Rev. Thomas J. Smart, 85, bus driver
Rev. Thomas J. Smart, 85, of Coleman died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000. Born in Ty Ty, Ga., he moved to Sumter County in 1950 from Leesburg. Rev. Smart was a retied school bus driver and a minister. He was a member of Assembly of God Church in Coleman and Center Hill and a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. Survivors include three sons, T.L. Smith of Coleman, Richard Smart of Bryceville, and Raymond E. Smart of Wildwood; three daughters, Linda Johnson of Jacksonville, Teresa Barlow of Tampa, and Karen Goodson of Spring Hill; brother, Frank Smart of Adamsville; four sisters, Bertha Lowe of Wildwood, Wynell Flowers of Leesburg, Mary Stephens of Coleman and Ressie Carter of Newport Richey; 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Thomas J. Smart was held Jan. 26, 2000, in the Banks-Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, with Rev. Claud McAdams and Rev. Bill Johnson officiating. Interment followed in Adamsville Cemetery. Banks-Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Patricia Ann Williams, 62, Line worker
Patricia Ann Williams, 62, of Leesburg died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2000. Born in Lakeland, she moved to Lake Panasoffkee from Jeffersonville, Ga. She was an assembly line worker for Boeing Electric and was active with the Humane Society and Fire Fighters Auxiliary of Sumter County. Survivors include her father, Robert Roddenberry of St. Petersburg; stepbrother, Michael Davis of St. Petersburg and two nieces. Beyers Funeral Home in Leesburg handled the arrangements.
Dorothy T. Walsh
A Memorial Service for Dorothy T. Walsh will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000, at the First Baptist Church of Sumterville.
Flora Mae Gamble, 50
Flora Mae Gamble, 50, of Lake Panasoffkee died Monday, Aug. 7, 2000, in Inverness. Born June 28, 1950, in Leesburg, she moved from New Orleans to Lake Panasoffkee in June 1998. Mrs. Gamble was a gardener at a campground. She was a member of Community United Methodist Church of Fruitland Park. Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Kelly (Lupo) Esponge and Shane Esponge Sr. of Violet, La.; two grandsons, Shane and Sean Esponge, both of Violet, La.; granddaughter, Kristin Esponge of Violet; four brothers, Ray Grubb of New Enterprise, Pa., Joe Grubb, John Gamble, Tom Gamble, all of Fruitland Park; five sisters, Dorothy Repogle of New Enterprise, Pa., Jane Booth of Greensburg, Pa., Nancy Wilson of Marietta, Ga., Mary Ruth McClain of Deland, Margie Sovercool of Wildwood. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Herbert F. Green, 92
Herbert Fletcher Green, 92, of Webster died Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2000, in Webster. Born Oct. 5, 1907 in Live Oak, he moved to Webster in 1932 from there. He was a farmer. He was Pentecostal. Survivors include three sons, Laurence Green and daughter-in-law, Dolly, Russell Green and daughter-in-law Mozell, both of Webster, Mitchell Green and daughter-in-law Patricia of High Springs, Fla.; two daughters, Linnie Bell Devall and son-in-law Preston of Tallahassee, and Vera Jewel Sumner and son-in-law Earl of Jacksonville; sister, Lela Bennett of Maitland; several grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Services for Herbert Fletcher Green was held Aug. 7, 2000 at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell, with The Reverend Daniel Kellum, The Reverend Jack Weaver and The Reverend Preston Devall officiating. Interment was at Garden of Memories in Webster.
James R. Kennedy, 56
James R. Kennedy, 56, of Center Hill died Saturday, Aug. 5, 2000. Born in Indiana, he moved to Center Hill from Sanford in 1980. Mr. Kennedy was a retired Air Force Master Sergeant. He was a member of the VFW, Paralyzed Veterans of America, American Legion, Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Bodies, Shrine. He was Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Betty Jane; sons, Robert Kennedy of Conder, N.D., Tim Kennedy of Grand Forks, N.D., Kurt Knudson of Grand Forks, N.D., Ray Knudson of Fort Worth, Texas; stepsons, Ernest Duteau and Randy Scott, both of Center Hill; daughter, Rebecca Koblik of Coon Rapids, Minn.; stepdaughter, Judy Terry of Maryland; brothers, William G. Kennedy of Columbus, Ind., M. Clyde Kennedy of Indianapolis, Ind., G. Leston Kennedy of Bloomington, Ind.; sisters, Katie Miller of Orlando, Vella Akers of Altamonte Springs, Esther Percifield of Leigh Acres and Martha Nilson, Kokomo, Ind.; six grandchildren. Funeral services were held Aug. 9, 2000 at the Kurfiss Funeral Home Chapel, Groveland, with Rev. James Madison of Tuscanooga Baptist Church and Rev. Willy Watson. Interment followed in Merritt Cemetery, Groveland. Kurfiss Funeral Home, Groveland, in charge of arrangements.
