Search Archived Marriage Records
Douglas Charles "Doc" Allen
Douglas Charles "Doc" Allen, age 92, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, at his residence.
Known as "Doc", he was born on Sept. 29, 1910, in Chunky, Mississippi.
Doc managed Mississippi Delta cotton plantations from 1936 until 1946 when he became a service station manager in Silver City, Miss. He moved his family to Okeechobee in 1959 and he and Nancy, his wife, owned and operated Allen's Grove off of Highway 98 for over 35 years.
Between 1970 and 1980, Doc and Nancy spent about three or four months each year camping in Georgia, pioneering on a side of a mountain near Burnsville, N.C., or traveling with their horses and dogs. They trailered their horses behind a self-contained pickup camper and traveled all over the United States sightseeing on horseback.
Douglas was a member of the First Baptist Church of Okeechobee and he served as Deacon for many years. His devotion to his church was an example to all. His firm belief was that Christians should love the church enough to support it and attend every worship service.
Doc will be remembered as a gentle, loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, "Daddy Doc," whose generosity, patience and love were an example of how a Christian man should lead his family. All who knew him appreciated his dry wit and gentle spirit.
He is preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Nancy Allen.
Survivors include: brothers, Raymond (Betty) Allen of Newport, R.I., Houston (Doris) Allen of Silver City, Miss. and Robert (Dolores) Allen of Oviedo; sister-in-law, Evelyn Sandling of Silver City, Miss; daughters, Dale (Don) Badger of Rockledge, Opal (Jack) Wolff of Okeechobee, Nancy (Elton) Lowe of Lake Placid and Marie (Gil) Culbreth of Okeechobee; three grandsons, Keith (Cindy) Lowe of Winter Park, Ken (Wraye Anne) Wolff of Bristol, Ga. and Bert Culbreth of Okeechobee; three granddaughters, Kara (Chris) Wilkinson of Lake Placid, Wendy (Jim) Alexander of Gainesville and Christa (Mark) Luna of Okeechobee; and 12 great-grandchildren also survive him.
Friends may call on Monday, Nov. 11, from 1:30 until 2 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Okeechobee.
Funeral services will follow at 2 p.m., at the First Baptist Church of Okeechobee, with Reverend Richard E. Whipple, officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
The family suggests contributions be made to the First Baptist Church Youth Fund or Hospice of Okeechobee in lieu of flowers.
All arrangements have been entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
James M. Gammill, Sr.
James M. Gammill, Sr., age 82, of Okeechobee, died on Nov. 4, 2002, at the Okeechobee Health Care Facility.
Mr. Gammill was born on Jan. 27, 1920, the son of Orvel L. and Virgie E. "Pylant" Gammill.
He came to Okeechobee from Hollywood in 1972 and was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a plasterer by trade.
Survivors include: three daughters, Judy Julian of Hollywood, Patsy Ann Gammill of Hollywood and Kathy McCann of Sebring; five sons, Gary E. Gammill of North Carolina; Jimmy Gammill of Tennessee, Steve F. Gammill of Hollywood, Johnny Gammill and Richard Gammill, both of Okeechobee; 14 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren also survive him.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, from 4 until 7 p.m., at the Bass Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, Nov. 8, 2002, at 10 a.m., at the Bass Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Fred Gardner, officiating. Interment to be in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
Leona Marie Nyberg
Leona Marie Nyberg, age 87, of Okeechobee, died Monday, Nov. 4, 2002, at her residence.
Mrs. Nyberg was born on April 7, 1915, in Peoria, Ill. and had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1971.
She was a member of Buckhead Ridge Baptist Church and the Okeechobee Moose Lodge.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Chester Nyberg.
Survivors include: one daughter; Arzetta M. Marlowe of Okeechobee; one brother, Gerald S. Schmidt of Peoria, Ill.; one sister, Elsie Hoffman of Port St. Lucie; three nieces, Janice Gillam of Williamsfield, Ill., Carolyn Conover of Wyoming, Ill., and Geraldine Bourgault of Port St. Lucie; and several nieces and great nephews also survive her.
