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Ruby E. Perry
Ruby E. Perry, age 79, of Sturgis, Mich. and Okeechobee, died Tuesday, August 6, 2002, at her residence.
Mrs. Perry was born on Jan. 11, 1923, in LaGrange, Ind., she had been a seasonal resident of Okeechobee for 40 years. She was a member of the Eastern Star, American Legion, Elks Club and White Shrine, all in Michigan. She was also a member of the Presbyterian Church in Michigan.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Perry.
Survivors include: one brother, Robert (Georgia) S. Gerren of Okeechobee; one sister, Ruth M. Woods of Sturgis, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews also survive her.
Funeral services will be held in Sturgis, Michigan and Interment will be in Oaklawn Cemetery in Sturgis.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Okeechobee, P.O. Box 1548, Okeechobee, Fl. 34973.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Esther A. Maul
Esther A. Maul, age 82, of Okeechobee, died Tuesday, August 6, 2002, at Okeechobee Health Care Facility.
Mrs. Maul was born on May 4, 1920, in Sebewaing, Mich. Mrs. Maul had been a resident of Okeechobee for 12 years. She was a member of the Peace Lutheran Church.
Survivors include: two sons, James Maul of Petaluma, Calif. and Steve Chalenko of Okeechobee; two daughters, Sandi Seebach and Joy Kidwell, both of Okeechobee; three granddaughters, Sandra Joy Phillips of Okeechobee, Chris Seebach of Boston, Mass., and Heidi Skeivoski of Seattle, Wash.; five grandsons, Brad Goodbread, Mark Goodbread and Keith Goodbread, all of Okeechobee, David Maul of Michigan and Jeffrey Maul of Petaluma, Calif.; and three great-grandchildren also survive her.
Visitation will be held on Friday, August 9, from 5 until 6 p.m., with funeral services to follow visitation at 6 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home. Reverend John Hirst, Pastor of Peace Lutheran Church will be officiating. A private interment will be held in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Peace Lutheran Church Memorial Fund.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Rosie Lee Parks
Rosie Lee Parks, age 77, of Okeechobee, died Sunday, August 4, 2002, at Okeechobee Health Care Facility.
Mrs. Parks was born on August 4, 1925, in Thompson, Ga., to the late Hester Bell, Sr. and Mamie Griffin Bell. She had been a resident of Okeechobee for 55 years. Mrs. Parks was retired after serving over 33 years with the Okeechobee County Sheriff's Department. She was a member of the Eastern Star and an active Deaconess with the First Missionary Baptist Church of Dean's Court.
Survivors include: her loving husband of 54 years, Curtis Parks of Okeechobee; one son, Corbin Bethel of Okeechobee; one daughter, Alma Grace of Okeechobee; three stepchildren, Jim Parks of New York, Alberta Thomas of Dublin, Ga., and Alga (Willie) Cope of Okeechobee; two brothers, Alfred Bell of Decatur, Ga. and Hester Bell Jr. of Thompson, Ga.; five Godchildren, Pat Grant, Kim Palmer, Rose (Booker) Ferrell, Manford Cotton and Sharrod Worthen; six sisters-in-law; one brother-in-law; and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren and friends also survive.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 10, from 10 until 11 a.m., at the First Missionary Baptist Church, 811 N.W. Ninth Avenue.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, following visitation, at 11 a.m., with Reverend Leroy B. Smith, Pastor, officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Leslie H. Atkisson
Leslie H. Atkisson, age 83, of Okeechobee, died Sunday, August 4, 2002, at Lawnwood Regional Medical Center in Fort Pierce.
Mr. Atkisson was born on May 12, 1919, in Goochland, Va. Mr. Atkisson had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1980. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and the VFW.
Survivors include: one sister, Mary Frances Suddarth of Waynesboro, Va; one niece, Joan S. Roden of Buffalo, N.Y.; and close friends, Bill Collins and Roxie Baker, both of Okeechobee.
