Kathleen McMurray, 98, of Hernando
Kathleen A. McMurray, 98, of Hernando died Friday, May 5, 2000. She was born in Long Island, N.Y., and came to Hernando six years ago from Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. She was Catholic. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard J. McMurray, who died July 31, 1974. Survivors include two daughters, Geraldine Gerrity of Holmdel, N.J. and Virginia Black of Hernando; seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

James Boothe Jr., 70, of Homosassa
James Fletcher "Sarge" Boothe Jr., 70, of Homosassa died Sunday, May 7, 2000, at the Crystal River Health and Rehabilitation Center in Crystal River. He was born Aug. 16, 1929, to James F. Sr. and Nola Mae (Hall) Boothe in Jeffersonville, Ind. He came here 29 years ago from Jacksonville. He was a retired staff sergeant with the U.S. Army and had 20 years of service, serving during World War II, the Korean conflict and the Vietnam era. He was the Past Governor of the Crystal River Loyal Order of Moose 2013 in Crystal River. He was Protestant. He is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Anna Boothe; two sons, James J. Boothe of Vacaville, Calif. and Anthony J. Boothe of Ocala; one daughter, Elvira Nowlin of Fernandina Beach; five grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, two nephews and one niece. Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Gail Crites, 98, of Crystal River
Gail A. Crites, 98, of Crystal River died Monday, May 8, 2000, at her residence. Born in Leon, Iowa, she had been a winter resident here since 1959 and established a permanent home here in 1971 after moving from Kansas City, Mo. She was a homemaker. She was a member of the Crystal River United Methodist Church. Her memberships included the Crystal River Woman's Club, United Methodist Women and the Citrus County Art League. She was a 17-year volunteer at Seven Rivers Community Hospital in Crystal River. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. A.B. Crites, in 1980. Surviving are her daughter, Ester Kirkman of Auburn, Calif.; a niece, Carole Ann Harlan; one granddaughter and many loving friends and neighbors. Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Clarence Harris, 74, of Old Town
Clarence Edward Harris, 74, of Old Town, formerly of Homosassa, died Sunday, April 30, 2000, in Old Town. He was born in Lacoochee. He moved to Old Town in 1987. He was a retired staff sergeant for the U.S. Army and formerly with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office. He was retired from the Army and was also in the Navy during World War II. He was an avid private pilot. He was a member of the Jopa Masonic Lodge No. 4 in Old Town. Surviving are his wife, Fern Harris of Old Town; three sons, John of Great Falls, S.C., Floyd of Homosassa and David of Dade City; one daughter, Joyce Ricketson of Homosassa; his mother, Eva Harris of Trilby; two brothers, Walter of Trilby and James of Dade City; one sister, Juanita Holt of St. Petersburg; 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Oveta Horton, 74, of Inverness
Oveta Horton, 74, of Inverness died Saturday, May 6, 2000, in Citrus Memorial Hospital. Born in Dunedin on Oct. 2, 1925, to Worley and Nora Robbins, she came to Citrus County 10 years ago from Cocoa. She is survived by four sons, Larry Horton of McDonough, Ga., John Horton of Inverness, Robert Horton and Joey Horton, both of Covington, Ga.; three daughters, Barbara Sikish of Orlando, Nora James of North Carolina and Judy VanGorp of Cocoa; four brothers, Ted Robbins of Zephyrhills, Glen Robbins of Homosassa, Bramel Robbins of South Carolina, and Fonza Robbins, of Largo; two sisters, Bonnie Bailey of Homosassa and Mary Carter of Brooksville; 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Ferdinand Phillips, 79, of Beverly Hills
Ferdinand Phillips, 79, of Beverly Hills died Sunday, May 7, 2000. He was born in Cincinnati and came to Beverly Hills 15 years ago from Miami. He was a retired payroll officer for Ryder Systems. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. Surviving are his wife, Bernice "Bunny" Badanes Phillips of Beverly Hills; two daughters, Karen Phillips of Beverly Hills and Jennene (Jim) McGovern of Bradenton; brother, Harvey Phillips of New Hope, Minn.; and a grandchild, Lauren McGovern of Bradenton. Hooper Funeral Home, Beverly Hills.