Ellen R. Willis, 67
Ellen R. Willis, 67, of Lake Panasoffkee died Friday, Aug. 4, 2000, at her residence. She was born in Athens, Ohio and came here 24 years ago from Wiscasset, Maine. Mrs. Willis was the mother of the late Lois Ann Heidgerd who died Nov. 16, 1991. Survivors include her husband, Charles F. Willis; three sons, Steve Martin of Columbus, Ohio, Donald Martin of Seffner, Fla.; Charles F. Sillis Jr. of Lake Panasoffkee; two daughters, Peggy Triplett and Theresa Willis Sain, both of Lake Panasoffkee; four brothers, Bill Dennis and Dale Dennis, both of Brooksville, Nathaniel Dennis of Newark, Ohio, Jimmy Dennis of California; sister, Ada Bell Koon of Logan, Ohio; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. The Service of Remembrance for Ellen R. Willis was held Aug. 7, 2000 at the Inverness Chapel of Hooper Funeral Home with Dr. Babb H. Adams officiating. Cremation followed at the Hooper Crematory, Inverness.
Verlon N. Jones, 77
Verlon N. Jones, 77, of Lake Panasoffkee died Thursday, Aug. 3, 2000, in Inverness. Born Oct. 13, 1922 in Ty Ty, Ga., she was a resident of Lake Panasoffkee since 1972, formerly of Tampa. Mrs. Jones was a bookkeeper in the medical field. She was a member of the TOO FAR Organization. She was Baptist. Survivors include her husband, Marshall "Casey" Jones; two sons, Marshall E. "Chip" Jones of Tampa and Richard G. Jones of Danville, Va.; brother, Robert W. Spillers of Brandon; three sisters, Rheudene Hall and Mary M. Lodge, both of Sylvester, Ga., and Virginia Hamilton of Land O'Lakes; 10 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
Ezekial Alderman, 66, Railroad worker
Ezekial Alderman, 66, of Oxford died Sunday, Jan. 30, 2000, at TimberRidge Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. He was a life-long resident of Oxford. Mr. Alderman worked for 40 years for the Seaboard Coastline Railroad, retiring in 1991. He was a member of Wildwood Methodist Church and the VFW. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran. Survivors include two daughters, Gina Lambert of Fruitland Park, and Katrina Alderman of Orlando; two sons, Michael Alderman of Webster, and Kylee Alderman of Orlando; four sisters, Kate Conley of Jacksonville, Betty Sue Denmark of Starke, Frances Kennedy of Lynn Haven, Fla., and Margaret Maloney of Santa Rosa, Calif.; brother, William Alderman of Eustis. All Faiths Cremation Society, Lady Lake, handled the arrangements.
Richard D. Barrett, 64, Automobile laborer
Richard Donald Barrett, 64, of Saranac, Mich., died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2000, in Webster. Born in Edmore, Mich, he was a resident of Saranac since 1974 formerly of Ionia. Mr. Barrett was an automobile laborer. He was Protestant. Survivors include his wife, Kay Barrett of Saranac, Mich; sons, Randy Lee Barrett of Ionia, Mich, and Ricky Jay Barrett of New Orleans, La.; daughters, Linda Sue Barrett of Ionia, Mich; stepsons, Jeremy Christopher Walch of Saranac, Mich, Craig Michael Walch of Fenwick, Mich.; brother, Robert Edgar Barrett of Orlando; sister, Joan Stephens of Webster; 11 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. A local visitation was held Jan. 24, 2000 at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell. Funeral services for Mr. Barrett were held Friday, Jan. 28, 2000 at Cook Funeral Home in Ionia, Mich. Interment at Easton Cemetery, Ionia, Mich.
Walter M. Barryhill Jr., 75, Tractor inspector
Walter Mitchell Barryhill Jr., 75, of Wildwood died Wednesday, Jan. 26, 2000. Born in St. Paul, Minn., he moved to Lake Panasoffkee from St. Petersburg in 1979; formerly of Iowa. Mr. Barryhill was a tractor inspector. He was a U.S. Army World War II veteran. He was Lutheran. Survivors include his wife, Luella; three sons, Barry Barryhill of Indianapolis, Ind., Craig M. Barryhill of Van Meter, Iowa, Wayne Barryhill, Lake Panasoffkee; stepson, Danny McGowan of Waterloo, Iowa; stepdaughter, Mary Jones of Chattanooga, Tenn.; sister, Roberta Marshall of La Porte City, Iowa; four grandchildren. Purcell Funeral Home, Bushnell, handled the arrangements.