There will be no visitation or services.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Charles Kelly
Charles Kelly, age 53, of Okeechobee, died Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Kelly was born on April 15, 1949, in Immokalee, to Clifford and Sophronia (Dupree) Kelly. He managed a hardware store and was a veteran.
Survivors include: three sisters, Josie (Eddie) Lowe of Okeechobee, Mary Cooper of Lorida, and Louise Everett of Okeechobee; and one brother, Joe (Dyane) of Okeechobee.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, August 8, at 6 p.m. at the Fort Drum Community Church.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Thomas Edwin Defibaugh, Sr.
Thomas Edwin Defibaugh, Sr., age 66, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, at Good Samaritan Medical Center in West Palm Beach.
Born Nov. 21, 1935, in Wheeling W.Va., Mr. Defibaugh had been a resident of Okeechobee since September of 1977. He was retired from Chico Dairy in Morgantown, W.Va., and was a member of the Treasure Island Baptist Church in Okeechobee.
Survivors include: his devoted wife of 46 years, Rosanne Defibaugh of Okeechobee; three sons, Thomas E. Defibaugh, Jr., of Columbus, Ohio, Michael Defibaugh of Powell, Ohio, and Tony Defibaugh of Mt. Vernon, Ohio; two daughters, Kathy Schneider of New Martinsville, W. Va., and Peggy Donato of Wheeling, W. Va.; and, 11 grandchildren. Additionally, he is survived by one brother, Robert Defibaugh of Benwood, W.Va., and one sister, Norma Kotlas of Tampa.
A memorial service will be held at the Kepner Funeral Home in Elm Grove, W.Va., on Saturday, Aug. 10, 2002, at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Okeechobee, P.O. Box 1548, Okeechobee, Fla., 34973.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Iris O. Barrett
Iris O. Barrett,73, passed away August 1, 2002. She was a pioneer of Lake Worth and West Palm Beach area and former owner of Barrett's Tackle in Okeechobee.
She is survived by one son, Jeff (Sandra) Barrett of Lake Worth, Florida; one daughter, Linda Ketola of Salt Lake City, Utah; three grandchildren, Sherry Allen, Lori Ketola and Nikki Ketola, and three great grandchildren.
Services will be held 1 p.m. Monday, August 5, 2002, at Mizell-Faville-Zern Funeral Home, 4101 Parker Avenue, West Palm Beach, Florida.
Friends may call Monday from 11-1 p.m. at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Hillcrest Ease Memorial Park. Those who wish may contribute to Hospice or to the American Cancer Society.
Gary C. Valentine
Gary C. Valentine, age 78, of Okeechobee, died Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at Brandywyne Healthcare Facility in Winter Haven.
Mr. Valentine was born Jan. 17, 1924, in Kansas City, Mo., and raised in Hinkley and Aurora, Ill. Mr. Valentine was a resident of Okeechobee for 26 years.
Mr. Valentine was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and U.S. Air Force, serving a total of 18 years. He was a retired welder by trade.
He is survived by his devoted and loving wife of 40 years, Twila, a writer for the Okeechobee News; one son, Leslie of Morrow, Ga.; two daughters, Peggy (Ray) Lyons of Ft. Lauderdale and Marilyn (Tony) Pitzulo of Indianapolis; 13 grandchildren, Patrick and Matthew Hebb, Melissa, Jonathan and Kerri Lyons, all of Ft. Lauderdale; Lesley, Amanda and Laramie Brewer, Jimmy, Daniel and Renee Pitzulo of Indianapolis, Ind.; Missy and Crystal Valentine of Atlanta; six great-grandchildren, Griffen, James, Gabriel and Grazia Pitzulo and Kristin and Kaitlin Hebb; and one sister, Marilyn Connors of Pompano Beach also survives him.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Aug. 3, 2002, at 1 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home with Deacon Robert Rieffel officiating.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Maurice Campbell Hall
Maurice Campbell Hall, age 70, of Okeechobee, died Monday, July 29, 2002, at St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie.
Mr. Hall was born on June 6, 1932, in Fort Pierce. He had been a resident of Fort Pierce for the past five years coming from Mobile, Ala. Prior to his retirement, he had owned and operated grocery stores in Mobile, Ala., for over 30 years. He was a veteran serving in the United States Army.