Earl Woster, 69, of Inverness
Earl Edward Woster, 69, of Inverness died Sunday, May 7, 2000, at his home under the loving care of his family and Hospice of Citrus County. Born in Bethel, Ohio, on June 20, 1930, to Stanley and Emma (Bohn) Woster, he came here 14 years ago from Cincinnati. He was a retired central office manager and staff supervisor with the Cincinnati Bell System, with 35 years of service. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the Scottish Rite, Valley of Cincinnati and Queen City Masonic Lodge No. 559 of Cincinnati. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish, where he served as Eucharistic minister. Surviving are his wife of 24 years, Rose Galarde Woster; two daughters, Pamela Ann (Gary) Bonomini of New Richmond, Ohio, and Laura Ann (Douglas) Lach of Cincinnati, Ohio; two brothers, Stanley Woster Jr. of Loveland, Ohio, and William Woster of Summerset, Ky.; two sisters, Wanda Woster of Springdale, Ohio, and Mildred Day of Cincinnati, Ohio; and four grandchildren, Lauren, Niki, Heather and Andrea. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Herber Butler, 84, of Crystal River
Herber Francis Butler, 84, of Crystal River died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. He was born in Boston, Mass., and came to this area from Redding, Calif., 17 years ago. He was a self-employed real estate broker. He was a member of the American Legion Post in Crystal River. He was Catholic. Surviving are his wife, Miriam; four sons, Robert of Port Richey, Richard and Roger, locations both unknown, and Davis of Texas; brother, Edward of Massachusetts; and sister, Lois Butler of Tampa. Robert & Son Cremation Service, Spring Hill.

Vivien Gross, 85, of Clearwater
Vivien M. Gross, 85, of Clearwater died Sunday, May 9, 1999, at Manor Care Nursing Home. She was born in New Britain, Conn., and moved here in 1946 from there. She was an artist and educator, past president of the Citrus County Art League (while she was in office, the league constructed its permanent home), and founder of the Advertising and Commercial Art Program at Tomlinson Adult Education (now P-Tech). She was a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church. Surviving are two sons, Ralph Gross of Pinellas Park and Dr. Cordell Gross of Williston, Vt.; one daughter, Deborah G. Scarberry of Clearwater; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. American Burial & Cremation, Palm Harbor.

Paul LaFlash, 38, of Hernando
Paul LaFlash, 38, of Hernando died Friday, May 7, 1999. Born in Worcester, Mass., on Sept. 18, 1960, he came here two months ago from St. Cloud. He was a handyman and a member of the Auburn Elks Lodge of Auburn, Mass. Surviving are his loving wife, Donna; four sons, Sean, Michael, Andrew and Adam; six daughters, Becky, Elizabeth, Leah, Mindi, Mellisa and Kasie; his mother, Ruth Aubin; nine brothers, Jackie, Herbert, Skippy, Michael, Steven, Larry, Bobby, Rusty and Joey; two sisters, Linda and Kathy; and six grandchildren, Alissa, Shane, Nathan, Brianna, Zachary and Gillian. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Eldon Marcoux, 79, of Sugarmill Woods
Eldon O. Marcoux, 79, of Sugarmill Woods, Homosassa, died Sunday, May 9, 1999, at his residence. Born in Alton, N.H., he moved here in 1998 from Coral Gables. He was an airline pilot with National Airlines and Pan-Am in Coral Gables. He was Protestant. Surviving are his wife, Charlotte G. (Main) Marcoux; two daughters, Carol Parrott of Homosassa and Diane Carnes of Jacksonville; two grandchildren, Lisa and Robert; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a grandson, James McWilliams in 1996. Wilder-Fountains Funeral Home, Homosassa Springs.

Burton Mayes Jr., 72, of Homosassa
Burton Bell Mayes Jr., 72, of Homosassa died Sunday, May 9, 1999. He was born in Springfield, Tenn., and came to Homosassa three years ago from Sarasota. He was a retired insurance agent. He was a member of the Moose Lodge No. 2013, Homosassa. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Modi Mayes, who died Feb. 2, 1998. Surviving are his son, Douglas A. of San Antonio, Texas; four brothers, Wallace W. of Hamilton, Ohio, John Lewis of Florence, Ky., Joseph Edwin of Fairfield, Ohio, and James R. of Kilbeck, Ohio; two sisters, Henrietta McCurry of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Elizabeth Ann Mayes of Kissimmee; and two grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Homes, Homosassa Chapel.

