Howard Ownbey, 63, of Inverness
Howard Tillman Ownbey, 63, of Inverness died Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital. Born in St. Petersburg on Sept. 13, 1936, to Sherman and Thelma Louise Ownbey, he came to Citrus County 32 years ago from there. He was a tile setter in the construction industry. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He was Protestant. Survivors include one son, Howard Ownbey of St. Petersburg; two daughters, Laurie Simmons of St. Petersburg and Diana Wubbena of Leesburg; one stepson, Robert of Largo; one stepdaughter, Lori Nelson of St. Petersburg; five brothers, Frank of Floral City, Bill of Bushnell, Richard of St. Petersburg, Sherman Jr. of Spring City, Ind., and "Buck" of Meridan, Idaho; six sisters, Donna Fields of St. Petersburg, Gail Jones of Pinson, Ala., Mary Kimura and Vivian Paulsen both of St. Petersburg, Peggy Parish of Oklahoma, and Margaret Hall of Hernando; many grandchildren including Dyllan David, Shannon, Danielle, Jamie Lynn, and Joseph; several great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Richard Smith, 64, of Crystal River
Richard Paul Smith, 64, of Crystal River died Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County. He was born to Louise and Paul Smith on Aug. 28, 1935, in Lowell, Mass. He moved here from Londonderry, N.H., two and a half years ago. He was a retired sales representative for the electronics industry. He was Methodist. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean conflict. He was a member of the American Legion in Pelham, N.H., and Hudson, N.H., NRA. Surviving are his wife, Mary G. Smith of Crystal River; two sons, Richard Jr. of Pelham, N.H., and Kevin of Lowell, Mass.; one daughter, Kelly Boulard of Litchfield, N.H.; one brother, David of Crystal River; four sisters, Gertrude Pidcoe of Picayune, Miss., Hazel Cox of Bolivia, N.C., Ethel Boisvert of Lowell, Mass., and Patricia Cripps of Hudson, N.H. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Harry Wardle, 86, of Crystal River
Harry Wardle, 86, of Crystal River died Saturday, Feb. 26, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. He was born July 16, 1913, to Alice and Harry Wardle in New Castle, Staffordshire, England. He moved here from Los Angeles, Calif., one year ago. He was a retired retail salesman. He was Protestant. He is survived by several nephews and nieces including Stuart and Thersa Tomlinson of Crystal River, John and Joyce Wardle, David and Gwen Wardle, Angela Mayer and Anne Morris all of Great Britain. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Tess Washington, infant, of Crystal River
Tess Henry Washington, infant daughter of Robert Henry and Thomasina Washington died Sunday, Feb. 27, 2000, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandmother, Tomisene Washington. In addition to her parents, she is survived by maternal grandparents, Lorenzo and Gloria B. Washington of St. Petersburg; maternal great-grandmothers, Mable Jackson and Rena Washington both of Crystal River; paternal grandmother, Vivian Richburg of Crystal River; paternal great-grandmother, Flora Brooks of Crystal River; aunts, Betty "Jean-Jean" Jackson of Crystal River, Karen Devaughn of Orlando, Bea Jackson, Ann Jackson and Celestine Cox all of Crystal River; and several other aunts, uncles and cousins. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Charles Blake, 70, of Homosassa
Charles E. Blake, 70, of Homosassa died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at Surrey Place Convalescent Center. Born in Fort Lee, N.J., he came here eight years ago from Lake Butler. He was a retired correctional officer II at North Florida Reception Center, Lake Butler, and a 20-year Lake Butler volunteer fireman. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Homosassa. He was a member of the Loyal Order of the Moose No. 2013, Crystal River, and IOOF Unity Lodge No. 3 in Portland, Maine. He is survived by his wife, Patricia A. (Bridges) Blake of Homosassa. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Leslie Holub, 69, of Floral City
Leslie T. Holub, 69, of Floral City died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, at his home, under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County. Born in Norwich, N.Y., on Jan. 22, 1931, to William and Violet (Law) Holub, he came here two and a half years ago from Bradenton. Mr. Holub was a retired restaurant manager. He was a Korean U.S. Army veteran. He was Catholic. He is survived by one son, Gregory Holub of Floral City; two daughters, Barbara Feeney of Pekin, Ill., and Leslie Shoulders of Round Lake Bea, Ill.; three brothers, William of Pekin, Ill., Ted of Mesa, Ariz., and Punch of Mundelin, Ill.; one sister, Joyce Grever of Blooming Prairie, Minn.; and six grandchildren. Memorial contributions in Mr. Holub's memory are suggested to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, Fla., 34461. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Elizabeth Kline, 67, of Inverness
Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Kline, 67, of Inverness died at home on Wednesday, March 1, 2000, under the loving care of her family and Hospice. A native of South Bend, Ind., she was born on May 23, 1932, to George and Camilla Erp. She moved from South Bend 10 years ago, where she worked for Bendix and the American Home Products. She was Catholic. Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Donald E. Kline; two sons, Larry E. Kline and his wife Beth of South Bend, Ind., and Curt A. Kline of South Bend, Ind.; one daughter, Chris Kline of Syracuse, Ind.; four brothers, George K. Erp of Sun City, Joe Erp of Seymour, Ind., Jim Erp of Rochester, Ind., and Paul Erp of South Bend, Ind.; five sisters, Mary Stewart of Saraland, Ala., Rosie Braunsdorf of South Bend, Ind., Pinkie Grams of Salem, N.H., Jenny Glon of South Bend, Ind., and Gerry Hossom of Muncie, Ind.; four grandchildren, Jill, Natalie, Nick and Matt; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by two brothers, Charlie and David Erp. In lieu of flowers, memorials requested to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, Fla., 34461. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Jean Otte, 87, of Inverness
Jean Katherine Otte, 87, of Inverness died Wednesday, March 1, 2000. She was born in St. Paul, Minn., and came to Inverness from Lake Alfred. Mrs. Otte was a member of the Point O' Woods Country Club, Inverness. She was Pentecostalist. She was wife of the late Mr. Bob Otte, who died in July 1996. Surviving are her two daughters, Pat Oglesby of Winter Haven and Dee Grinenko of Dover; four grandchildren, Dawn Grinenko, Dori Baker, Deidre Grinenko and Greg Oglesby; and three great-granddaughters, Rosie Oglesby, Erin Baker and Olivia Baker. Friends, who wish, may send memorial donations to the Hospice of Hillsborough County. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Mary Reale, 103, of Lecanto
Mary C. Reale, 103, of Lecanto died Monday, Feb. 28, 2000. A native of Italy, she came to Lecanto in April 1990 from New Britain, Conn. She was a homemaker. She was Catholic. Survivors include four sons, George Reale, Joseph Reale both of Beverly Hills, Albert Reale of Port Charlotte, and Louis Reale of Wethersfield, Conn.; 19 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Anna Romeo, 86, of Homosassa
Anna E. Romeo, 86, of Homosassa died Wednesday, March 1, 2000. She was born in Philadelphia, Pa., and was a winter resident of Homosassa since 1976 before moving her permanently in 1997 from Woodbury, N.J. Mrs. Romeo was a retired stationery machine operator. Surviving are her husband of 62 years, Joseph P. Romeo of Homosassa; son, John J. Romeo of Verga, N.J.; daughter, Joanne Gresko of Annadale, Va.; six grandchildren and one great-granddaughter. Hooper Funeral Home, Homosassa.

Max Farner, 81, of Montezuma, Ind.
Max Farner, 81, of Montezuma, Ind., died Wednesday, March 1, 2000, in Crystal River. Mr. Farner was born in Shepherdsville, Ind. He was visiting in this area. He was an auto mechanic and was a member of the Church of God in Greencastle, Ind. He is survived by two sons, Charles Max Farner of Terre Haute, Ind., and Roy Robert Mathews of Montezuma, Ind.; one daughter, Darlene Magill of Greencastle, Ind.; one sister, Hazel Quick of Brazil, Ind.; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Amanda Garcia-Jones, infant daughter
Amanda Rose Garcia-Jones, infant daughter of Kenneth William Garcia and Lori A. (Templeton) Jones, died Monday, March 1, 2000, at Munroe Regional Hospital in Ocala, where she was born on July 7, 1999. In addition to her parents, Amanda is survived by six brothers, James Bernard Jones III of Ocala, Kenneth, Adam, Michael, Gabriel and David Garcia all of Washington; one sister, Rachael Leigh Renslow of Orlando; maternal grandmother, Kathleen Templeton of Dunnellon; maternal grandfather, Glen H. Templeton of Red Oak, Iowa; paternal grandparents, Carmen and Clifford Johnson of Bronx, N.Y.; maternal great-grandmother, Rosemary Moorehead of Crystal River; maternal great-grandfather, Edwin Moorehead of Harlingen, Texas; and several aunts, uncles and cousins. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Mary Kostick, 87, of Beverly Hills
Mary Kostick, 87, of Beverly Hills died Thursday, March 2, 2000. She was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and came to Beverly Hills 27 years ago from there. Mrs. Kostick was a homemaker. She was Jewish. She was the wife of the late Mr. Abraham Kostick, who died Oct. 25, 1989. She is survived by her niece, Rhoda Goldie of Los Angeles, Calif. Hooper Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Frank Morelli, 57, of Inverness
