Douglas Baker, 62, of Hernando
Douglas Lee Baker, 62, of Hernando died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000. He was born in Louisville, Ky., and came to Hernando 33 years ago from there. Mr. Baker was a retired owner/operator of Doug's Garage in Hernando; an avid motorcycle rider. He was Baptist. Surviving are his wife of 35 years, Elizabeth Chapman Baker of Hernando; son, Keith A. of Floral City; brother, Stanley W. Jr. of Paducah, Ky.; and three grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Dorothy Benn, 85, of Dunnellon
Dorothy White Benn, 85, of Dunnellon died Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2000. She was born in Punta Gorda and came to Dunnellon 30 years ago from Seminole. Mrs. Benn was Baptist. She was the wife of the late Mr. Arthur H. Benn, who died Sept. 2, 1986. Surviving are her daughter, Vicky (Robert) Lazio of Dunnellon; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Thomas Blazok, 81, of Beverly Hills
Thomas W. Blazok, 81, of Beverly Hills died Monday, Jan. 3, 2000, in Crystal River. Mr. Blazok was born in Lawrence, Mass. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Beverly Hills, Our Lady of Grace Men's Club, Life member of Knights of Columbus 4th Degree No. 6168 in Lecanto. He served in the U.S. Army. He was a member of VFW Harry F. Nesbitt Post No. 10087, Beverly Hills; life member of the Elks Club No. 335 in Phoenix, Ariz.; and life member of the Elks Club No. 65 in Lawrence, Mass. Surviving are his wife, Stella Blazok of Beverly Hills; daughters, Susan Melchiorre of Wilmette, Ill., Karen O'Connor of Houston, Texas; brother, Joseph of Janamonick, Calif.; four grandsons; and several nieces and nephews. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Nancy Campbell, 67, of Beverly Hills
Nancy E. Campbell, 67, of Beverly Hills died Friday, Dec. 24, 1999, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. She was born to Lillian and Ernest L. Vent on Sept. 25, 1932, in Salem, Mass. She moved here from Danvers, Mass., nine years ago. She retired from William F. Sawyer, Esq. Law Firm in Boston, Mass., as a legal secretary. She was a member of the Nature Coast Unitarian Universalist Church of Lecanto, where she played the organ and was in the choir. She was a member and past president of both the Danvers County and Citrus County League of Women Voters, she was on the Florida State Board of League of Women Voters; ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union); Seven Rivers Golf and Country Club and the Tuesday Bridge Club. Campbell was a graduate of the Boston University and she attended the University of Massachusetts where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority. One of her great loves was the Ferry Beach Park Association in Saco, Maine, she was an executive director of the Navy Release Society of Marine Corps Air Station in Kanehoe Bay, Hawaii; she was Miss Red Feather of Salem, Mass. Community Chest Fund in 1950, a member of the North Shore Players where she produced Brigadoon and How to Succeed in Business. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Laurie C. Emerson, in 1993. She is survived by her husband, Robert "Bob" L. Campbell of Beverly Hills; one son, Gifford Campbell of Brighton, Mass.; two grandchildren, Julia Anna Castaldi of Middletown, N.Y., and Erric Robert Emerson of Longbranch, N.J. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Gerald Hardy, 83, of Floral City
Gerald Hardy, 83, of Floral City died at home Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000. Born in Stanton, Mich., on Aug. 24, 1916, he came here from Naples. He retired from the construction industry. He attended the Lutheran Church. Survivors include his wife, Goldie (Buskirk) Hardy of Floral City; and brother, Allan Hardy. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Charles Hoffman, 79, of Inverness
Charles J. Hoffman, 79, of Inverness died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital. Born in Fairport, N.Y., he came here 24 years ago from Rochester, N.Y., and was a retired boiler man. Mr. Hoffman was a U.S. Army World War II veteran. He was Catholic. Surviving are one son, Charles M. of St. Cloud; two daughters, Sara Mastroeni of Red Creek, N.Y., and Linda Wells of Virginia; one stepson, Ezra Hampton of Inverness; three sisters; 20 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Marie Johnston, 92, of Inverness
Marie H. Johnston, 92, of Inverness died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Cypress Cove Care Center in Crystal River. Born in Milwaukee, Wis., she came to the area seven years ago from Fort Myers. She was a bookkeeper for the school system in Madison, Wis. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Inverness. Survivors include three sisters, Meta Tonoli and Rose Bertnick both of Menomonee, Wis., and Margaret Much of Inverness; and one brother, Raymond Haissig of St. Francis, Wis. National Cremation Society, Brooksville.

