Anthony W. Payne, 48
Anthony W. Payne, 48, of Dunnellon, died Thursday, Dec. 11, 2003, at his residence. He was born July 9, 1955 in Alexandria, Va., to Elwood A. and Mary E. (Cothran) Payne and he came to his area four years ago from there.
Mr. Payne was a corrections officer with the Corrections Corporation of America in Lecanto. He was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include parents, Ralph and Eloise Carter of Dunnellon; companion, Sandy Wranovics of Inverness; brother, Thomas J. (Sherry) Payne of Fort Myers; three nephews, Johnathan Payne (Melissa) of Crystal River, Robert Payne and Wesley Payne, both of Virginia.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Francis J. Raymond, 97
Francis John Raymond, 97, of Dunnellon, died Saturday, Dec. 13, 2003, at Munroe Regional Medical Center. A native of Milwaukee, Wis., he came here in 1974.
Mr. Raymond was a retired accountant for a men's clothier. He was a U.S. Navy veteran and of the Lutheran faith.
Survivors include his wife of 71 years, Edna Helene Raymond, and a daughter, Donna Lorraine Nagle, both of Dunnellon.
Roberts Funeral Home, Downtown Chapel, provided the information.
Christopher P. Thompson, 40
A Memorial Service was held for Christopher Paul Thompson on Monday, Dec. 15, 2003, at the First Baptist Church of Inglis, 1001 E. Highway 40, Inglis. Services began at 2 p.m., with Pastors Bobby Thompson and Phillip Thompson conducting the services.
Survivors include his daughter, Amanda Ann Thompson of California; his mother, Carol Davis Thompson of Inglis; his father, Robert Leighton Thompson Sr. and stepmother, Alberta Thompson of Dunnellon; sister, Elizabeth Irma Thompson Cannon of Dunnellon; brothers, Robert Leighton Thompson Jr. and Phillip Anthony Thompson, both of Inglis, and many nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles and cousins.
Valerie Wendrycki, 86
Valerie S. Wendrycki, 86, of Dunnellon, died Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2003, at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala. She was born Dec. 22, 1916, in Bayonne, N.J., to Joseph and Mary (Polonka) Sczesny and moved to Dunnellon 21 years ago from East Meadow, L.I., N.Y.
Mrs. Wendrycki was a life-long homemaker and a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Dunnellon.
Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Heddy Selowentchich of Dunnellon and Helen Sczesny of Long Island, N.Y.; and 11 nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Henry M. Wendrycki, Feb. 22, 1991.
Fero Funeral Home, Dunnellon.
Edna DeVaney Parker, 87, Homemaker
Edna DeVaney Parker, 87, of Wildwood died Saturday, Dec. 20, 2003. She was born in Weirsdale and moved to Wildwood in 1965. Mrs. Parker was a homemaker, and she was a Baptist. Survivors include one step son, Harrison Slaughtr, Jr., of Canton, GA; two step daughters, Elizabeth Beth Owen of Leesburg, FL, and Judity Bowman of Virginia Beach, VA; two granddaughters, Carman Colton of Ocala and Chrissi Baxley of Jacksonville; one grandson, Clyde E. "Pete" Baxley, III, of Jacksonville; three great-grandchildren and several nieces. Private memorial services will be held for the family at a later date. Beyers Funeral Home provided information.
Mervin Fowler, 61, Employed by Pasco Canning Company
Mervin Fowler, 61, of Brooksville died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2003. He was born in Coleman and was employed by the Pasco Canning Company. Mr. Fowler was a member of the Coleman Assembly of God. Survivors include his brother, James Fowler; sisters, Myrtle Marsh, Ruby Waters and Geneva Dyals. A memorial service was held on Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, at Coleman Assembly of God Church with Rev. David Dale officiating. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home provided information.
Harold W. Luther, 95, Steamfitter
Harold William Luther, 95, of Lake Panasoffkee, died Thursday, Dec. 18, 2003, in Leesburg. A native of Albany, N.Y., he came here in 1973 from St. Petersburg. He was a steamfitter in the construction industry. He was a member of the Plumbers and Steamfitter Union #111, St. Petersburg; he served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He was Methodist. Survivors include 2 daughters, Jane F. Haney of East Greenbush, N.Y. and Joyce Condon of Albany, N.Y.; a stepdaughter, Shelley Rutkin of Winston-Salem, N.C.; three grandsons; 1 granddaughter; 2 great-grandchildren; 2 nieces and 1 nephew. A memorial service was held Friday, Jan. 9, 2003 at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Place of interment is Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home made arrangements.
Helen B. Tyner, 69, Homemaker
Helen B. Tyner, 69, of Brooksville, died Friday, Dec. 19, 2003. She was a life-long resident of Central Florida. Ms. Tyner was a homemaker. She was a member of Dade City Garden Club, U.D.C., D.A.R., F.D.A.P. She was Baptist. Survivors include a son, David Tyner of Brooksville; a daughter, Annette Moore of Tampa; 3 grandchildren; 2 step-grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren and 5 step great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Kimberly Tyner. Graveside service was held Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, at the Evergreen cemetery in Bushnell, where she was interred. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to be given to Hernando Pasco Hospice, Inc., 12107 Majestic Blvd., Hudson, FL 34667. Purcell Funeral Home provided information.