Survivors include: his wife, Ro Hall of Okeechobee; two sons, Barron Hall and Rodney Mark Hall, both of Fort Pierce; one daughter, Sandra Dee Crouch of Fort Pierce; one step-daughter, Edna Marie Miller of Sacramento, Calif.; eight grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter; two brothers, Donald Hall of Mount Vernon, Ala., and Robert A. Hall of Irvington, Ala.; three sisters, Mildred McDonald of Pensacola, Madelyn Whidden of Orlando and Lavonne Johnson of Fort Pierce also survive him.
Funeral services and burial will be held on Saturday, August 3, in Mobile, Alabama, under the direction of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
Those who wish to make contributions to the American Cancer Society, 3375 20th St., Suite 100, Vero Beach, Fla. 32960.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Aycock Funeral Home, Fort Pierce.
Hazel Lillian Skinner
Hazel Lillian Skinner, age 96, of Okeechobee, died Tuesday, July 30, 2002, at Raulerson Hospital.
Mrs. Skinner was born on April 27, 1906, in Clarksburg, W. Va. Mrs. Skinner had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1978. She was a member of the First Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Orbey D. Skinner and daughter, Alice Marie Shirley.
Survivors include: two sons, William (Sharon) Skinner of Okeechobee and Jack (Audrey) Skinner of Tallahassee; one daughter, Norma Denbow of Okeechobee; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren also survive her.
Visitation and funeral services will be held on Friday, August 2, from 4 p.m., until service time at 6 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home, with Reverend Randy Huckabee, Pastor of First Baptist Church of Okeechobee, officiating.
A private interment will be in Lauderdale Memorial Park in Fort Lauderdale.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Florence B. Acree
Florence B. Acree, age 69, of Belle Glade, died Monday, July 29, 2002, in Palms West Hospital in Loxahatchee, Florida.
Mrs. Acree was born on August 21, 1932, in Wauchula, daughter of Hubie and Laura Harris Boree. Mrs. Acree graduated from Belle Glade High School in 1952 and was a homemaker by trade.
Preceded in death by: her husband, Bill Acree; and her parents, Hubie and Laura Boree.
Survivors include: four daughters, Doris (Glen) Lewis, Laura (David) Rhimes and Lisa (Curtis) Martin, all of Belle Glade, and Donna (Kenny) Troop of Okeechobee; her son, William "Hugy" Acree and wife Cindy, of Clewiston; 15 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren also survive her.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 31, from 7 until 8:30 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Belle Glade.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, August 1, at 10 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of Belle Glade, with Pastor Gary Folds and Pastor James Brewer officiating. Interment to be in Port Mayaca Cemetery.
All arrangements have been entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Leona Myrtle Brock
Leona Myrtle Brock, age 92, of Sebring, died July 28, 2002, at Highlands Regional Medical Center.
She was born on March 31, 1910, in Bereah, to Robert and Roxie Story Lightsey. She was of the Baptist Faith and a waitress by trade.
Survivors include: three sisters, Thelma Gayland of Swainsboro, Ga., Mary Veasey of Okeechobee and Imogene Spires of Sebring; and several nieces and nephews also survive her.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, July 31, from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at the Bass Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 31, at 11 a.m., with Reverend George Smith officiating at the Bass Funeral Home Chapel.
Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Mercie Mae LeGrand
Mercie Mae LeGrand, age 82, of Buckhead Ridge, near Okeechobee, died July 1, 2002.
Mrs. LeGrand was born on Dec. 29, 1919, in Doctor's Inlet, Florida. Mrs. LeGrand was raised in Deerfield Beach and graduated from Pompano Beach High School in 1938. After marrying, she moved to Fort Lauderdale, where she resided until retiring from the School Board of Broward County in 1987.
Mrs. LeGrand was the daughter of Eva Mary Hardenbrook, Deerfield's first school teacher and James Nathaniel Hardenbrook who worked for the Flagler Railroad during construction of the first Overseas Railway to the Keys.