Sally Klein, 86, of Beverly Hills
Sally Klein, 86, of Beverly Hills died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000. She was born in Manhattan, N.Y. Mrs. Klein was a retired sales clerk from Macy's Department Store after 23 years; a volunteer at the fire department; bingo and dances at the Jewish Center; member of Temple Beth Sholom; and wife of the late Mr. Michael Klein, who died in 1985. Surviving are her brother, Seymour Rosenberg of New York City, N.Y.; and two sisters, Betty Eckert of New York City, N.Y., and Evelyn Metropolski of East Chester, N.Y. Hooper Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Martha Kramer, 82, of Chesterfield, Va.
Martha Mills Kramer, 82, of Chesterfield, Va., went to be with the Lord on Jan. 4, 2000, at Lucy Corr Village after an extended illness. Born in Inez, Ky., she was a longtime resident of Brunswick, Ga., where she was a member of Glyndale Baptist Church. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Howard Mills and Ebb Mills Jr. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Starling Hull Kramer Sr.; her sister, Mildred Morris of Richmond, Va.; one son, Starling Jr. and his wife Sharon, and her daughters, Marlene Kramer and Shelia Mullen and her husband Tom Mullen; and five grandchildren, Clayton Kramer, Alanna Kramer, Christopher Kramer, Marissa Mullen and Natalie Mullen. J.T. Morris & Son Funeral Home, Chester, Va., 748-2500.

Jacob Kuhn Sr., 91, of Crystal River
Jacob J. Kuhn Sr., 91, of Crystal River died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and moved to Crystal River six years ago from Ocala where he resided for 23 years coming from Miami. Mr. Kuhn was in the antique furniture restoration business. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, Ocala. He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Madeline Kuhn and two daughters, Dorothy Donaldson and Loretta Mathews. Surviving are his son, Jacob J. Jr. of Crystal River; 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Roberts Downtown Chapel Funeral Home, Ocala.

Michael Lane, 35, of Floral City
Michael Phillip Lane, 35, of Floral City died at Citrus Health and Rehab Center Monday, Jan. 3, 2000. Born in Orange, Calif., on Oct. 8, 1964, he moved to Florida from Des Moines, Iowa, three years ago. He was employed in the trucking industry. He served in the U.S. Army. He graduated from Clinton, Illinois High School in 1983. Surviving are his mother and stepfather, Carol and Rex Paullin of Floral City; and half brother, Scott Paullin of Floral City. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Esther Parks, 79, of Inverness
Esther V. Parks, 79, a longtime resident of Inverness, died Friday, Dec. 31, 1999, at Citrus Health and Rehab, Inverness, under the loving care of their staff and Hospice of Citrus County and her family. She was born Oct. 10, 1920, in Hyde City, Pa., the daughter of the late John and Annie Mitchell. Mrs. Parks was a lifetime member of the American Legion, Post No. 6, Clearfield, Pa.; a Gold Star Mother; and was preceded in death by her husband, Jerald A. Parks, in 1973; her son, Sgt. Donald J. Parks in 1968; and daughter, Kathryn L. Goodman in 1984. She was Methodist. Surviving are her daughter, Judith (John) Fouts of Inverness; two sons, Richard Parks of St. Paul, Minn., and Jerald Parks Jr. of Baltimore, Md.; two brothers, William Mitchell and Thomas Mitchell; five sisters, Anna Gruber, Norma Clark, Lois Laudermilk, Peggy Rupe, and Gloria Mitchell; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and her dear friend, Mrs. Marian Gallant of Inverness. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Leo Scherma, 89, of Lecanto
Leo Scherma, 89, of Lecanto died Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2000. Mr. Scherma came here from his native New York, N.Y., three years ago. He was a retired elevator operator for an apartment building in New York City. He was Catholic and attended St. Scholastica Catholic Church in Lecanto. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, Mary Scherma of Lecanto; daughter, Mary Carroll and husband Richard of Lecanto; son, Victor, of Staten Island, N.Y.; sister, Mildred Columbo of Staten Island, N.Y.; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandson; and several nephews and nieces. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Joshua Steele, infant, of Coopersville, Mich.
Joshua Allen Steele, 14 days, of Coopersville, Mich., died on Monday, Dec. 27, 1999, in Devos Childrens Hospital, Grand Rapids, Mich. He was born on Monday, Dec. 13, 1999, to Tim and Dawn (Robb) Steele. Joshua is survived by his parents; sister Kelsey at home; paternal grandparents, Harold and Marcia Steele of Coopersville, Mich.; maternal grandparents, Margo and Jack Freeman of Homosassa, and Danny and Cathy Robb of Decatur, Ill.; paternal great-grandmother, Margaret Steele of Michigan; maternal great-grandparents, Audre Wooten and Emily and Joe Snipes of Decatur, Ill.; several aunts, uncles and cousins. Services took place at Rosedale Cemetery in Grand Rapids, Mich. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations be made to the Citrus County Special Olympics Organization in Joshua's name.

