Bessie Boerst, 80, of Inverness
Bessie R. Boerst, 80, of Inverness died Friday, Nov. 24, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital. Born in Woodlawn Beach, N.Y., on Oct. 2, 1920, to the late Warren Deforest and Dora Amelia (Jenny) Cheney, she came here 10 years ago from Rochester, N.Y. She was a retired registered nurse who worked for the Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. She was Protestant. Surviving are her husband of 57 years, Ralph Boerst; two sons, Jeffrey Robert and his wife Doris Boerst of Rochester, N.Y., and Donald Ralph and his wife Pamela Boerst of Fairport, N.Y.; one daughter, Lucinda and her husband Anthony Platino of Carson City, Nev.; one brother, Sanford Cheney of Hamburg, N.Y.; three grandchildren, Stephen, Chad and Cheryl; and two great-grandchildren, Casandra and Tanner. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Edward Novak, 79, of Beverly Hills
Edward J. Novak, 79, of Beverly Hills died at his home Friday, Nov. 24, 2000. He was a native of New York City and came here 15 years ago. He was Protestant and a longtime member of Calvary Christian Center of Hernando. He was a member of the Tri-County ‘‘R-C’’ Club of Dunnellon. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army Air Force. Surviving are his wife, Freda C. Novak of Beverly Hills; one son, Ralph Novak of San Leandro, Calif.; one daughter, Jan Aster of Richmond, Va.; two sisters, Edith Kibilewski of Spring Hill and Ann Savino of New York; one grandchild, Jason Aster; and many nieces and nephews. Fero Funeral Home Beverly Hills Chapel.

Gilbert Beville, 41, of Crystal River
Gilbert ‘‘Lee’’ Beville Jr., 41, of Crystal River, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2000. He was born in Inverness on Oct. 24, 1959, and was a lifetime resident. He was a truck driver for Beaver Bulk Trucking Inc., in Live Oak. He was a member of the Lecanto Baptist Church. Survivors include his wife, Diane J. Beville; son, Jason Lee Beville of Inverness; daughter, Jennie Lynn Beville of Crystal River; mother, Frances E. Beville of Inverness; maternal grandmother, Ellen Thomas of Lecanto; brother, George William Beville of Inverness; three sisters, Theresa Ann Foster of Homosassa, Ellen Rosetta Canterberry of Newton, W.Va., and Cynthia Edmondson of Dunnellon. He was preceded in death by his father, Gilbert Lee Beville Sr. in 1997. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Bessie Boerst, 80, of Inverness
Bessie R. Boerst, 80, of Inverness, died Friday, Nov. 24, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital. She was born in Woodlawn Beach, N.Y., on Oct. 2, 1920, to the late Warren DeForest and Dora Amelia (Jenny) Cheney. She came here 10 years ago from Rochester, N.Y. She was a retired registered nurse who worked for the Millard Fillmore Hospital in Buffalo, N.Y. She was Protestant. Survivors include her husband of 57 years, Ralph Boerst; two sons, Jeffrey Robert and wife Doris Boerst of Rochester, N.Y., and Donald Ralph and wife Pamela Boerst of Fairport, N.Y.; daughter, Lucinda and husband Anthony Platino of Carson City, Nev.; brother, Sanford Cheney of Hamburg, N.Y.; sister, Lucinda Iddings of Beverly Hills; three grandchildren, Stephen, Chad and Cheryl; two great-grandchildren, Casandra and Tanner. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Fredrick Duitsman, 75, of Inverness
Fredrick John Duitsman, 75, of Inverness, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000. He was born in Fonda, Iowa, to Hillis and Dorothy (Holtorf) Duitsman. Following graduation from Silver Lake Consolidated School in Ayrshire, Iowa in 1943, he served as a radar man aboard the USS Hornet in the South Pacific during World War II. After returning home, he lived in Rinard, Iowa, where he served as mayor for a short time. He worked with the U.S.D.A as an inspector of grain elevators before being transferred to Memphis, Tenn., as a cotton examiner in 1978. He was medically retired in 1979 and came to Inverness one year ago from Ozark, Miss. He was very active in sports and pitched softball in state tournaments and local leagues in Iowa. He was Lutheran. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and sister. Survivors include his wife of 20 years, Carole Stephens Duitsman of Inverness; three sons, Fredrick Jr. of Cedar Falls, Iowa, and Stan of Kansas City, Mo.; two daughters, Gloria Spanjer of Charlotte, N.C., and Sharon Russell of Charlotte, S.C.; five brothers; five sisters; 11 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness Chapel.

Alvin Gratzel, 83, of Inverness
Alvin H. Gratzel, 83, of Inverness, died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000. He was born in Dallas, Texas, and came here six years ago from Miami. He was a retired schedule controller for PanAm Airlines. He was a member of St. Timothy’s Lutheran Church in Crystal River. Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness Chapel.

