Edwin Francus Button, 72
Edwin Francus Button, 72, of Bushnell died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999, in Bushnell. Born in Miami, he moved to Sumter County in 1989 from Georgia.
Mr. Button was in retail sales in the food industry. He was an Army veteran. He was a faithful church servant, serving as a Deacon in Gant Lake Baptist Church for over 40 years. Survivors include his wife, Alice U.; sons, Reverend Edwin Button of Bushnell, Reverend Ralph Button of Hollywood, and Leonard Button of Grayson, Ga.; daughters, Ethel Wynn of Dacula, Ga., Penny Deter of Lawrenceville, Ga.; twin sister, Edna Normand of Inverness; 12 grandchildren and one great-grandson. Services for Mr. Edwin F. Button were held Nov. 16, 1999 at Gant Lake Baptist Church with the Reverend Edwin Button, Rev. Ralph E. Button, Rev. Lawrence Burtoft, Rev.
Larry Wynn and the Rev. Ralph Lee officiating.
The family received friends on Nov. 15 at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Interment at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
Ogie Mae Crist, 73
Ogie Mae Crist, 73, of Lake Panasoffkee died Friday, Nov. 12, 1999, at her residence. She was born in Willard, Ohio, and lived in Lake Panasoffkee since 1985 coming from Brandon in 1976. Mrs. Crist was a homemaker in her own home. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Panasoffkee and a member of Too Far Organization, Lake Panasoffkee. Survivors include her husband, Douglas; two sons, James Ronald Rogers of Ashland, Ohio, and Alan Dean Rogers, Davenport; daughter, Linda Ferne Leverett of Thonotosassa; stepdaughter, Elizabeth A. Crisp of Loveland, Ohio; eight brothers, Frank E. Britton of Lake Panasoffkee, James A. Britton of Albuquerque, N.M., David H. Britton of Grand Rapids, Mich., George E. Britton of Kissimmee, John P. Britton of Zanesville, Ohio, Larry C. Britton of Polk City, Harley W. Britton of Grand Rapids, Mich., Paul E. Britton of Columbus, Ohio; six sisters, Linda Saltz of Lake Panasoffkee, Jean Henry of Galion, Ohio, Thelma Smith of Jacksonville, Bonnie Richardson of Temple Terrace, Mary Thornsberry of Lake Panasoffkee, Ruth Britton of Mobile, Ala.; one step-grandchild; eight grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren. Funeral services were at Stowers Funeral Homes, Brandon.
Amos Gibson, 69
Amos Gibson, 69, of Webster died Monday, Nov. 8, 1999, in Zephyrhills. Born in Napfor, Ky., he moved to Sumter County in 1969 from Kentucky. Mr. Gibson was a coal miner. He was Pentacostal. Survivors include four sons, George of Mascotte, Bristol and Daryl, both of Bushnell, Lee of Dade City; four daughters, Retta Wood and Jennie Hagelston, both of Ridge Manor, Fla., Stella Prevatt of Bushnell, Mae Walls of Mascotte; brother, Charles Gibson of Dayton, Ohio; 35 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren. Services for Mr. Amos Gibson were held Nov. 11, 1999, at the Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Interment was at the Mascotte Cemetery, Mascotte.