Funeral notices

Douglas Lee Baker.
The service of remembrance for Mr. Douglas Lee Baker, age 62, of Hernando, will be conducted 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, at the Beverly Hills Chapel of Hooper Funeral Homes with the Rev. Stan Stewart officiating. Cremation will be under the direction of the Hooper Crematory, Inverness. Friends may call from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Beverly Hills Chapel. Friends, who wish, may send memorial donations to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, Fla., 34461-8450. Nancy E. Campbell. Memorial services for Nancy E. Campbell, age 67, of Beverly Hills, will be conducted at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 8, 2000, at the Brown Funeral Home with Pastor Ron Mazur officiating. Private cremation took place under the direction of Brown Funeral Home. Inurnment took place in the Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the League of Women Voters of Florida Education Fund, 540 Beverly Court, Tallahassee, Fla., 32301-2506. Leo Scherma. Graveside services for Mr. Leo Scherma, age 89, former elevator operator in the city of New York, will be conducted at 1:45 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 2000, at Fero Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Beverly Hills. Services conducted by Deacon Richard Meyer. Burial will be in Fero Memorial Gardens Cemetery, Beverly Hills, under the direction of Fero Funeral Home With Crematory. Visitation will be on Thursday, Jan. 6, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. with a prayer service at 7 p.m. with Deacon Richard Meyer.

Deaths Elsewhere

Charles Allen, 83, U.S. District Judge
LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Charles M. Allen, the U.S. District Judge who issued some of the state's most important civil-rights and constitutional decisions, died Tuesday. He was 83. He consistently struck down state laws limiting women's right to abortion. He also ordered the Jefferson County Jail to release inmates to ease crowding after finding the population exceeded acceptable limits. In 1987, Allen approved a $3.5 million settlement that ended years of litigation against the city of Louisville by black applicants who said they were discriminated against when they sought jobs as police officers. In 1982, he ordered Jefferson County school officials to allow black activist Angela Davis to speak at one school; then ordered them to allow the Ku Klux Klan to hold a rally of the white supremacist group at another.

Malcolm Denise, 86, labor relations
GROSSE POINTE, Mich. -- Malcolm L. Denise, who helped labor relations at Ford Motor Co. in its contract negotiations with the United Auto Workers, died Thursday. He was 86. Denise, who joined Ford's legal staff in 1946, was named vice president of labor relations in 1959. In 1974, Denise became vice president of labor policy planning before retiring a year later and joining another Detroit law firm.