Robert Mertz, 75, of Lecanto
Robert M. Mertz, 75, of Lecanto died Sunday, May 9, 1999, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. He was born to Marian and George M. Mertz on Aug. 15, 1923, in Lewisburg, Pa. He moved here from Philadelphia nine years ago. He retired from Kraftco as a dairy plant manager. He was a World War II U.S. Marine Corps veteran. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Charles T. Mertz. He was Protestant. He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Edythe; one son, Frederick A. of Ridley Park, Pa.; two brothers, Harold L. of Blakeslee, Pa., and Herbert R. of Horsham, Pa.; one grandson, David R. Mertz of San Francisco, Calif.; and several nephews and nieces. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Paul Odell, 40, of Homosassa
Paul E. Odell, 40, of Homosassa died Sunday, May 9, 1999. He was born in White Plains, N.Y., and came to Homosassa three years ago from Delhi, N.Y. He was a construction worker. He was a Lutheran. Surviving are his wife of nine years, Penny; mother, Charlotte Odell of Homosassa; sister, Joanne Decker of Bloomville, N.Y.; several nieces and nephews; and friends, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Calbi Jr. Hooper Funeral Homes, Homosassa Chapel.

Edward Poniatowski, 77, of Inverness
Edward Joseph Poniatowski, 77, of Inverness died Sunday, May 9, 1999, at Citrus Memorial Hospital. Born in Jamaica, N.Y., on March 1, 1922, to the late John and Sophie (Fraida) Poniatowski, he came here in 1984 from Mineola, Long Island, N.Y. He retired from the Nassau County Public School System as an assistant head custodian with several years of service. He was a World War II U.S. Army veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife, Theresa Mary Poniatowski, who died Aug. 11, 1994. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Parish of Inverness. Surviving are four sisters, Frances Schirmer of Inverness, Madga Sbarbaro of Pennsylvania, Mary Harty of Springfield, N.Y., and Sophie Malashchuk of Kansas; and several nieces and nephews. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

Anna Stroud, 44, of Dunnellon
Anna Marie Stroud, 44, of Dunnellon died Monday, May 10, 1999. Born in Springfield, Ohio, she moved to Dunnellon in 1987 from Miami. She was a homemaker. She was Protestant and attended Yankeetown Church of God. She is survived by one son, Michael of Crystal River; three daughters, Becky Norman, Carrie McRae, both of Crystal River, and Kathy Bowers of Knoxville, Tenn.; her father, David Walls of Dunnellon; three brothers, David Walls of Floral City, Emmitt Walls of Inglis and Jonathan Walls of Lima, Ohio; two sisters, Diane Walls and Tracy Roberson, both of Dunnellon; and seven grandchildren. Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon.

Trina Winters, of Homosassa
Trina Winters, of Homosassa, died Friday, May 7, 1999. She was born in Inglis, Canada, and came to Homosassa seven years ago from Woodinville, Wash. She was a retired real estate agent. She is survived by her sister, Elizabeth Hopkins of British Columbia, Canada; and her loving companion of 25 years, Robert Mongelli of Homosassa. Hooper Funeral Homes, Homosassa Chapel.

Frederick Abbe Jr., 63, of Homosassa
Frederick M. Abbe Jr., 63, of Homosassa died Friday, May 26, 2000, at Citrus Memorial Hospital in Inverness. He was born in Syracuse, N.Y., on Dec. 16, 1936, to May Lucene and Frederick M. Abbe Sr. He moved here from Daytona Beach 29 years ago. He was employed by the Citrus County School District. He was Catholic. Surviving are three daughters, Wendy Treadway of Jacksonville, Rose Marie Abbe Pittman of Finger, Tenn., and Loretta Lucene Abbe Reid of Monticello, Miss.; one son, James Frederick "Chipper" Abbe of Hernando; a daughter-in-law, Anita Abbe of Crystal River; a brother, Wayne Abbe of Maggie Valley, N.C.; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild, Arlene Borders of Tallahassee. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.

