Helen Potter, 79 Inverness
Helen Rhoades Potter, 79, Inverness, died Thursday, June 5, 2003, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River.
She was born May 27, 1924, in Shreveport, La., to Arthur and Grace Farrington. She moved to Inverness in 2002 from Land O Lakes.
Survivors include, her husband Lee Potter of Inverness; a daughter, Delene Barnick of Inverness; three sons, Dale Rhoades of Lutz, Michael Rhoades of Rapid City, S.D., and Stuart Rhoades of Orlando; sister, Grace Capps of Tucson, Ariz.; a brother, Arthur Farrington of Lawton, Okla.; eight grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness.
Gretchen H.K. Batista, 77
Gretchen Hertha Klages Batista, 77, of Dunnellon, died Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River. A native of Columbus, Ohio, she moved here from Ohio.
Mrs. Batista was a retired teacher. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dunnellon and Rainbow Springs Country Club.
Survivors include her husband, E. Thomas Batista of Rainbow Springs; son, Thomas R. Batista of Iona, Mich.; daughter, Nancy Meade of Northville, Mich.; sisters, Janici Boyce of Asheville, N.C., and Larna Lawless of Lake Lure, N.C.; and four grandchildren.
National Cremation Society, Fruitland Park, provided the information.
Maggie J. Cook, 75
Maggie Jean Cook, 75, of Hernando, died Sunday, May 18, 2003, at the West Marion Community Hospital in Ocala. She was born in Whitesburg, Ky., on Sept. 22, 1927 to the late French and Lettie Barnett.
Mrs. Cook was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother and dedicated to the well being of her family. She was Baptist by faith.
She was preceded in death by her son, James M. Cook, who died in 1976.
Survivors include her husband, Lloyd G.; son, Donnie A. Cook and his wife Marsha of Dunnellon; two granddaughters, Marion Cook of Tallahassee and Cindy J. Tonac and her husband James of Lake City; two grandsons, Don A. Cook and his wife Robin of Dunnellon, and Lloyd M. Cook of Quincy; and eight grandchildren.
Memorial Chapels Funeral & Cremation Service, Hernando, handled the arrangements.
Edna B. Farago, 86
Edna Bridges Farago, of North Charleston, S.C., died Friday, May 16, 2003. She was born Nov. 29, 1916 in Dunnellon, the daughter of Lonnie A. Bridges and Mae Parham Bridges.
Mrs. Farago was a member of St. Stephen Baptist Church, VFW, Golden Tones (singing group in North Charleston and was invited to the White House to perform), International Toastmistress Club, the National Federation of Business and Professional Women, past president of Senior Citizens of Park Circle.
Survivors include two daughters, Jeannette Wood of Orlando, and Brenda Farago of Summerville, S.C.; one sister, Parilee Cave of Ocala; grandson, Charles Heltsley of Orlando, and one great-granddaughter, Jamie Heltsley of Orlando.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Stephen Baptist Church, 272 Church Road, Stephen, S.C. 29479.
Funeral services were held on May 19 at the J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel. Interment was at the Beaufort National Cemetery.
Garnett Lawhorn, 58
Garnetet "Jerry" Lawhorn, 58, of Dunnellon, died Friday, May 16, 2003, in Summerfield. A native of Liberty, Ky., he came here in 2000 from Hudson.
Mr. Lawhorn was a crane operator for 40 years, employed by JMC Corp in St. Petersburg. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Dunnellon and a member of the Moose Club. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He also served in the U.S. Army for five years during the Vietnam Conflict.
Survivors include his wife, Susan; daughter, Tammy Morris of Spring Hill; two sisters, Helen Gray of Clearwater and Jerri Morris of Seminole; and one grandchild.
Roberts Funeral Home, Dunnellon, handled the arrangements.
Viola McClary, 102
Viola McClary, 102, of Dunnellon, died Thursday, May 15, 2003, at Crystal River Rehabilitation Center. She was the oldest member of the Chatmire community. A native of Kinley, N.C., she moved here as a child.
Mrs. McClary was a homemaker and attended Union Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her grandson, Shadie McGee Jr. of Dunnellon; great-granddaughter, Shellene McGee Grimes of Portsmouth, Va.; great-grandson, Juan McGee, U.S. Army stationed in Korea; dedicated caregiver, Alma Nelson of Dunnellon; five great, great-grandchildren and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held May 24, 2003, at 2 p.m. at the Union Missionary Baptist Church, 19976 S.W. 110th Place, Dunnellon.