Earl Hall, 84
Earl Hall, 84, of Lake Panasoffkee died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, in Lake Panasoffkee. Born in Manchester, Jamaica, he moved to Sumter County in 1985 from the Cayman Islands. Mr. Hall was the owner/operator of a trucking company. He was a Seventh Day Adventist. Survivors include his wife, Sheila; son, Marl L. Hall of Indianapolis, Ind.; daughter, Melodie Ann Lopez of Apopka; three brothers, Glenn and Roger Hall, both of Palm Bay, Fla., Frank Hall of Jamaica; two sisters, Pearl Chung of Ontario, Canada, and Bell Bent of New York; four grandchildren. Services for Mr. Earl Hall was held Sunday, Nov. 14, 1999, at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, Bushnell. Interment at Evergreen Cemetery, Bushnell. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations may be made to Hospice Foundation of Lake and Sumter, 12300 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Fla. 32778-9972. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Alice Leona Thomas, 87
Alice Leona Thomas, 87, of Leesburg died Tuesday, Nov. 9, 1999. Born in Center Hill, she moved to Leesburg from St. Petersburg in 1957. Mrs. Thomas was a homemaker. She was a member of the Main Street Baptist church. Survivors include her husband Dan; son, James Allen Adams of Eustis; stepdaughters, Barbara Smith of Floral City, Shirley Hodges of Largo, Betty Harrison of Summerfield, Peggy Cowart of Twin City, Ga., Jackie Moore of Cannonburg, Pa., Dannie Walker of Mobile, Ala., and Judy Thomas of Newark, N.J.; three sisters, Velma Bogue of St. Petersburg, Edith Zier of Center Hill, Jimmie Watson of Mascotte; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Beyers Funeral Home, Leesburg, handled the arrangements.
Marvin A. Allen Jr., 49
Marvin A. Allen Jr., 49, of Fruitland Park died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999. Born in Sanderson, Texas, he moved here from Bushnell in 1990. Mr. Allen was a mechanic. He was a Harley Davidson Rider. He was Baptist. Survivors include his mother, Margie Schleicher of San Antonio, Texas; sisters, Pat, Laura and Peggy, all of San Antonio, Texas; sons, Eric, David and Keith, unknown; companion, Linda Graves of Fruitland Park and a multitude of friends. Beyers Funeral Home, Leesburg, handled the arrangements.
Mary B. Peavy, 57
Mary B. Peavy, 57, of Oxford died Saturday, Nov. 13, 1999. Born in Homerville, Ga., she was a life-long resident of Sumter County. Mrs. Peavy was a waitress. She was Protestant.
Survivors include two sons, Ricky Peavy of Oxford, Rodd Peavy of Painesville, Ohio; sister, Linda Edenfield of Jacksonville, and five grandchildren.
Banks-Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Raymelle R. Akins, 76, Homemaker
Raymelle Roberson Akins, 76, of Webster died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999 in Leesburg. Born in Linden, Fla., she lived most of her life in Tarrytown, Fla. Mrs. Akins was a homemaker in her own home. She was a member of Linden Church of God. Survivors include her husband, Forrest D; two sons and daughter-in-laws, Edge and Kay Roberson of Webster, Chuck and Kelly Roberson of Lake Panasoffkee; two daughters and son-in-laws, Glenda and Dwight Valentine of Tampa, Charlotte and Donald Judy of Webster; one step-daughter and son-in-law, Kay and Scott Barr of Tampa; mother-in-law, Irene Akins of Linden; one brother and wife, R.E. and Doris Rogers of Tarrytown; two sisters and brother-in-laws, Dolly and Lawrence Green of Webster, Clarice and Jay Farmer of Bristol, Fla.; eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren and a host of nieces and nephews. Services for Mrs. Raymelle Akins was held Nov. 10, 1999 at the Church of God in Linden. Interment was at the Linden Cemetery, Linden. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Raymond Jeffery, 73, Custodian
Raymond Jeffery, 73, of Webster died Sunday, Nov. 7, 1999, in Clermont. He was born in Germany. Mr. Jeffery was a custodian in a public school. He was Baptist. Survivors include four step-sons, C.H. Bedgood of Bushnell, Joseph Bedgood of Webster, Larry Bedgood of Center Hill and Ervin Bedgood of Lake Panasoffkee; five step-daughters, Delilah Head of Tarrytown, Charlotte Berringer of Fruitland Park, Shirley McNeal and Judy Garcia, both of Webster, Debbie Henderson of Mabel, Fla.; 39 grandchildren; 47 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchildren. Services for Mr. Raymond Jeffery were held Nov. 9, 1999 at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Interment at Garden of Memories, Webster.
Edward A. Kausek, 86, Retired
Edward August Kausek, 86, of Bushnell died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999. Born in Cleveland, Ohio, he moved to Central Florida in 1999 from Lakeland. Mr. Kausek was retired. He was a member of World Wide Church of God. Survivors include two daughters, June L. Reyka of Bushnell and Patricia A. Haberl of Sarasota; 14 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.