John M. Beller Sr., 86, Maintenance
John Mitchell Beller Sr., 86, of Lake Panasoffkee died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000. Born in Claxton, Ga., he moved to Lake Panasoffkee in 1980, formerly Tampa. Mr. Beller retired after 38 years with Gulf Oil Company in maintenance. He was in the Coast Guard in World War II. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Lake Panasoffkee and of the DAV of Lake Panasoffkee. Survivors include his wife, Mary B.; three sons, John M. Beller Jr. of Texas, Charles and Penny Beller of Tampa, Jerry and Eleanor Davis of Lutz; two daughters, Susan and John McConnell of Dunnellon, and Dottie and Eric Marlan of Tampa; sister, Ann Carpenter of Lakeland; 16 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Funeral services for Mr. John Beller were held Jan. 31, 2000 at the Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Bushnell, with Pastor R. Jon King officiating. Interment was at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell with Military Honors rendered by Marine Corps League #708. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that contributions be sent to Hospice Foundation of Lake and Sumter, 12300 Lane Park Road, Tavares, Fla. 32778-9972 or the DAV Chapter, Lake Panasoffkee.
Idell M. Bostrom, 83, Homemaker
Idell Myra Bostrom, 83, of Wildwood died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000. Born in Bangor, Maine, she moved to Wildwood in 1999 from S. Berwick, Maine. Mrs. Bostrom was a homemaker and attended the Adamsville Baptist Church. Survivors include two sons, Wilfred P. Duprey Jr. of Wildwood, William F. Duprey of Oley, Pa.; four daughters, Jeanette B. Davis of Billerica, Mass., Donna M. Keeney of Hebron, Conn., Jackie A. Ober of Coventry, Conn., Jill D. DeSaulniers of Moneta, Va.; one sister, Jeannette A. Blanchette of Rochester, N.H.; 23 grandchildren and 33 great-grandchildren. Banks-Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, handled the arrangements.
Wilma Ann Perry Clinton, 42, Homemaker
Wilma Ann Perry Clinton, 42, of Inverness died Saturday, Jan. 22, 2000. Born in Valdosta, Ga., she moved from Jacksonville to Sumter County in 1992 and then to Inverness in 1998. Mrs. Clinton was a homemaker. She was Baptist. Survivors include her husband, Elbry C.; parents, Wilma Johnson and E.J. Shrowder Sr.; son, Mark Allen Jr. of Jacksonville; three stepsons, Michael Crabtree and Randy and Dale Clinton; two stepdaughters, Deborah Kirsher and Susan Clinton; five brothers, Jerry, Donald, Ronald, Jimmy and E.J. Shrowder Jr.; four sisters, Charlene Taylor, Elaine and Debbie Nolan, Terri Shrowder; several nieces and nephews and many friends. Memorial services for Wilma Ann Perry Clinton were held Jan. 29, 2000 in the Banks-Page-Theus Funeral Home, Wildwood, with Rev. Claud McAdams officiating.
C.D. "Lucky" Cole, 78, Sales
C.D. "Lucky" Cole, 78, of Bushnell died Friday, Jan. 28, 2000, in Dade City. Born in Barry County, Mich., he was a winter resident from Petoskey, Mich. Mr. Cole was in sales in the construction equipment industry. He was with the Contractors Machinery Co. of Grand Rapids, Mich. for 30 years, a life member of VFW #7256 in Ridge Manor, Fla., and active in VFW #10137, Bay Hill. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was Methodist. Survivors include his wife, Kathaleen A.; four sons, Robert of Lansing, Mich., David of Fowler, Mich., Dale of Lansing, Mich., Charles L. of Petoskey, Mich.; five daughters, Shiela Lawson of Paris, Ky., Kay Lazuka of N. Muskegon, Mich., Donna Douthat of Indianapolis, Ind., Lois Engler of Harbor Springs, Mich., Phyllis Hibbler of Petoskey, Mich; sister, Bertha French of Howard City, Mich.; 17 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A Memorial Service for Mr. C.D. "Lucky" Cole was held Feb. 1, 2000 at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell with the Sumter County Honor Guard officiating. After the service a gathering of family and friends went to the VFW Post 10137.