Douglas Gross Sr., 55, of Inverness
Douglas C. Gross Sr., 55, of Inverness, died Friday, Nov.24, 2000. He was born in Gowanda, N.Y., to Danny and Mertie Roselle Gross. He came to Inverness in 1999. He was a builder. He was a member of the Moose Lodge 1492 Gowanda, the Phoenix Masonic Lodge 262 of Gowanda, the Slovanian Lodge Gowanda and the Withlacoochee Air Boat Association. He was Protestant. He was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Gross. Survivors include his wife, Alice Malinowski Gross of Inverness; three sons, Max LeRoy of Little Valley, N.Y., Douglas Jr. of Cattaraugus, N.Y., and William Paul of Elmore, Ohio; stepson, David Staffin of Dayton, N.Y.; two stepdaughters, Charlene Rebmann of Hamburg, N.Y., and Tine Gloe of Lawtons, N.Y.; brother, Charles Gross Sr. of Little Valley, N.Y.; two sisters, Naomi Bargy of Salamanca, N.Y., and Joanne Gross of Randolph, N.Y.; and 11 grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Homes, Inverness Chapel.

Robert Gulliver, 70, of Crystal River
Robert Louis Gulliver, 70, of Crystal River, died Friday, Nov. 24, 2000, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River. He was born in Oswego, N.Y., and retired here eight years ago from Elmyra, N.Y. He is survived by his wife, Helen, of Crystal River; three sons, Robert of Phoenix, N.Y., Dale of Fulton, N.Y., and Ronald of California; daughter, Kathy Johnson of Oswego, N.Y.; two sisters, Myrtle Goewey and Retha Denny, both of Oswego, N.Y.; and several nieces, nephews and grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Wilma Seguin and Vileta Favata. Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Gladys Lane, 83, of Inverness
Gladys Vera Lane, 83, of Inverness, died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000, under the loving care of her family and Hospice of Citrus County. She was born in Spartanburg, S.C., on Nov.18, 1917, to the late Jerry and Myra (Harris) McIntyre. She came here five years ago from Rutherfordton, N.C. She was a retired textile worker. Survivors include son, Verlyn Lane of Leesburg; daughter, Patricia Johnson of Mt. Dora; 10 grandchildren, including Myra Harris of Inverness; and several great-grandchildren. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

John Sherry, 83, of Homosassa Springs
John E. Sherry, 83, of Homosassa Springs, died Thursday, Nov. 23, 2000. He was born in Bridgeport, Conn. and came here seven years ago from Simsbury, Conn. He was a retired mechanical engineer. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Homosassa. Survivors include his wife, Norma J. Sherry of Homosassa Springs; son, John Jr. of Clinton, Conn.; two daughters, Virginia Schuemann of Olmsted, Ohio, and Patricia Kent of Torrington, Conn.; stepson, Allen Brant of Simsbury, Conn.; stepdaughter, Leslie Brant of Suffield, Conn.; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Marie Aageberg, 81, of Inverness
Marie Pearl Aageberg, 81, of Inverness died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, at her residence under the loving care of her husband, Russ, and Hospice of Citrus County. Born in Calumet City, Ill., on Oct. 18, 1919, to Benjamin and Retta Barman, she came here 24 years ago from Lansing, Ill. She was a homemaker. She was Catholic. Surviving are her loving husband of 62 years, Russell Aageberg; and one sister, Loraine and her husband, Ted Porter of Gray Shadow, Ohio. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Paul DuFour, 84, of Inverness
Paul Stanley DuFour, 84, of Inverness died Monday, Nov. 27, 2000, at the Citrus Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Utica, N.Y., on Dec. 19, 1915, to Arthur and Sabra DuFour, he came to Citrus County 10 years ago from Deltona. He was a retired heavy-equipment operator for Local No. 825 in New York, a World War II Army veteran and a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish. Surviving are his wife of 58 years, Norma Duquette DuFour of Inverness; one son, Gregory A. DuFour of Huntersville, N.C.; two daughters, Karen Luger of Inverness and Mary Anne Lecce of Collinsville, Ill.; two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his grandchild, Debbie McQuillin, in 1997. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Roy Embry, 70, of Inverness
Roy V. Embry, 70, of Inverness, formerly of Riverview, died Friday, Nov. 24, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness. Born in Louisville, Ky., he moved to the area six years ago from Riverview. He was a box culvert construction superintendent and a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War. He was Baptist. Surviving are a son, Doug Jonas of Inverness; a daughter, Kimberly Smith of Inverness; two sisters, Juanita Pruitt and Wanda Embry, both of Kentucky; six half-brothers, James Matthews, Eugene Matthews, Vernie Matthews, William Ray Matthews, Charles Matthews and Randell Matthews, all of Kentucky; one half-sister, Viola Casey of Kentucky; and two grandchildren. National Cremation Society, Brooksville.

