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Maria R. Suarez
Maria R. Suarez, 80, of Immokalee died January 6, 2004, at the Naples Community Hospital in Naples. She was born in Cameron County, TX, was a housewife and member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
She leaves behind sons: Juan and Ramone Suarez; daughters: Isabel Delgado and Guadalupe Suarez. She was preceded in death by spouse Lorenzo Suarez and son Gilbert Suarez. She had 19 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Services were held Jan. 9 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church. Burial followed at Lake Trafford Memorial Gardens with Fr. Ettore Rubin officiating. She died peacefully in her sleep after a long illness.
Brister Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Zolda Olene Favot
Zolda Olene Favot, age 65, of Brooksville died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at her residence. She came here 36 years ago from her native Basinger. She was a Human Resource Director for Southwest Florida Water Management District, a member of the Preceptor Delta Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the American Business Women's Association, Christian Women's Club and the First Baptist Church of Brooksville.
Survivors include: her husband, Richard; mother, Mellie Rose Raulerson of Okeechobee; step-sons; Michael Favot of Taylor, Mich. and Dennis Favot of Lincoln Park, Mich.; step-daughters, Margaret Caudill of River Rouge, Mich., Debbie Bowers of Lincoln Park, Mich. and Denise Humphreys of Romulus, Mich.; 3 brothers, Jack and Michael Raulerson, both of Basinger and Lytle Raulerson of Okeechobee; a sister, Zelda Raulerson of Okeechobee; 15 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
There will be a graveside service at Basinger Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 23, at 4 p.m.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville Chapel.
Willie Mae Ridley
Willie Mae Ridley, age 65, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, at Raulerson Hospital. Mrs. Ridley was born in Fort Davis, Ala. in 1938. She was a homemaker and member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Okeechobee.
She was preceded in death by: her husband of 35 years, Robert Ridley, Sr.; and, her son Arthur Shang.
Survivors include: her three daughters, Rochun Ridley-McCray of West Palm Beach, Rhonda and Henrietta Ridley, both of Okeechobee; four sons, Robert (Rena) Ridley Jr., Rollo (Lisa) Ridley, Robbie Ridley, all of Okeechobee and Russell (Doreen) Ridley of Miami; eleven grandchildren; one great-grandchild God-daughter, Bridgette (Terry) Williams; brother, Henry (Peggy) Coleman; and, several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Friday, Jan. 23, from 4 until 7 p.m., at Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday Jan. 24, at 1 p.m., at the First Missionary Baptist Church.
Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Robbie Ridley Fund.
All arrangements entrusted by the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home under the direction of Paul R. Mitchell.
Janet Friel
Janet Friel, age 54, died Saturday, Jan. 10, 2004, in Ft. Worth, Texas.
Survivors include: two daughters; Jennifer (Joe) Haigh, Diane (Daniel) Zapata; grandchildren, Tiffany, Mikayla and Joey Haigh; father, Hallman Hare; two brothers, Stan (Nancy) Hare and Brian Hare; nieces, Jenny and Brittany Hare; nephew, David Hare; aunt, Winelle Paul; and numerous other family and friends.
All arrangements are under the direction of Alpine Funeral Home of Fort Worth, Texas.
There will be a memorial and reception on Saturday, Feb. 7, from 2 until 4 p.m. at the First Baptist Church Fellowship Hall in Okeechobee.
Gertrude H. Sweeting
Gertrude H. Sweeting, age 99, of Okeechobee, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, at Okeechobee Health Care Facility. She was born Jan. 5, 1905, in Northfield, N.H. Mrs. Sweeting (formerly of Miami) had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1987.
Survivors include: several nieces and nephews; one brother, Sheridan Haggett of Springfield, Ore.; one sister, Dorothy Dane of Northfield, N.H.; and, four sisters-in-law, Shirley Hawkins of Port Charlotte, Sarah Sweeting of West Palm Beach, Norma Sweeting of Okeechobee and Ann Sweeting of Jacksonville.
There will be no visitation or services.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Zolda Olene Favot
Zolda Olene Favot, age 65, of Brooksville died Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at her residence. She came here 36 years ago from her native Basinger. She was a Human Resource Director for Southwest Florida Water Management District, a member of the Preceptor Delta Iota Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority, the American Business Women's Association, Christian Women's Club and the First Baptist Church of Brooksville.
Survivors include her husband; Richard, mother; Mellie Rose Raulerson of Okeechobee; step-sons; Michael Favot of Taylor, Mich. and Dennis Favot of Lincoln Park, Mich.; step-daughters: Margaret Caudill of River Rouge, Mich., Debbie Bowers of Lincoln Park, Mich. and Denise Humphreys of Romulus, Mich.; 3 brothers: Jack and Michael Raulerson both of Basinger and Lytle Raulerson of Okeechobee; a sister: Zelda Raulerson of Okeechobee; 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements are other the care and direction of Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville Chapel.