T.J. Peterson, 76
T.J. Peterson, 76, of Dunnellon, died Saturday, May 17, 2003, in Dunnellon. A native of Tidewater, Fla., he was a lifetime resident of Florida.
Mr. Peterson was a cattle rancher and farmer.
Survivors include his wife, Phyllis L.; son, T. Jason Peterson of Dunnellon; four daughters, Sebrina L. Hensley, Peggy Nichols, Diane Mathews, all of Dunnellon, and Sue Ellen Redden of Ware Shoals, S.C.; and six grandchildren.
Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon handled the arrangements.
Luz Maria T. Rodriguez, 75
Luz Maria Troche Rodriguez, 75, of Dunnellon, died Tuesday, May 6, 2003, at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala. A native of Ponce, Puerto Rico, she was born on April 2, 1928 to Rafael Troche and Eugenia Rodriguez.
Mrs. Rodriguez was a homemaker and of the Roman Catholic faith.
Survivors include three daughters, Luz Natal of Morriston, Luz Parilla of Kissimmee and Carmen Natal of Rochester, N.Y.; son, Benjamin Natal of New York, N.Y.; brother, Hector Troche of Bronx, N.Y., and Miguel Camacho of Kissimmee; sister, Irma Troche Rodriguez of Dunnellon; and eight grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the late Juan Natal in 1993.
Fero Funeral Home, Dunnellon, in charge of arrangements.
Norma Roush, 73
Norma J. Roush, 73, of Inglis, died Friday, May 16, 2003, at Tampa General Hospital. Born in Portland, Maine, she came to Inglis 16 years ago from Gouldsboro, Pa.
Mrs. Roush was a nurse in home health care. She was a U.S. Navy veteran. She was a member of the Community Church of Yankeetown; member of the VFW Post of Inglis, the American Legion and the Senior Citizens Club.
Survivors include three daughters, Barbara Wells of Seattle, Wash., Stephanie Hart of Madison, Tenn., and Martha Richards of Hop Bottom, Pa.; a brother, Phillip Merrill of Hollowell, Maine; and two grandchildren.
Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville.
Rodney N. Barth, 80, Assemblyman
Rodney N. Barth, 80, of Lake Panasoffkee, died Friday, May 23, 2003, in Inverness.
A native of Fort Wayne, Ind., he was a resident of Sumter County since 1988, formerly of Ruskin, Fla. Mr. Barth as an assemblyman in the automobile industry. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
He was Catholic. Survivors include two sons, Robert Barth of Fort Wayne, Ind. and Steven Barth of Auburn, Ind.; daughter, Deborah Steury of Auburn, Ind.; two sisters, Patricia Fox of Fort Wayne, Ind. and June Grider of Sturgis, Mich; 10 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and loving companion, "Patch."
Services were held May 27 at the Florida National cemetery in Bushnell with Father Peter Sagorski officiating. Military Honors were rendered by the Marine Corps League 708. Interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Michael Barth Art Scholarship Fund, 508 Green Briar Blvd., Auburn, Ind. 46706.
Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Blondell Barnes, 81, Restaurant owner
Blondell Barnes, 81, of Bushnell, died Sunday, May 25, 2003, in Leesburg.
A native of Loango, Ala., she was a resident of Central Florida for most of her life.
Mrs. Barnes was the owner/operator of Barnes Restaurant in Bushnell and a member of the OES, Bushnell.
She was a member of First Baptist Church of Bushnell. Survivors include two sons, Tim Barnes of Bushnell and Dr. C. Durham Barnes of Winter Park; daughter, Jolinda Branch of Fort Myers and six grandchildren. Services were held May 28 at First Baptist Church of Bushnell with Rev. Nevi Townsend officiating.
Interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Clara Franklin, 92, Homemaker
Clara Franklin, 92, of Webster, died Monday, May 26, 2003, in Dade City. A native of Russellville, Ky., she was a resident of Sumter County since 1928, formerly of Plant City.
Mrs. Franklin was a homemaker.
She was a member of Linden Church of God. Survivors include a son, James Selby Franklin of Webster; daughter, Carolyn Mickler of Webster; brother, Herbert Head of Bushnell; sister, Ora Harris of Crescent City; 12 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; and 14 great, great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Claude T. Franklin; son, Claude Ellis Franklin Sr.; sister, Maddie Lou Head Evans and brother, George Wesley Head.
Services will be held on Thursday, May 29, 2003, at 10 a.m. at Linden Church of God, Linden, with Rev. H. Lee Burnham and Rev. Duane Franklin officiating. Interment at Linden Cemetery, Linden. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