Frederick Fess, 80, of Inverness
Retired Army Lt. Col. Frederick Fess, 80, of Inverness died Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2000. He was born in Collins, N.Y., and came to Inverness 10 years ago from St. Petersburg. He retired from the United States Army after 21 years of service. He was a member of the Lions Club, the VFW and the First Presbyterian Church, all in Inverness. Surviving are his wife, Mary Armes Fess of Inverness; son, Joseph Fess of Atlanta, Ga.; two daughters, Deborah Souders of St. Petersburg and Linda Lohe of Inverness; sister, Dorothy L. Powers of Collins, N.Y.; and six grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Imogene Havens, 69, of Homosassa
Imogene W. Havens, 69, of Homosassa died Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000. She was born in Montcalm, W. Va., and came to Homosassa 11 years ago from Bluefield, W.Va. She was a member of the Women of the Moose, Chapter 565, Bluefield, W.Va. She was Protestant. Surviving are her husband, Vincent Havens of Homosassa; daughter, Deanna Sizemore of Bluefield, W.Va.; two brothers, Dana R. Warden of Dunnellon and Ronabee Warden of Princeton, W.Va.; two sisters, Susan White of Homosassa and Maxine Burchett of Hartfield, Va.; one grandson, Shawn Sizemore of Bluefield, W.Va.; and two great-grandchildren, Carlie and Abigail Sizemore, both of Bluefield, W.Va. Hooper Funeral Home, Homosassa.

Grace Kloss, 62, of Citrus Springs
Grace E. Kloss, 62, of Citrus Springs died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000. She was born in Blue Island, Ill., and came here 12 years ago from Lake of the Four Seasons in Indiana. She was an avid bowler and board member of WIBC, member of Citrus County Women’s Bowling Association and a member of the Garden Club of Citrus Springs. She was a member of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church, Citrus Springs. She was predeceased by a son, Joseph Michael Kloss. Surviving are her husband of 46 years, Leroy Kloss of Citrus Springs; three sons, James M. of Mansfield, Ohio, John L. of Homosassa and Jerald of Ringwood, N.J.; two daughters, Jacquelyn A. Engstrom of Valpo, Ind., and Jeannette Butler of Mansfield, Ohio; nine grandsons; and many nieces and nephews. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Marion Muchard, 74, of Homosassa
Marion B. Muchard, 74, of Homosassa, formerly of Hudson, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, at her residence. She was born in Jersey City, N.J., and moved here 23 years ago from Old Bridge, N.J. She was a homemaker; member of the American Legion Post No. 419 Auxiliary, Jersey City, N.J.; St. Michael’s Catholic Church, Hudson; and St. Michael’s Singles Club. Surviving are her son, Michael K. Muchard of Jacksonville; daughter, JoAnne Williams of Homosassa; brother, Joseph J. Bendetto of Jersey City, N.J.; and five grandchildren. Bell Funeral Home, Hudson.

Angelina Sellar, 73, of Crystal River
Angelina O. Sellar, 73, of Crystal River died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 1927, to Antonio and Elvira (Randazzo) Oliveri. She came here 11 years ago from Basking Ridge, N.J. She was a homemaker and member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Crystal River. She is survived by her loving husband of 47 years, William Sellar; two sons, William S. Sellar of South River, N.J., and Michael Sellar of Manville, N.J.; and four grandchildren, Catherine, Kevin, Emily and Teresa. Cremation arrangements under the direction of Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Louise Wagoner, 70, of Floral City
Louise Wagoner, 70, of Floral City died on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2000, in the University of Arkansas Medical Center, Little Rock, Ark. A native of Cynthiana, Ky., she was born Dec. 21, 1929, to John and Ethel Sadler. She came to Citrus County 12 years ago from Clearwater where she had resided since 1967. She was a member of the Floral City United Methodist Church and O.E.S. Chapter 164, Floral City. Surviving are her husband of 47 years, Donald K. Wagoner of Floral City; two sons, Barry L. of Clearwater and Michael W. of Spring Hill; one daughter, Lois Turner of Inverness; three brothers, James Sadler of Lexington, Ky., Herman Sadler of Clearwater and Billy Ray Sadler of Cynthiana, Ky.; four sisters, Ruby Franklin of Ohio, Birdie Whalen, Stella Whalen and Christine Coy, all of Cynthiana, Ky.; seven grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Laura Witherspoon, 69, of Hernando
Laura Jane Witherspoon, 69, of Hernando, loving wife, mother and grandmother, died Sunday, Nov. 26, 2000. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and moved to Brooksville in 1985 from Louisville, Ohio, before moving to Hernando in 1994. She was a volunteer at Brentwood Retirement Community; an avid skeet shooter; member of the Gator Skeet and Trap Club, Gainesville; and past member of the National Skeet Shooting Association. She was Protestant and sister of the late Barbara Church. Surviving are her husband of 48 years, Donald Lee Witherspoon Sr. of Hernando; son, Donald Lee (Judy Tsacrios) Witherspoon Jr. of Homosassa; daughter, Judy Schneider Perreault of Homosassa; brother, Richard Moody of North Carolina; sister, Dawn Louise of Canton, Ohio; and four grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Frances Ash, 87, of Inverness
Frances J. Ash, 87, of Inverness died Monday, Nov. 27, 2000. She was born in Ontario, Canada, and came here 29 years ago from Southfield, Mich. She was an executive secretary for General Motors. She was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, the Catholic Women’s Group at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus Auxiliary. She is survived by many nieces and nephews and a close friend, Lucy Bruno, of Inverness. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.