Preceded in death by: her husband, Glenn S. LeGrand; her daughter, Saundra L. Butterworth; a grandson, Robert Butterworth III; and her brother, Maurice Hardenbrook; additionally she was preceded in death by her dear friend and companion, James Fuschetto.
Survivors include: three daughters, Judith L. Martin of Okeechobee, Gail K. LeGrand of Wilmette, Ill., and Glenda A. Walker of South Boston, Mass.; grandson, Douglas A. Martin of Okeechobee; and niece, Mary A. Hardenbrook of Pompano also survives her.
Graveside services were held on July 18, in the Old Pompano Beach Cemetery with Pastor Hurta of the First Baptist Church of Pompano officiating.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Haisley Hobbs Funeral Home of Fort Pierce.
William Gwyndell Ledford
William Gwyndell Ledford, age 68, of Clover, S.C., died Tuesday, July 23, 2002, in Okeechobee.
Mr. Ledford was born on Jan. 31, 1934, in Gastonia, N.C. Mr. Ledford was retired from Evans Properties, and a retired U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Mr. Ledford was a Mason and a Shriner in Okeechobee.
Preceded in death by: his father, Joseph Elmer Ledford; and sister, Sandra Abee.
Survivors include: his wife, Vergie Smith Ledford of Clover, S.C.; his mother, Alice King Ledford of Clover, S.C.; four daughters, Gina King of Old Town, Teresa Lightsey of Okeechobee, Tammy Humphrey of Vero Beach and Kay Ruiz of Indiantown; two sons, Leon Polk and James Polk, both of Clover, S.C.; 20 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; four brothers, James Ledford, Glenn Ledford, Joe Ledford and Larry Ledford, all of Clover, S.C.; two sisters, Doreus Harris of Clover, S.C. and Cathy Taylor of Gastonia, S.C. also survives him.
Visitation will be held Sunday night, July 28, from 7 until 9 p.m., at M.L. Ford and Sons Funeral Home in Clover, S.C.
Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, July 29, at 3 p.m., at the M.L. Ford and Sons Funeral Home Chapel, with Reverend Lonnie Harris and Reverend Tommy Hope officiating. Interment to be held in Lakeview Memory Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the Shriner's Hospital for Children, P.O. Box 667, Mauldin, S.C. 29662.
All local arrangements have been under the loving care of the Bass Funeral Home. M.L. Ford and Sons Funeral Home of Clover, S.C., is serving the family of Mr. Ledford.
Walter David Saunders, Sr.
Walter David Saunders, Sr., age 71, of Okeechobee, died Tuesday, July 23, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Saunders was born on Sept. 27, 1930, in Hoke County, N.C., Mr. Saunders had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1948. He served in the 101st Airborn for the U.S. Army and was a member of the Masonic Lodge, Okeechobee Shrine Club and American Legion Post 64.
Preceded in death by: his sisters, Martha Oldham, Minnie Olsen and Jessie Calhoun; brothers, John Saunders, Alex Saunders, Alex Brigman, Wesley Brigman and William Brigman.
Survivors include: his devoted wife of 49 years, Violet Saunders of Okeechobee; son, Walter (Diani) David Saunders, Jr. of Okeechobee; two daughters, Debbie (Fred) Parker of Okeechobee and Sheila (Jack) Murphy of Vero Beach; two grandsons, Walter David Saunders III and John Wesley Saunders of Okeechobee; four granddaughters, Mechelle Hull, Leslie Saunders and Tammy Parker, all of Okeechobee and Kristin Murphy of Vero Beach; great-grandson, Steven Hull, Jr. of Okeechobee; great-granddaughter, Amber Hull of Okeechobee; and sister-in-law, Edna Brigman of Okeechobee.
Friends may call on Friday, July 26, from 4 until 7 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, July 27, at 11 a.m., at the Church of God of Prophecy, 102 N.W. 10 Street, with Reverend Tommy Whitten and Deacon J.B. Woodham, officiating. Interment to follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