Gabriel Burgess Colon, Jr.
Gabriel "Gabe" Burgess Colon, Jr., age 28, of Okeechobee, died Monday, Jan. 19, 2004, at his residence. Born Nov. 2, 1975, in Fort Lauderdale, Gabe had been a lifetime resident of Okeechobee. He was preceded in death by his mother, Linda Derry, brother Lyle Leslie Duell and daughter Brenda Drawdy.
Survivors include his father, Gabriel Colon, Sr. of Okeechobee; three daughters, Hanna and Courtney Colon of Tennessee and Megan Cox of Okeechobee; step-daughter, Kately Yates of Tenn.; two sisters, Tina Morse and Lynn Moriarty both of Okeechobee; companion, Pamela Sayre of Okeechobee; two nieces, Christina Derry and Pamela Morse of Okeechobee; four nephews, Phillip Hope, Trey Duell and Zane Moriarty all of Ga. and Michael Dakota Weaver of Okeechobee; and former wife, Cheryl Colon on Tenn.
Friends may call at the Buxton Funeral Home on Friday, Jan. 23, from 4 until 7 p.m.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Rextel Ray Conley Sr.
Rextel Ray Conley Sr., age 60, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, at Raulerson Hospital.
Having worked as a coal mine electrician in W. Va., Mr. Conley moved to Okeechobee in 1995 and was a member of the B.H.R. Moose Lodge. He had served in the United States Army.
Survivors include: two sons, Rextel (Shelia) Conley, Jr. and Jason Scott (Deborah) Conley, all of Holden, W. Va.; daughter, Leann (Donald) West of Chapmanville, W.Va.; seven grandchildren; two sisters, Helen Costo of Cleveland, Ohio and Geraldine Connell of Euless, Texas also survive him.
There will be no viewing and/or services.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Loyce R. Pennington
Loyce R. Pennington, age 81, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, at the Okeechobee Health Care Facility.
Born in Charlotte, N.C., Mrs. Pennington had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1997.
Survivors include: one son, Lee John Pennington of West Palm Beach; one daughter, Sandy Wohlschlegel of Okeechobee; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren also survive her.
Visitation is on Monday, Jan. 21, from 6 until 8 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home.
There will be no services and a private interment will take place at Memory Gardens Cemetery in Lake Worth.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Shirley Ann Mislan
Shirley Ann Mislan, age 44, of Zephyrhills, died Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2002, at her residence.
Born April 21, 1957, Mrs. Mislan was native of Avon Park and moved 10 years ago from Okeechobee. She was a produce manager of a grocery store and of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: her husband, Anthony E. Mislan of Zephyrhills; son, Chris Crawford of Zephyrhills; daughter, Amy Crawford of Zephyrhills; step-daughter; Meaghan Rae Mislan of Wichita, Kan.; step-son, Anthony Jerome Mislan of Okeechobee; and her parents, Martin and Evelyn Crawford of Okeechobee also survive her.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22, at 1:30 p.m., at Evergreen Cemetery in Okeechobee.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Whitfield Funeral Home of Zephyrhills.
Hazel Gladys Lorine Spruill
Hazel Gladys Lorine Spruill, age 61, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Jan. 17, 2002, at her residence. Born May 17, 1940, in Welch, W. Va. Mrs. Spruill was a homemaker and was a member of the 441 Baptist Church.
She was the daughter of Greenberry and Roffa Mae (Justice) Blankenship.
She was preceded in death by one son, Gary Spruill. Survivors include: her husband, Lester, whom she married in 1960; three daughters, Debra Hunt of Okeechobee, Pamela Spruill of Monks Corner, S.C., and Teresa Melton of Roopville, Ga.; one sister, Ruby Carr of Tampa; and seven grandchildren also survive her.
Visitation is on Saturday, Jan., 19, from 4 until 6 p.m. at the Bass Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be Sunday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m. at the Bass Funeral Home
Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the care and direction of the Bass Funeral Home.
Willie Mae Ridley
Willie Mae Ridley, age 65, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Jan. 17, 2004, at Raulerson Hospital. Mrs. Ridley was born in Birmingham, Ala. in 1938. She was a homemaker and member of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Okeechobee.
She was preceded in death by: her husband of 35 years, Robert Ridley, Sr.; and, her son Arthur Shang.
