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James Kendall Fortner
James Kendall Fortner, age 85, of Okeechobee, died Friday, Oct. 11, 2002.
Mr. Fortner was born on March 25, 1917, in Galva, Kan., son of Harvey and Ferne Fortner. Mr. Fortner came to Okeechobee in 1986, from Venice. He was an independent crude oil producer, (owner/operator), also a superintendent for Thunderbird Drilling in Kansas. Mr. Fortner was a member of the First Baptist Church in Okeechobee.
Preceded in death by his brother, Dale Fortner.
Survivors include: his wife of 66 years, Belva Fortner of Okeechobee; daughter, Ruby Blazer of Natoma, Kan.; grandson, Kelly Staples of Shawnee, Kan.; grandson, Kent Staples of Culbertson. Neb.; sister, Signa Mahaffey of Colorado Springs, Colo.; brother, Larry Fortner of Evergreen, Colo.; nephew, Paul Andre of Las Vegas, Nev.; and numerous nieces and nephews also survive him.
Visitation will be held on Monday, Oct. 14, from 5 until 7 p.m., at the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church of Okeechobee, with Pastor Randy Huckabee, officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Cemetery.
The family suggests that donations may be made to Hospice of Okeechobee.
All arrangements have been under the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Ruth Arnold
Ruth Arnold, age 78, of Okeechobee, died at Lawnwood Medical Center on Sunday, October 13, 2002.
Mrs. Arnold was a lifetime resident of Okeechobee being born here and is a member of the Okeechobee Missionary Baptist Church. She was a bus driver for Okeechobee schools for 13 years.
She was preceded in death by four brothers, Edgar, Alvie, Herman and Harvey Thomas.
Survivors include: her husband of 58 years, Harley C. Arnold of Okeechobee; son, Kenneth Arnold of Okeechobee; daughter, Phyllis A. Bass of Okeechobee; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren also survive her.
The family will receive friends on Tuesday, October 15, from noon to 2 p.m., at the Okeechobee Missionary Church with the service beginning at 2 p.m., with Pastor Lindell Selvey, officiating.
Interment will follow at Basinger Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home.
Irene Beville Prescott
Irene Beville Prescott, age 81, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, October 10, 2002, at Palm Bay Community Hospital in Palm Bay.
Mrs. Prescott was born on Nov. 8, 1920, to Granville and Evelyn Walker Beville and had been a lifetime resident of Okeechobee. Mrs. Prescott was of the Baptist faith.
Survivors include: her devoted husband of 65 years, Elzie Prescott of Okeechobee; two daughters, Joyce E. (Tom) Davis, of Palm Bay and Sadie (Richard) Little, of Morganton, Ga.; one son, Milton E. (Carolyn) Prescott of Interlachen; one sister, Gladys E. Caso of Okeechobee; seven grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews also survive her.
A memorial service will be conducted on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 3 p.m., at the Oakview Baptist Church, 677 S.W. 32nd Street, with Reverend John Keith, officiating.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
George "Bill" Prentis Anderson
George "Bill" Prentis Anderson, age 76, of Maggie Valley, N.C., died Oct. 9, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Anderson was born on Nov. 24, 1925, in Hattiesburg, Miss., son of the late George Scott and Alice Martistie Anderson. Mr. Anderson was a retired dairyman; and he loved to hunt, cook and garden.
Preceded in death by: son, Glenn Anderson; daughter, Faye Louise Anderson; three brothers; and two sisters.
Survivors include: his wife, Anna Greene Anderson of Ronda, N.C.; three sons, Billy Ray Anderson and Pat Anderson, both of Okeechobee and Tim Anderson of Columbia, Miss.; two daughters, Linda Ryan and Judy Miller of Maggie Valley, N.C.; 14 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; five brothers, E.J. Anderson of Wiggins, Miss., S.A. Anderson, David Anderson, Herbert Anderson and Jimmy Anderson, all of Brooklyn, Miss.; two sisters, Alice Moreau of O'Brien and Shirley Williams of Minneapolis, Minn.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, Oct. 13, at 2 p.m., in the Chapel of Garrett Funerals and Cremations, Waynesville, N.C.