Friends may call at the Buxton Funeral Home on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, from 3 until 5 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, Nov. 8, 2002, at 10 a.m., at Buxton Funeral Home with Reverend Richard Postell of Buckhead Ridge Baptist Church, officiating. Private interment will be in Hillcrest Memorial Gardens in Fort Pierce.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Raymond "Ramie" Lee Creech
Raymond "Ramie" Lee Creech, age 48, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Creech was born on Jan. 24, 1954, in West Palm Beach to Raymond Dale and Ruby L. "Howell" Creech.
He was a boilermaker by trade.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include: his loving wife, Debbie of Okeechobee; two sons, Jason and Brandon Creech, both of Okeechobee; sister, Cecelia Sommers of West Palm Beach; and two brothers, Tom Farrell of West Palm Beach and Richard Farrell of Gainesville.
Visitation will be held on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the Bass Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, at 11 a.m. at the Bass Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverend Ralph Crowell, officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home and Cremation Services.
John McCoy Willis
John McCoy Willis, 56, of Okeechobee, died Nov. 2, 2002, at St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie.
Born Aug. 6, 1946, in Tahlequah, Okla., Mr. Willis had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1958.
He is survived by his loving wife of 34 years, Barbara Willis of Okeechobee; one son, Daniel (Jennifer) Willis of Alachua; two daughters, Becky Willis and Bonnie Willis, both of Okeechobee; one grandson, Justin Wohlschlegel of Okeechobee; one granddaughter, Megan Willis of Alachua; six brothers, Dan (Sue) Willis of Washington state, James Willis of Fort Pierce; Jess Willis of Okeechobee, Delbert (Mary) Willis of Grain Valley, Mo., Ted (Naomi) Willis and Billy (Jackie) Willis of Tahlequah, Okla.; five sisters, Dora Rodgers of Portland, Ore., Lillie (Audrey) Lanier of Dunellon, Cynthia (Paul) Jackson of Georgia, Ann Surls and Mandy (Mosco) Gillman of Okeechobee; and, several nieces and nephews.
Friends may call at the Buxton Funeral Home on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, from 6 until 8 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted in the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel on Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Larry Kilgore, pastor of the Okeechobee Church of God, officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Austin Lee Patrick
Austin Lee Patrick, age 6, of Clewiston, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002, at his residence.
He was born in Ft. Pierce on Oct. 7, 1996.
Survivors include: his mother, Denise Patrick of Clewiston and her fiancee, John Robert Bittner II of Okeechobee; sister, Chelsea Lynne Patrick of Clewiston; maternal grandfather, Samuel Thomas Patrick of Moore Haven; maternal grandmother, Debra Lynne Patrick of Clewiston; and several aunts, uncles and cousins also survive him. Friends may call at the Buxton Funeral Home on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service conducted at 10 a.m., in the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel with Brother Joe Bishop of the Fountain of Life Church, officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
George Henry Sickels
George Henry Sickels, age 80, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at his residence.
Formerly of Muskegon, Mich., Mr. Sickels served in the United States Navy during WWII from 1942-46. While in Michigan, he was a welder-iron worker with the local #340 of Battle Creek. He has been a resident of Okeechobee for 30 years and was the former owner and operator of George's Certified Welding.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Grace and two brothers, Jim and Roy.
Survivors include: his wife of 56 years, Laura Betty Sickels; son, Richard Allen (Shelly) Sickels Sr.; daughter, Gloria Jean (Francis "Stormy") Crampton, all of Okeechobee; grandsons, Leslie Dean (Elizabeth) McNitt of Okeechobee, Todd Haydon Sickels and Brandon Keith Sickels, both of Phoenix, Ariz., Richard Allen Sickels, Jr. of Okeechobee; granddaughter, Stephanie Nicole Sickels of Okeechobee; great-grandson, Jordan Taylor McNitt; great-granddaughters, Leslie Cheyenne, Sarah Elizabeth and Rebecca Chloe McNitt, all of Okeechobee; sisters; Virginia Woodruff of Muskegon, Mich., Helen Huddleston of Ocean Springs, Miss., Ethel (Willard) Ledbetter of Hayti Mo.; and several nieces and nephews also survive him.