Geraldine P. Wesch, 93, Salesperson
Geraldine P. Wesch, 93, of Lake Panasoffkee, died Monday, Dec. 15, 2003 in Inverness. A native of Long Branch, N.J., she came to Sumter County in 1970 from Pompano Beach. Ms. Wesch was a member of the Daughters of American Revolution. She was a salesperson. Survivors include a son, Ernest C. Wesch, Jr. of Lake Panasoffkee; 5 grandchildren; 9 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-granddaughters. Place of interment was Evergreen Cemetery, Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, made arrangements.
Frances L. Willis
Frances L. Willis came to Sumter County in 1952 from LaGrange, Ga. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Wildwood and the Wildwood Chapter of O.E.S. Survivors include a son, Ralph and Lori Willis of Wildwood; sister, Amye Hawthorne of Ormand Beach; 2 grandchildren, April and Michael Willis. Funeral services were held on Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2003 at Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Claud McAdams and Rev. Wilson Smith officiating. She was interred at Greenwood cemetery in Wildwood. Banks/Page-Theus Funeral Home provided information.
Ruth Buzay, 90 Beverly Hills
Ruth Miriam Buzay, 90, Beverly Hills, died Monday, Dec. 22, 2003, in Beverly Hills.
She was born in Queens, N.Y., to Frederick and Helen (Miller) Junger and she moved here in 1979 from New York.
Mrs. Buzay was a homemaker.
She was Episcopalian.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Theodore Buzay.
Survivors include a niece, a great-niece and a great-nephew.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Frances Cockrell, 79 Lecanto
Frances K. Cockrell, 79, Lecanto, formerly of Pinellas Park, died Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2003, at Surrey Place Nursing Home in Lecanto.
Born in Ozark, Ala., she moved to Pinellas Park in 1964 and to Lecanto in 2000.
She was a homemaker and a member of Pinellas Park Baptist Temple, where she was a former church nursery school attendant and received the Attendant of the Year award.
Survivors include two sons, Johnny B. Lisenby of Lecanto and J.W. Cockrell of Sebring; two daughters, Cynthia Mills of Brandon and Linda Aaron of Homosassa; two brothers, Nathan Key of Belton, S.C., and Morrelle Key of Ozark, Ala.; three sisters, Jean Calihan of Belton, S.C., Versie Aycox of Arlington, Texas, and Jewel Miller of Ozark, Ala.; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home & Cemetery, Seminole.
Carl Cummings, 67 Homosassa
Carl Roy Cummings, 67, Homosassa, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, in Hernando.
He was born in Keene, N.H., to Bertha Dubois and Forest Cummings. He moved to Homosassa 16 months ago from Troy, N.H.
Mr. Cummings was a retired carpenter.
He was Catholic.
Surviving are his wife of 25 years, Raelene Hazen Cummings of Homosassa; and two sisters, Lorraine Pratt and Shirley Lloyd, both of Keene, N.H.
Hooper Funeral Homes & Crematory, Homosassa Chapel.
Edith Furr, 84 Ocala
Edith W. Furr, 84, Ocala, mother of Deborah Scott, former resource director of Citrus County Historical Society, died Thursday, Dec. 25, 2003, at her home.
She was born in Bonnie, W.Va., and moved to Moss Bluff in 1921.
She was the retired owner/ operator/bookkeeper for Furr's Standard Dry Cleaners.
She graduated from East Marion High School as Valedictorian, Class of 1937.
She was a life member of First United Methodist Church of Ocala.
Survivors include her daughter, Deborah Scott of Ocala; two sons, Jeffrey L. Furr (Lynn) of Port St. Joe and Jerry H. Furr (Dixie) of Charlotte, N.C.; a sister, Pauline McMurtrey of Moss Bluff; and five grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala.
Beatrice Gordon, 84 Beverly Hills
Beatrice Gordon, 84, Beverly Hills, died Friday, Dec. 26, 2003, in Lecanto.
Born Aug. 13, 1919, in New York, N.Y., to Philip and Dora (Goldman) Leibowitz, she moved here 13 years ago from West Hartford, Conn.
Mrs. Gordon owned and operated - alongside with her husband - The Emly Shop, West Hartford, Conn., from 1961 until retirement in 1988 with 27 years of operation.
She loved crocheting, knitting and gardening, and was known to be a terrific cook.
She was a member of Congregation Beth Sholom.
Survivors include her husband of 56 years, Ben Gordon of Beverly Hills; son, Philip Gordon, Ph.D., of Indiana, Pa.; daughter and son-in-law, Carol Gordon and Gilbert Franklin of New York, N.Y.; and one granddaughter.
Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.
