Hoyt Howerton Sr., 65 Inverness
Hoyt Franklin Howerton Sr., 65, Inverness, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, at his home under the care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County.
He was born Jan. 23, 1938, in Moultrie, Ga., to Frank F. and Ida Bell (Griffen) Howerton. He moved to the area seven years ago from Webster.
Mr. Howerton was a retired heavy equipment operator.
He served in the U.S. Army.
He was a member of American Legion Post 77. He was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife of more than 10 years, Meriam (Redondo) Howerton; two sons, Hoyt Howerton Jr. of Benton, Ky., and Dale Howerton of Brandon; four daughters, Debbie Burkett of Riverview, Donna White of Lake Mary, Louren Howerton of Bushnell and Jessica Howerton of Inverness; three brothers, Carl Hart of Mayo, Tommy Hart of Tampa and Joseph Hart of Alabama; two sisters, Mary Hart of Tampa and Becky Whatley of Alabama; 12 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Robert 'Earl' Long, 58 Crystal River
Robert "Earl" Long, 58, Crystal River, died Saturday, June 7, 2003, in Crystal River.
He was born March 17, 1945, in Macon, Ga., to Milton and Gussie Long. He retired to Crystal River in 2000 from Clearwater.
Mr. Long was a veteran of the U.S. Marines who served in Vietnam.
Later, he worked as a lieutenant with the city of Largo Fire Department. He was also a paramedic.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Lake Rousseau in Dunnellon.
Survivors include his wife Nancy Long of Crystal River; daughter, Robin Wolterman of Armstrong, Iowa; two sisters, Doris Thomas and Mary Lou Jones, both of Warner Robins, Ga.; and three grandsons.
Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness.
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.
Petra Diaz, 85 Inverness
Petra Diaz, 85, Inverness, died Saturday, May 31, 2003, at her home.
Born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, Dec. 4, 1917, she came here 28 years ago from New York City.
Mrs. Diaz was a retired attendant for a children's home.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymon Diaz.
Survivors include two sons, Raymon L. Diaz Jr. of Orlando and Rene Diaz of Binghamton, N.Y.; one brother, Antonio Droz of New York City, N.Y.; one sister, Mercedes Baldassano of Inverness; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
Jeanne Gieske, 72 Beverly Hills
Jeanne Frances Gieske, 72, Pine Ridge, Beverly Hills, died Tuesday, June 3, 2003, at her home under the care of family members and Hospice.
She was born Aug. 19, 1930, in Washington, D.C., to Arthur and Carmel Nairn, and came here 21 years ago from Lexington Park, Md.
She is survived by her husband of 54 years, retired Navy Lt. Neal Donald Gieske; four daughters, Linda Jeanne Wilson of Lexington Park, Md., Laura Ann Roberts of Woodbridge, Va., Lisa Gail Baker of Sapulpa, Okla., and Lois Lee Mangione of Lakeside, Calif.; three sisters, Dorothy Stewart of Pine Ridge, Charlene Graham of Arlington, Va., and Angela Asbury of Levels, W. Va.; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Citrus County.
Jack Merritt, 91 Citrus Springs
Jack Modrell Merritt, 91, Citrus Springs, died Monday, June 4, 2003, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital, Crystal River.
He was born Dec. 22, 1911, in Muscogee to Arthur O. and Julia (Mullins) Merritt and came here 29 years ago from Pensacola.
Mr. Merritt was owner and operator of Merritt's Marina in Innerarity Point. He was the author of two books, "Revelation Revealed" and "Daniel's Message." He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was a member of the Church of Christ in Dunnellon, the Signal Corps Attachment of the Air Corps and IBEW Union Local 676 in Pensacola.
Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Dorothea Merritt of Citrus Springs; one son, Wallace Merritt of Citrus Springs; and one granddaughter.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Marceline Smalley, 81 Hernando
Marceline June Smalley, 81, Hernando, died Monday, June 2, 2003, in Inverness.
She was born June 24, 1921, in Fort Wayne, Ind., to George and Grace Braun and came here in 1974.
She was a waitress and food service worker for 15 years at Powers Hamburgers in Fort Wayne.
Mrs. Smalley was a member of the VFW Auxiliary. She was Catholic.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Daniel A. Smalley, on March 1, 1998, a sister, Giovanna Archer, in July 2002, and a half-sister, Doris Braun.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews, including Deanna Archer of Daytona, and a brother, Terry Beedle of Duvall, Wash.
Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.
Jacquelyn 'Jackie' Waitley, 79 Inverness
Jacquelyn Jane "Jackie" Waitley, 79, Inverness, died Thursday, June 5, 2003, at the Avante At Inverness nursing home.
Born July 2, 1923, in Weirton, W.Va., to Bernard and Margaret (Coffey) Caniff, she came here in 1968 from Orlando.
Mrs. Waitley was a homemaker and an avid bridge player.
She was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Inverness and the Point O' Woods Country Club, Inverness.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur E. Waitley, on May 4, 1975.
Survivors include two daughters, Deborah (John) Holt of Inverness and Christine (Fred) Brauchle of Lytle, Texas; one sister, Ruth Ann Oesterling of Weirton, W.Va.; four grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home with Crematory, Inverness.
James Yurian, 75 Homosassa Springs
James P. Yurian, 75, Homosassa Springs, died Wednesday, June 4, 2003, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River.
Born April 17, 1928, in Laurel, Mont., to Joseph and Catherine (Zier) Yurian, he came here 34 years ago from St. Petersburg.
Mr. Yurian owned and operated Springs Accounting and Y.F.I.T. of Homosassa Springs. He served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
He was a member of the American Legion. He was Catholic.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Bobbie Yurian, in 1991.
Survivors include two daughters, Carol Blackshear and Theresa Diane Head, both of Homosassa; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
John W. Barkley, 78, of Ocala
John W. Barkley, of Ocala, died Tuesday, May 13, 2003, at TimberRidge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. A native of Pittsburgh, he moved here eight years ago. He was 78.
Mr. Barkley was a retired advertising and billboard representative. He was a member of the Angela Santos Post of VFW and St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Ocala. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Vera E.; sons, John Wesley Barkley Jr. of Ocala and Donald N. Barkley of Titusville; stepson, James Garvey of Van Nuys, Calif.; grandchild, and two great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society, 2100 S.E. 17th Street, Ocala, Fla. 34471.
ICS Cremation, Lake City, provided information.