Friends may call at the Buxton Funeral Home on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2002, from 4 p.m., until 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2002, at 2 p.m., with interment following at Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Okeechobee, P.O. Box 1548, Okeechobee, Florida 34973.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
James R. "Rick" Burks
James R. "Rick" Burks, age 48, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Oct. 31, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Burks was born on July 31, 1954, in Fort Lauderdale. Mr. Burks had resided in Okeechobee since 1985. He graduated from Fort Lauderdale High School and was the owner/operator of Smitty's Glass and Mirror. He was a member of the Taylor Creek Bass Club, Chamber of Commerce, Contractor's Association, National Rifle Association, Lifetime Member of National Wildlife Association and Okeechobee County 4-H. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, working in the community and work involving the youth. He was baptized in Christ at the Imanuel Church in Fort Lauderdale.
He was preceded in death by his father, James Ray Burks.
Survivors include: his wife of 27 years, Renee Burks of Okeechobee; one son, Adam Kirby Burks of Okeechobee; mother, Evelyn Burks of Fort Lauderdale; three brothers, David J. (Patty) Burks of Fort Lauderdale, Robert A. (Peggy) Burks of Plantation and Gary M. (Diane) Burks of Okeechobee; one sister, Julie (Gary) Lucas of Fort Lauderdale; and several nieces and nephews also survive him.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Nov. 4, from 6 until 9 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, Nov. 5, at noon, at the former Oakview Baptist Church, 1735 S.W. 24 Ave., with Reverend Dr. John Keith, officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the account at Big Lake National Bank for the Okeechobee County Building Fund, Youth project.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Emma Garcia
Emma Garcia, age 57, of Okeechobee, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, at Raulerson Hospital.
Mrs. Garcia was born Nov. 21, 1944, in Mercedes, Texas. She had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1983.
She was preceded in death by one sister, Edelida Ochoa, and brothers, Ernesto, Elroy, Eddie and Eliazar Ochoa.
Survivors include: two sons, Amos (Josephine) Garcia, III and Tommy Kevin Garcia of Okeechobee; two daughters, Gloria (Arturo) Rodriguez and Sandra (Javier) Luviano of Okeechobee; 11 grandchildren; six brothers, Efrain (Hortencia) Ochoa, Erasto Ochoa, Jr., Edgar (Paula) Ochoa, Elmer (Diane) Ochoa, Erio Ochoa and Eliazar (Yolanda) Ochoa, all of Okeechobee; seven sisters, Elma Martinez, Elia Ochoa, Elva Ochoa (Ruben Guerrero), Elda Gancerez, Estella Ochoa, Elizabeth Ochoa, all of Okeechobee and Juanita Lopez of Brownsville, Texas.
Friends may call at the Buxton Funeral Home on Friday, Nov. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel on Saturday, Nov. 2, at 11 a.m., with Father Hernan Afanador of Church of Our Saviour, officiating.
Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Dora Anne Varnadoe
Dora Anne Varnadoe, age 68, of Okeechobee, died Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, at her residence.
Mrs. Varnadoe was born on Oct. 30, 1933, in Pearson, Ga. Mrs. Varnadoe had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1963. She was the former owner of the Village Square Restaurant from 1973 to 1985 and had recently been nominated for the Good Samaritan Award given by the Okeechobee News.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James Varnadoe.