Frank A. Morelli, 57, of Inverness died at home on Thursday, March 2, 2000. A native of Staten Island, N.Y., he was born on May 10, 1942, to Ferdinand A. and the late Margaret Morelli. He moved here 10 years ago from there. He was a retired firefighter for the city of New York Fire Department. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. Surviving are three daughters, Lisa Stabach and Gina Winters, both of Staten Island, N.Y., and Cara Hitt of Boynton Beach; his father, Ferdinand A. Morelli of Inverness; one brother, Antonio of Staten Island, N.Y.; and one sister, Genevieve Saderholm of Gambrills, Md.; and three grandchildren. His mother, Margaret Daluise Morelli, preceded him in death Dec. 23, 1998. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

James Ross Sr., 81, of Lecanto
James C. Ross Sr., beloved husband of Doris B. Ross, died Wednesday evening, March 1, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness. Jim and Doris have been residents of Lecanto since 1980, when Jim retired from IBM. He was an usher and former deacon at Inverness First Assembly of God Church until a week before his death. Jim was born Feb. 4, 1919, in Minter City, Miss., the son of Sara Robinson and John Ellis Ross Sr. He was one of six children. He attended Mississippi State College before enlisting in the Army Air Corps and serving in the Aleutian Islands during World War II. Following the war Jim met and married Doris B. Cordrey in Jacksonville. He soon rejoined the Air Force, specializing in electronics and telemetry, and participating in the Moonwatch program established to monitor the flight of the Russian Sputnik satellite. He retired in 1964 after a total of 20 years of military service. Jim then worked for IBM on the Saturn/Apollo manned space flight program at the Kennedy Space Center. The Rosses moved to Endicott, N.Y., in 1973, where he retired after 15 years with IBM. Jim began singing bass while a student at Mississippi State and sang in church choirs in Mississippi, Japan and Florida. He ushered and was a dedicated Sunday school teacher in many of the churches he attended through the years. Jim is survived by his wife Doris; his daughter Beverly J. Ross of Miami; his sons, James C. Ross Jr. of Las Vegas, Nev., and Michael E. Ross of Nashville, Tenn.; and two brothers, Joe R. Ross of Benoit, Miss., and Dr. William Ross of Indianola, Miss. He is also survived by all six of his grandchildren, who mourn the loss of their most loving grandpa. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Doris Weiner, 79, of Crystal River
Doris Weiner, 79, of Crystal River died Thursday, March 2, 2000, at Seven Rivers Community Hospital. She was born in July 1920 in New York. She moved here from Ojai, Calif., six years ago. She is survived by her husband, Frank Weiner of Crystal River; one daughter, Denise Coy of Oregon; and one grandchild. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Edna Baker, 82, of Lecanto
Edna Mae Baker, 82, of Lecanto, died at her home Wednesday, March 1, 2000. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., she came here 23 years ago from Norwalk, Conn. She was a retired postal clerk. She belonged to the Inverness Moose Lodge, Women of Cinnamon Ridge, and American Legion Auxiliary. She was Methodist. Survivors include her husband, William H. Baker of Lecanto; one daughter, Susan Fedor of Middlebury, Conn.; son-in-law Richard Fedor of Middlebury, Conn., and four grandchildren. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Blanche Beckwith, 91, of Conneaut, Ohio
Blanche L. Beckwith, 91, formerly of Conneaut Manor in Conneaut, Ohio, died Thursday, March 2, 2000, at Jefferson Geriatric Center in Jefferson, Ohio, where she had been a patient since 1997. She was born May 30, 1908, in Conneaut to Guy L. Towne and Florence O. (Gunn) Towne Irish. She graduated in 1928 from Conneaut High School and in 1930 from Elyria Business College. She worked as a bookkeeper for Prudential Insurance, W.T. Grant Co., and Fortune-Byers Hardware Store in Conneaut. Before she moved to Florida, she was active in the First United Methodist Church of Conneaut. While in Florida, she lived at Hoffman Mobile Home Park in Inverness. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Inverness, where she was active in the Ruth Sunday School Class. When she returned to Conneaut, she became a member of the Conneaut First Baptist Church. She had been a member of Mothers Club II and was a 68-year member of Rose Chapter No. 22 of Order of Eastern Star. She was active in Massasauga Girl Scouts for 25 years, and trained Girl Scout leaders. She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold L. Beckwith, whom she married in 1932; her brother, Guy R. "Dick" Towne, and a grandson, Michael Breeden. Survivors include three daughters, Maureen A. Coe and Nancy L. Osburn, both of Conneaut, Ohio, and Olive "Becky" Breeden of Winder, Ga.; six grandchildren, Walter Braden, Tawnya Fuller, Christina Hyder, Teresa Coe, Tammy Beseda and Debra Drakeford, as well as 10 great-grandchildren. Marcy Funeral Home, Conneaut, Ohio.