John Broesler Sr., 85, of Inverness
John D. Broesler Sr., 85, of Inverness died Wednesday, May 31, 2000. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and came to Inverness 36 years ago from Hickville, Long Island, N.Y. Mr. Broesler was a retired plumber. He was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, Inverness. He was husband of the late Mrs. Helen Theresa Broesler, who died on March 20, 2000. Surviving are his son, John D. Broesler Jr. of Inverness; three daughters, Jeanne Gullo of Homosassa, Judith Skuce and Jane Broesler, both of Inverness; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Stuart Clarke Sr., 75, of Homosassa
Stuart H. Clarke Sr., 75, of Riverhaven in Homosassa died Tuesday, May 30, 2000, at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville. Mr. Clarke was born in Stamford, Conn., on Nov. 9, 1924, to Josiah S. and Hilda (Schenk) Clarke. He came here 17 years ago from Awali, Bahrain. He was a retired regional director with the Dallas, Texas Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Mr. Clarke was also the first personnel director at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. He was the team leader responsible for the selection of the original Gemini Astronauts. He was a World War II veteran serving in the U.S. Army, a member of the Crystal River Loyal Order of Moose, Friends of the Library and member of the Seven Rivers Golf and Country Club. He was Protestant. Surviving are his loving wife of 27 years, Catherine Clarke; son, Stuart Clarke Jr. and his wife Barbara of Seattle, Wash.; two daughters, Deborah Belichick and husband William of Long Island, N.Y., and Kim Allen of Orlando; and six grandchildren, Amanda, Stephen and Brian Belichick, Sarah and Anna Clarke and Nicole Williams. Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.

Ralph Craigo, 72, of Inverness
Ralph N. Craigo, 72, of Inverness died Friday, May 26, 2000. He was born in Dunbar, W.Va., and came to Inverness six years ago from Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Craigo was an owner/operator of a bar and grill. He was a U.S. Marine veteran serving during World War II and the Korean conflict. He was Protestant. He is survived by his best friend, Linda Chapman of Inverness. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Julia Lemish, 88, of Inverness
Julia Catherine Lemish, 88, of Inverness died Wednesday, May 31, 2000. She was born in Jersey City, N.J., and came to Inverness five years ago from Homedale, N.J. Mrs. Lemish was an assembler for RCA and retired in 1965. She was Catholic. Surviving are her two daughters, Barbara M. Blanton of Inverness and Carole A. Anzivino of Point Pleasant, N.J.; six grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Memorial services to be held in New Jersey. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Ruby Nagle, 87, of Hernando
Ruby Nagle, 87, of Hernando died Tuesday, May 30, 2000. She was born in Georgia and came to Hernando eight years ago from Sun City, Fla. Mrs. Nagle was Baptist. Surviving are her husband, Robert L. Nagle of Hernando; four sons, Ron Swain of Belleview, James "Jack" Swain of Sorrento, Vernon "Eddie" Swain of Crystal River, and Dennis Swain of Atlanta, Ga.; six daughters, Faye Beam of Abbeville, Ala., Linda Braziel of Ocala, Diane Cox of Eustis, Ruby G. Zell of Abbeville, Ala., Vera Morrissey of Crystal River and Bobbie Jean Lala of Abbeville, Ala.; a brother, Wilbur C. Bohannon of Orlando; 20 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.

Warren Shokes Jr., 63, of Homosassa
Warren E. Shokes Jr., 63, of Homosassa died Tuesday, May 30, 2000, at Brentwood Health Center, Beverly Hills. He was born in Charleston, S.C., on Oct. 4, 1936, to Virginia E. and Warren E. Shokes Sr. He moved here from Green River, Wyo., seven years ago. He was employed by Trona Mining. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of the Korean conflict. He was Protestant. Surviving are his wife, Frances Kate Shokes of Homosassa; two sons, Eric Shokes of Orlando and Joel Shokes of Pocatello, Idaho; two daughters, Holly Parks of Aviano, Italy and Nicole Shatutis of Bermington, Wash.; four sisters, Loretta McKeithan of Apollo Beach, Sandra Batton of Charleston, S.C., Eleanor Null of Chesapeake, Va., and Deborah of Charleston, S.C.; four brothers, David Shokes of St. Augustine, Frederick Shokes of Suffolk, Va., Gerald Shokes, Bruce Shokes, both of Charleston, S.C.; and one grandchild. Brown Funeral Home, Crystal River.