Fiore P. Barracca
LAKE CITY - Fiore P. Barracca died Friday at the Veterans Affairs Medial Center in Gainesville following a long illness. He was 79.
Mr. Barracca was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Lake City 30 years ago. He was a U.S. Army veteran who served in the European theater in World War II. He was a retired mail carrier in Lake City.
Mr. Barracca was a member of American Legion Post 57, a Bradenton Masonic lodge, the Lake City Shrine Club, and was a volunteer at the VA Medical Center in Lake City with the Disabled American Veterans. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Lake City.
Survivors include his wife, Dolly Barracca; a son, Frederick Rozelle of Gainesville; a daughter, Marie Rozelle Kennon of Lake City; four grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Guerry Funeral Home.
Stephen M. Brock
HAWTHORNE - Stephen M. Brock of Hawthorne died Thursday at home following a brief illness. He was 49.
Mr. Brock, a self-employed carpenter in the construction industry, was born in Hampton, Va., and moved to Hawthorne from Washington, D.C., in 1988. He was an avid hunter and outdoorsman. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife of 18 years, Barbara of Hawthorne; his mother, Myrtle Glenn of Hampton, Va.; a son, Stephen, and a daughter, Amanda, both of Hawthorne; brothers Bradley Glenn of Indiana, Ronnie Brock of El Paso, Texas, and Bill Brock of St. Louis; sisters Sandy Vitek of Cocoa Beach, Judy Hale of Cape Canaveral, Lynn Brock of Connecticut, Carol Rogers and Marsha Brock, both of Virginia, and several nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Masters Funeral Home of Interlachen.
Elizabeth Nelson Jones
PENSACOLA - Elizabeth Nelson "Betty" Jones died Friday. She was 91.
Mrs. Jones was born in Georgia and was a longtime Gainesville resident. She was an accountant and manager of a Holiday Inn, a member of Highlands Presbyterian Church, and a nationally prominent bridge player who taught bridge at the University of Florida.
Mrs. Jones was preceded in death by her husband, James A. "Jay" Jones Jr.
Survivors include sons, Dr. Craig Jones of Pensacola and Dr. Al Jones of State College, Pa.; and four grandchildren.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Lester James Minton Jr.
STARKE - Lester James Minton Jr. died suddenly in his home Friday. He was 68.
Mr. Minton was born in Indianapolis and moved to Starke from Indianapolis in 1969. He worked for the state Department of Corrections as an industrial supervisor in the PRIDE program for 22 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Starke and a bowling league.
Survivors include sons, Kirk Minton of Jonesboro, Tenn., and Kevin Minton of Gainesville; daughters, Kelli Zook of Lakeland and Kathy Minton of Starke; and six grandsons.
Arrangements by Jones Funeral Home of Starke.
Nancy Ruth Parrish Ollar
JACKSONVILLE - Nancy Ruth Parrish Ollar died Thursday night in her home after a brief illness. She was 48.
Mrs. Ollar was born in Los Angeles and lived most of her life in High Springs and Jacksonville.
She worked for CSX Railroad and was a master barber at the Cut 'N Edge in Jacksonville.
Survivors include her husband, Edward Ollar; a daughter, Stacey Melissa Ollar of Jacksonville; sons Trevor Franklin Ollar of Jacksonville and Scott Brock Ollar of Phoenix, Ariz.; her parents, Curtis and Naomi Parrish of Lake Butler; brothers Terry Allen Parrish of Fort White and Charles Melvin Parrish of High Springs; sisters Nelda Jean Waldron of Lulu and Annette Beavins of Fort White; and one grandson.
Arrangements by Archer Funeral Home.
Benjamin Pearson
Benjamin "Larry" Pearson died Saturday in North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 74.
Mr. Pearson was born in Sanford and moved to Gainesville from Evinston in 1947.
He owned Pearson's Rubber Stamp Co. in Evinston and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
He was associated with Lake Forest Baptist Church and was an avid Gators fan.