Frankie C. Locklear, 74, Bookkeeper
Frankie C. Locklear, 74, of Tampa died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, in Tampa. She was a lifelong resident of Tampa. Mrs. Locklear was a bookkeeper. Survivors include two sons, Larry Raymond Locklear of Bushnell and Randy Lee Locklear of Plant City; two daughters, Brenda Gail Locklear of Bushnell and Rhonda McLain of Lake Panasoffkee; two sisters, Bernice Tompkins of Tampa and Dorothy Beene of Hendersonville, Tenn.; four grandchildren, several nieces and nephews. Graveside services for Frankie C. Locklear were held Nov. 5, 1999. Family received friends at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Interment was at Bay Hill Cemetery, Bushnell.
Norman B. Merrill Sr., 80, Owner/operator
Norman B. Merrill Sr., 80, of Lake Panasoffkee died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999, in Inverness. Born in Lewiston, Maine, he moved here in November of 1991 from New Britain, Conn. Mr. Merrill was the owner/operator of a trucking company. He was a member of the 1st Baptist Church of Rutland. Survivors include his wife, Kathleen C.; three sons, Norman Brad Merrill Jr. of Medford, N.J., Sherwood Merrill of Tampa and Dana K. Merrill of Medford, N.J.; daughter, Elaine Springer of Bushnell; brother, Russell Merrill of Sabatis, Maine; two sister, Frances Caudle of Mesa, Ariz. and Barbara Buiniskas of Lewiston, Maine; 11 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Memorial services for Mr. Merrill were held Nov. 7, 1999, at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the 1st Baptist Church of Rutland.
Roger R. Moore, 64, Retired painter
Roger Rodney Moore, 64, of Leesburg died Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1999. A native of Greenwich, Conn., he moved to Leesburg from Wildwood in 1992. Mr. Moore was a retired painter.
He was a member of Abundant Life Church of God. Beyers Funeral Home, Leesburg, handled the arrangements.
Jim Spurlock, 43, Truck driver
Jim Spurlock, 43, of Okahumpka died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999. Born in East Liverpool, Ohio, he moved to Okahumpka in 1996 from Lisbon, Ohio. Mr. Spurlock was a truck driver for Lake Trucking Company of Leesburg. He was Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Carmel; sons, Chris Spurlock of Okahumpka and James A. Spurlock of Lady Lake; parents, Thurman and Esther Spurlock of Wildwood; twin brother, Bill Spurlock of Wildwood; brother, Everett Spurlock of Chester, W.Va.; sisters, Penny Pryor of Chester, W.Va. and Karen Higgins of Highland Town, Ohio; maternal grandmother, Olive McDowell of Wildwood. Beyers Funeral Home, Leesburg, handled the arrangements.
Allen R. Taylor, 75, Auto inspector
Allen R. Taylor, 75, of Lake Panasoffkee died Friday, Nov. 5, 1999 in Lake Panasoffkee.
Born in wauchula, he moved to Lake Panasoffkee in 1992 from Tampa. Mr. Taylor was an auto inspector for the state of Florida (retired). He was an Army veteran serving in World War II. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Lake Panasoffkee and the American Legion Post 0101. Survivors include his wife, Wannive; son, Dewey Taylor of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; two daughters, Patricia A. Stover of Apopka and Nancy L. Collins of Nobleton; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Ray Thornton Jr., Infant
Ray Thornton Jr., Infant, of Bushnell died Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999 in Leesburg. He was born in Leesburg. Survivors include his father, Elgin Ray Thornton of Bushnell mother, Aqualena Mitchell of Bushnell; two brothers, Zachueus Mitchell and Nickie Lee Young of Bushnell; five sisters, Bridgette, Cherrine, Shabonna, Tiffany and Dianna Mitchell, all of Bushnell; paternal grandfather, Willie B. Thornton of Bushnell; maternal grandparents, Goldman and Shirley Mitchell of Bushnell. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