Survivors include: her three daughters, Rochun Ridley-McCray of West Palm Beach, Rhonda and Henrietta Ridley, both of Okeechobee; four sons, Robert (Rena) Ridley Jr., Rollo (Lisa) Ridley, Robbie Ridley, all of Okeechobee and Russell (Doreen) Ridley of Miami; eleven grandchildren; one great-grandchild God-daughter, Bridgette (Terry) Williams; brother, Henry Coleman; and, several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be on Friday, Jan. 23, from 4 until 7 p.m., at Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday Jan. 24, at 1 p.m., at the First Missionary Baptist Church.
Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Robbie Ridley Fund.
All arrangements entrusted by the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home under the direction of Paul R. Mitchell.
Jennings Harrison Smith
Jennings Harrison Smith, age 75, of Radcliff, Ky., died Sunday, Jan. 18, 2004, at Raulerson Hospital. Born Jan. 15, 1929, in Charleston, W.Va., Mr. Smith had been a winter resident of Okeechobee for 12 years. He served in the U.S. Air Force in Korea. Mr. Smith was a former member of the Radcliff City Council, also serving as mayor. He was the owner/operator of the Radcliff Volkswagon and Mazda automobile dealership. He was a charter member of the Rotary Club, a member of the Scottish Rite and a 32nd degree member of the Radcliff Masonic Lodge. His hobbies included playing golf, fishing and travelling in his motor home.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Dot Richardson and brother, Jim Smith.
Survivors include: his wife of 48 years, Arlene Smith of Radcliff, Ky.; daughter, Terry Witt-Green of Ponte-Vedra Beach; grandson, John Philip Witt of Charlotte, N.C.; and, brother, J.C. (Sue) Smith of Lakeland.
There will be no visitation or services.
All local arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
David Earl Goolsby
David Earl Goolsby, age 58, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Jan. 16, 2002, at Raulerson Hospital.
Born March 15, 1943, in Hollywood, Mr. Goolsby had been a resident of Okeechobee for 27 years. He attended Hallandale Elementary, West Hollywood Elementary and Palmetto Private Schools. In addition, he attended The Tennessee Military Institute and David Lipscomb University.
While in Hollywood, he worked for SEZ Dairy, owned by his father. The dairy moved to Okeechobee in 1974 and was then owned by David, his brother Robert and their father Zedra.
Mr. Goolsby was baptized as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in July 1970 at Gulf Stream Racetrack. He has been an active member and elder of the West Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.
In addition to his dairy involvement, he is also well known as the owner and operator of Goolsby Realty Company.
Preceded in death by his mother, Agnes Jewel Godfrey Goolsby. Survivors include: his wife of 26 years, Patricia; two daughters, Dana Lynn Goolsby of Boston, Mass. and Diana Lee Fox (Fritz)and their two sons, Justin Lee and Jakob Nathan Fox all of Okeechobee; father, Zedra Goolsby; step-mother, Winnie Goolsby of Okeechobee; brother, Robert Eugene (Amanda) of Alachua; sister, JoAnn Bell (Steve) of Hernando, Miss.; three nieces, Christine Goolsby of Alachua, Karen Roper of Orlando, Lisa Bell and one nephew, Steve Bell both of Hernando, Miss.
Visitation on Saturday, Jan. 19, from 4 until 5 p.m.
Following visitation a memorial service will be conducted in the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel with George Abraham officiating, an elder of the Ft. Lauderdale congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the David Goolsby Memorial Fund established at Bank of America.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home.
Charlotte S. Hayes
Charlotte S. Hayes, age 56, of Okeechobee died Thursday, Jan.15, 2004, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne. Mrs. Hayes was born Dec. 2, l947, in Middlesex, N.J. to James and Virginia Seder.
Mrs. Hayes was a teacher at the Pahokee Middle Senior High School. She came to Okeechobee from Juno Beach in 1974. Mrs. Hayes was a member of the First Methodist Church.
Survivors include: her loving husband of 28 years, Thomas L. Hayes; three sons, Shane, Clinton, and Harry; two daughters, Lora and Amy; one brother, Thomas Seder and one sister, Valerie Seder.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2004, at 7 p.m. at the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Chapel.
All arrangements are entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Harold James Barfoot
Harold James Barfoot, age 55, of Okeechobee died Jan. 16, 2004. Mr. Barfoot was born in Leesburg and was the son of the late JB and Bonnie Barfoot of Okeechobee.
Mr. Barfoot was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam.
Survivors include a daughter, Melissa Kindell (Eric), son Matthew Barfoot both of Okeechobee, Brother Carl Barfoot of Sebring, sisters Frances Pollard (Walter) of Sebring and Carolyn Lee of Lake Placid.
Visitation will be Sunday Jan. 18, from 4 until 7 p.m.
The funeral service will be on Monday Jan. 19, at 2 p.m. at The Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home with Lindell Selvey officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Cemetery.
Arrangements are entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