Survivors include his wife of 53 years, Olivia Self Pearson; daughters Teresa Guthrie of Orlando and Anita K. Pearson of Gainesville; and an adopted daughter, Liz Roth of Palm Bay.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral and Cremation Services.
Joseph L. Puerner
Joseph L. Puerner died Saturday at Shands at AGH following a short illness. He was 31.
Mr. Puerner was born in Portsmouth, Ohio, and moved to Gainesville from Lake City 13 years ago. He graduated from Columbia High School and attended the University of Florida. He was a chef in Gainesville for Sirius Bistro and the Brasserie.
Survivors include his father, Michael W. Puerner of Lake City; his mother, Kathy Puerner of Lake City; a special friend, Aria Crapo, and her son, Sean, of Gainesville; a brother, James N. Puerner of Gainesville; and sisters Jennifer Thornton and Janelle M. Puerner, both of Tallahassee.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
R. James Repp
ALACHUA - R. James Repp died Saturday following an extended illness. He was 58.
Mr. Repp was born in Miami and moved to Alachua from Miami in 1993. He was a technician for Sears and manager of a motorcycle and boat dealership in Miami. Mr. Repp, also known as Withlacoochee Slim, was an active member of the Fort White Gun Club and was an avid cowboy action shooter. He won awards for drag racing and motorcycle racing. He served in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include his wife, Marsha Slater Repp; a daughter, Cinnamon Rose Repp of Gainesville; a son, Dax Repp of Gainesville; a brother, Ralph Repp of Waynesville, N.C.; and one grandchild.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral and Cremation Services.
Herman Hollings Stark
BRONSON - Herman Hollings Stark died Friday in the Hospice House Care Center. He was 80.
Mr. Stark was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Bronson from Springhill in 1997. He was a retired airport customs security worker and loved being with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Anna Stark; one daughter, Suzanne Ruccione of Bronson; one son, Thomas Stark of Alachua; one brother, William Stark of Punta Gorda; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral and Cremation Services.
Hazel Doris Young
FORT WHITE - Hazel Doris Young died Thursday in her home following a long illness. She was 84.
Mrs. Young was born in Live Oak and moved to Fort White from Tampa in 1986. She was the owner of Young's Nursery and Young's Bonsai and was the first bonsai dealer in Florida. She was a member of the Church of Christ.
Mrs. Young was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Clyde Young.
Survivors include two daughters, Betty Favata of Tampa and Martha Young of Fort White; 15 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Guerry Funeral Home of Lake City.
James Edward Beard
MORRISTON - James Edward Beard died Thursday in Williston. He was 72.
Mr. Beard was born in Argyle and moved to Morriston from Jacksonville six years ago.
He was an air traffic controller and a member of the North Minister Presbyterian Church of Jacksonville. He served in the U.S. Navy on board the USS Goodrich during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Lillie P. Beard of Morriston; a son, Wayne E. Beard of Morriston; brothers Harold L. Beard of Woodville and Roy L. Beard of Tallahassee; a sister, Helen Whitaker of Tallahassee; three grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
John Mobley Mann II
LAKE BUTLER - John Mobley Mann II, a lifelong resident of Union County, died Thursday at North Florida Regional Medical Center following a brief illness. He was 48.
Mr. Mann was a graduate of Union County High School and a member of the Brooker Baptist Church.
He is survived by his mother, Evelyn B. Mann of Lake Butler.
Arrangements by Archer Funeral Home.
Willard E. Carlson
Willard E. Carlson of Gainesville died Friday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He was 86.
Mr. Carlson was born in Portland, Ore., and moved to Gainesville from Crystal River seven months ago.
He worked as an engineer in the U.S. Coast Guard for 23 years. He served in the Merchant Marines during the Vietnam War. He was a Methodist and a mason. He was a master craftsman and enjoyed shipbuilding and woodworking. He was also an avid reader and enjoyed reading history, math and religion.
Mr. Carlson was preceded in death by his wife, Edna M. Carlson; and a son, Gary W. Carlson.
Survivors include daughters Dianne Lauramoore of Gainesville, Karen Robinson of San Antonio, Texas, and Leanne Overstreet of Tampa; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
