; two daughters, Oralene Rasd of Downers Grove, Ill., and Darlene Ligon of Gainesville; a son, David L. Lewis of Plantation; five grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Robert Daniel Odum
ARCHER -- Robert Daniel Odum of Archer died Wednesday at Shands at the University of Florida. He was 45.
Mr. Odum was born in Avon Park and moved to Archer 10 years ago.
He was a security guard.
Survivors include his wife, Jeannete McWaters Odum of Archer; a daughter, Leia Ann Raymond of Archer; a son, James Daniel Odum of Altamonte Springs; a brother, Wade James Odum; and a grandchild.
Harriett Read
TRENTON -- Harriett Read of Trenton died Thursday at Shands at the University of Florida. She was 57.
Mrs. Read was born in Trenton and lived in Greenville before returning to Trenton a year ago.
She was a member of Pine Grove Baptist Church, where she served as organist, choir member and Sunday school teacher.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Butler Read.
Survivors include four sons, Benjie Read and Donnie Read, both of Bristol, Jody Read of St. Louis and Tony Read of Charlotte, N.C.; her mother and stepfather, Roselle Bublitz and Lyle Bublitz of Trenton; a brother, Francis Akins of Bronson; her grandmother, Ila Asbell of Trenton; and 12 grandchildren.
Albert Emil Saarinen
NEWBERRY -- Albert Emil Saarinen, a lifelong resident of Newberry, died Wednesday at his home. He was 93.
Mr. Saarinen was a farmer and a member of the Florida Farm Bureau, the Newberry Lion's Club, Delta Chi Fraternity and the First United Methodist Church of Newberry. He was a trustee for Newberry High School.
He attended the University of Florida.
Survivors include his wife, Mayola Witt Saarinen of Newberry; a daughter, Marilyn Fleming of Niceville; a brother, Victor Saarinen of Newberry; four grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
Beatrice M. Shipman Willey
Beatrice M. Shipman Willey of Leominster, Mass., died Thursday at her daughter's home in Worcester, Mass., following an extended illness. She was 90.
Mrs. Willey was born in Cincinnati and lived in Worcester for most of her life before moving to Leominster five years ago.
She worked as a cake decorator with Shipman's Cake Shop in Worcester for 57 years.
She was a member of the Twin City Baptist Temple.
Mrs. Willey was preceded in death by her husband, Earl K. Willey.
Survivors include three daughters, Lilla E. Nickerson of Worcester, Grace B. Warpula of Leominster and Martha E. Bane of Gainesville; three sons, Earl B. Willey of Charlton, Mass., Everett L. Willey of Rutland, Mass., and Robert K. Willey of Gainesville; 16 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.