Bill Edwards, 81, actor
NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Bill Edwards, a rodeo rider who became an actor in the 1940s and then turned to painting, died Dec. 21. He was 81. Broken bones brought Edwards' riding career to a halt, and the 6-foot 5-inch Edwards became a model in New York City. An agent brought him to Hollywood in the early 1940s. In addition to Western films, Edwards had featured roles in "Our Hearts Were Young and Gay" and "Hail the Conquering Hero," both in 1944. Edwards began drawing horses as a child and continued drawing as he grew up on a Wyoming ranch. In the 1950s he became a painter and commercial illustrator, creating hundreds of covers for paperback books and designing paper dolls of movie stars.

David Mellinkoff, 85, law professor
LOS ANGELES -- David Mellinkoff, a law professor and award-winning writer who campaigned against confusing legal language, died just 12 weeks after having a heart attack. He was 85. Mellinkoff wrote about the legal profession and its language in five books, including "The Language of the Law" in 1963, which sparked movements to control legalese, and "Mellinkoff's Dictionary of American Legal Usage" in 1992. The 1963 book earned Mellinkoff the Scribes Award for the book best conveying the true spirit of the legal profession. After joining the UCLA law faculty Mellinkoff wrote "The Conscience of a Lawyer," "Lawyers and the System of Justice," and "Legal Writing: Sense and Nonsense." In August, Mellinkoff gave his personal collection of 1,350 volumes to UCLA's Hugh and Hazel Darling Law Library.

Stanley Koplik, 56, chancellor
BOSTON -- Stanley Z. Koplik, chancellor of the state's Board of Higher Education, died Monday following intestinal surgery. He was 56. Koplik held the role of chief executive officer for the state's public colleges since 1993. The board governs policies for the state's 15 community colleges, nine state colleges and five campuses of the University of Massachusetts. During his tenure, the board has reduced tuition at the public colleges for each of the last four years.

George Duplain, 68, of Homosassa
George J. Duplain, 68, of Homosassa died Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2001, at Daytona Beach. Born in Boston, Mass., he came here 16 years ago from Marshfield, Mass. He was a high school and junior college teacher in Canton, Mass., for 22 years. He was a graduate of Northeastern College. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses of Homosassa. Surviving are his wife, Gladys E. (Anketell) Duplain of Homosassa; three sons, George F. of Spring Hill, Andrew C. of Canton, Ohio, and Christopher J. of Port Richey; two stepdaughters, Christine Allen of Lecanto and Roberta L. Serra of Plymouth, Conn.; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Lillian French, 92, of Sugarmill Woods
Lillian M. French, 92, of Sugarmill Woods, Homosassa, died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Cypress Cove Care Center. She was born in Cedarhurst, Long Island, N.Y., and came here 31 years ago from Lynbrook, L.I., N.Y. She was a retired supervisor for New York Telephone Company and a member of Telephone Pioneers. She was Methodist. Surviving are one grandson, Philip Nash Buffett (Lori) of Jacksonville; one granddaughter, Lilann Gilbert (Wayne) of Sugarmill Woods; three great-grandsons, Philip Jason Buffett, Zachary Eleton Buffett both of Jacksonville, and Michael Renkiewicz, U.S. Army; and a great-great-granddaughter, Leila Buffett of Jacksonville. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Sylvia Israelian, 100, of Dunnellon
Sylvia Israelian, 100, of Dunnellon died Monday, Jan. 1, 2001, in Gainesville. A native of Finland, she came here from Miami. She was a retired commercial artist. She was a graduate of University of Louisville Art School and attended Vocal School at Carnegie Hall. She is survived by two nephews, Douglas Johnson of Seattle, Wash., and Norman Johnson of Las Vegas, Nev. Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.