Survivors include: two sons, Darryl James (Anita) Varnadoe of Fayette, Ala. and Jeffrey James (Lisa) Varnadoe of Okeechobee; three daughters, Denise Nancy (Dannie) Kemp of Red Bay, Ala., Darcy Lanette (Darrell) Ferneau of Okeechobee and Dora Sue Sanchez of Okeechobee; 11 grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Clara (John) Harrell and Lota Merritt, all of Douglas, Ga.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 31, from 4 until 7 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, Nov. 1, at 10 a.m., in the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel, with Brother David Burney of Haven Ministries, officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Okeechobee, P.O. Box 1548, Okeechobee, Fl. 34973.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Harvey H. Shatto
Harvey H. Shatto, age 94, of Port St. Lucie, died Monday, Oct. 28, 2002, at St. Lucie Medical Center in Port St. Lucie.
Mr. Shatto was born on June 12, 1908, in West Fairview, Pa. He had been a resident of Port St. Lucie for 10 years, moving from Brick Township, N.J. Mr. Shatto was a supervisor of utilities by trade. He was a member of the Holy Family Catholic Church; Golf League Savanna Club; prior to retirement he worked for Army Corp of Engineers for 30 years; Chairman of the Board of Health for 17 years in West Long Branch, N.J.; Charter member of North East and Monmouth County Regional Sewerage Authority; Police Reserve for 15 years; Knights of Columbus and Columbian League; Long Branch Elks; West Long Branch Rod and Gun Club. Mr. Shatto was an avid fisherman, life time honorary member of Savannah's Men's Club and a veteran of the U.S. Navy.
Preceded in death by his father, William Shatto and his mother, Sarah Shatto.
Survivors include: his wife of 68 years, Rosalie Shatto of Port St. Lucie; daughter, Jane (Bert) Rice of Centennial, Colo.; two sons, Alan (Kathleen) Shatto of Okeechobee and Ronald (Karen) Shatto of West Long Branch, N.J.; 13 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren also survive him.
There will be a memorial service held on Thursday, Oct. 31, at 10 a.m., at the Holy Family Catholic Church in Port St. Lucie.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Holy Family Catholic Church Building Fund, 2330 S.E. Maripofa Ave., Port St. Lucie, Fla. 34952.
All arrangements have been under the direction of the All County Funeral Home and Crematory in Stuart.
Viola C. Cardona
Viola C. Cardona, age 44, of Okeechobee, died on Oct. 30, 2002, at Raulerson Hospital.
Mrs. Cardona was born on July 29, 1958, in Weslaco, Texas the daughter of Juan Cortez and Ramona Garcia Cortez. She was a custodian for the Okeechobee County School System.
Survivors include: her husband, Jose Cardona of Okeechobee; two sons, Jose Cardona and David Cardona, both of Okeechobee; two daughters, Laura Jimenez and Consuelo Cardona, both of Okeechobee; three brothers, Ramiro Cortez, Juan Cortez and Genero Garcia, all of Okeechobee; two sisters, Lupe Ponce and Rosa Espada, both of Okeechobee; and three grandchildren also survive her.
Visitation will be on Friday, Nov. 1, 2002, from 6 until 8 p.m., at the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2002, at 10 a.m., at the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home Chapel with Juan Cortez, officiating. Interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Archie Gaylord Bliesath
Archie Gaylord Bliesath, age 72, of Okeechobee, died on Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002, at Raulerson Hospital.
He was born on Feb. 8, 1930, in Pontiac, Mich., the son of David C. and Beryle (Frazier) Bliesath.
He was self-employed as a realtor and served in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include: his wife of 46 years, Mirian Bliesath of Okeechobee; son, David George Bliesath of Westland, Mich.; daughters, Cecily Clare Bliesath of Royal Oak, Mich.; Lynn Annette Hudson, of Chicago, Ill.; four grandchildren; and sisters, Trilby Sternac of Berkley, Mich.; Keyna Mayle of Southfield, Mich.; Cheryl Chadwick of Tuscon, Ariz.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 1, 2002, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Birmingham, Mich.
Interment will be in Toledo Memorial Park Cemetery in Sylvania, Ohio.
Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association, Gift of Remembrance, 1101 N. Lake Destiny Road #415, Maitland, Fla., 32751-7105; or, the charity of your choice.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