Rodney Nagengast, 70, of Beverly Hills
Rodney W. Nagengast, 70, of Beverly Hills died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, in Inverness. Born in Bayshore, N.Y., he came here 121/2 years ago from East Moriches, N.Y., and was a retired electrician. He served in the U.S. Air Force. He was a member of the VFW Post No. 10087, the Fishing Club and the New York Club, all of Beverly Hills. He was Catholic. Surviving are his wife of 48 years, Anita Nagengast of Beverly Hills; daughters, Cheryl Souza of Beverly Hills and Melody Stuart of Center Moriches, N.Y.; six grandchildren and two nephews. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Ramona Noel, 79, of Inverness
Ramona Gene Noel, 79, of Inverness died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at her residence under the loving care of her family and Hospice of Citrus County. Born in Titusville, Pa., on Oct. 21, 1921, to Ralph and Edythe (Klein) Miller, she came here 10 years ago from Guys Mills, Pa. She was a graduate of Randolph High School in Guys Mills. She enjoyed gardening, handcrafts, reading and playing the piano. Her memberships included the Bradley Town United Methodist Church and the Point O’ Woods Golf and Country Club. Surviving are her son and his wife, Jon and Marcia J. Noel of Martinsburg, Pa.; two brothers, Ralph (Marty) Miller and Robert (Ginny) Miller, both of Alliance, Ohio; one sister, Mary Lou (Dudley) Armburger of Guys Mills, Pa.; one grandson, Gabriel Justin Noel; and several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Laddie W. Noel, who died May 28, 1995; her sister, Mae Maloney and her brother, Gerald Miller. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, FL 34461. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Maynard Slayton, 76, of Dunnellon
Maynard L. Slayton, 76, of Dunnellon died Friday, Jan. 5, 2001, in Dunnellon. He was born in Rice Lake, Wis., and came here in 1987 from Oconomowoc, Wis. He was a retired foreman employed by Wisconsin Centrifugal Foundry. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He was a member of NRA, VFW Post No. 4864 in Citrus Springs and the American Legion Post No. 318 in Lake Tomahawk, Wis. Surviving are his wife of 29 years, Alice Slayton of Dunnellon; son, Frank Slayton of Dousman, Wis.; stepson, Fred Meyers of Oconomowoc, Wis.; three daughters, Bonnie (Jeff) Potter of Williston, Toni Ackley of Orlando and Vickie Niemann of Watertown, Wis.; brother, Larry Slayton of Rhinelander, Wis.; and sister, Lucille Carlson of Ogema, Wis. Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.

Rosemary Tucker, 70, of Dunnellon
Rosemary Beatrice Tucker, 70, of Dunnellon died Thursday, Jan. 4, 2001, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River. Born in Rochester, N.Y., she came here in 1993 from there. She was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a member of Rainbow Springs Ladies Golf Association. Surviving are her loving husband of 22 years, Kelvin F. Tucker of Dunnellon; five sons, Gary Voelkl, Raymond Voelkl, Mark Tucker, Brian Tucker, all of Rochester, N.Y., and Michael Tucker of Convoy, Ohio; three daughters, Sandy O’Dell of Williamson, N.Y., Christine M. Stokes of Fairport, N.Y., and Cheryl P. Shah of Pittsford, N.Y.; one brother, Harry Quigley of Webster, N.Y.; two sisters, Joanne Quigley of Rochester, N.Y., and Patricia Pinckney of Fairport, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by one brother, Joseph Quigley. Memorial contributions in Rosemary’s memory may be made to The American Lung Association of Gulfcoast Florida, 6170 Central Ave., St. Petersburg, FL 33707, Attn: Sue Miller. Fero Funeral Home, Dunnellon.

Funeral notice

Lillian M. French.
A memorial service for Lillian M. French, age 92, of Sugarmill Woods, will be conducted at 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, 2001, at Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Deaths elsewhere

Harold Rhodes, 89, piano inventor
LOS ANGELES — Harold Burroughs Rhodes, the inventor of the electric piano used by countless jazz and rock musicians, died Dec. 17 of complications from pneumonia. He was 89. Rhodes, who ran a chain of piano studios from Los Angeles to New York before World War II, joined the Army and developed a piano to teach injured soldiers confined to bed. In 1955, Rhodes went into partnership with guitar and amplifier maker Leo Fender. Because of design disagreements, they never produced his concept for an electric piano but they did create Rhodes’ 32-note piano bass. It wasn’t until 10 years later, when CBS took over Fender, that Rhodes’ piano was made and successfully marketed. The instrument is considered critical in the evolution of jazz-rock in the 1970s. It gave the music of artists such as Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis and Chick Corea a sound that blended well with other instruments and had a true piano touch.