Funeral services to be conducted following visitation at 3 p.m., in the Chapel of Garrett Funerals and Cremations, with Reverend O.J. Skidmore, officiating. Interment to be held in Franklin Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Haywood County Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, N.C. 28721.
An online guest registry may be signed at www.legacy.com. sponsored by the Garrett Funerals and Cremations.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of Garrett Funerals and Cremations, Waynesville, N.C.
Raymond I. Miner
Raymond I. Miner, age 79, of Okeechobee, died Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002, in Clewiston.
Mr. Miner was born on May 31, 1923, in Eatonville, Pa., son of Ray and Evelyn Miner. Mr. Miner moved to Okeechobee from Fort Lauderdale 20 years ago. He was a service station owner/operator and was of the Peace Lutheran faith. Mr. Miner was an active member of the Masons.
Survivors include: his son, David Miner of Flatrock, N.C.; two daughters, Barbara Bissonnette of Winterville, N.C. and Elizabeth Holcomb of Williston; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Doris Davis of Endwell, N.Y. and Betty Leibenguth of Orlando, also survives him.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 2 p.m., at the Peace Lutheran Church of Okeechobee, with Pastor John C. Hirst, officiating.
All arrangements have been under the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
David "Roger" Melear
David "Roger" Melear, age 60, of Blackshear, Ga., died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at the Emory University Hospital in Atlanta.
Mr. Melear was born on May 11, 1942, a native of Boynton Beach. He had lived in Okeechobee for 16 years before moving to Pierce County, Ga., in 1989. Mr. Melear was a retired dairy farmer and member of the Independent Dairy Farmers Association. He had formerly worked with Walker-Jones, the Satilla Community Service Board and was a mason. Mr. Melear was a member of the Mershon Baptist Church where he was a deacon and in the Adult Sunday School class. He was the son of the late Van Braxton "Boots" and Pearl Gilliland Melear.
Preceded in death by: grandson, Brandon Melear; sister, Dorothy Shook; two brothers, Van Braxton Melear, Jr. and Tony Melear.
Survivors include: his wife, Judy Diamond Melear of Blackshear, Ga.; daughter, Sharon (Terry) Martin of Blackshear, Ga.; two sons, Greg (Rhonda) Melear and Brian (Jenni) Melear, all of Okeechobee; sister, Robbie Melear of Okeechobee; two brothers, Charles "Chuck" Melear of Leesburg and James "Jimmy" Melear of Stuart; his mother-in-law, Hazel Messer of Okeechobee; five grandchildren, Tony Melear, Kyle Davis, Katie Davis, Kayla Martin and Terri Lynn Martin; and several nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive him.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10, from 5 until 7 p.m., at the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m., at the First Baptist Church in Okeechobee, with Reverend Richard E. Whipple, officiating. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
The Pearson-Treadwell Funeral Home of Blackshear, Ga., was in charge of arrangements.
All local arrangements are entrusted to the loving care of the Bass Okeechobee Funeral Home.
Quinn Maxwell Downing and Conor Lee Downing
Quinn Maxwell Downing and Conor Lee Downing, infant twins of Tracy and Sean Downing of Okeechobee, were born and died on Monday, October 7, 2002, at Martin Memorial Medical Center in Stuart.
Along with their parents, survivors include: paternal grandparents, James and Ann Downing of Ado, Ohio; maternal grandparents, Hugh and Gail Maxwell of Okeechobee; maternal great-grandmother, Mable Knotts of Rockledge; and paternal great-grandfather, Arthur Cunningham of New Port Richey.
Graveside funeral services and interment will be held at Evergreen Cemetery on Friday, October 11, at 10 a.m., with Father Hugh Duffey of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, officiating.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Carole Lee Woods
Carole Lee Woods, age 58, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Oct. 5, 2002, at her residence.
Mrs. Woods was born on June 26, 1944, in Youngstown, Ohio. She had been a resident of Okeechobee for 22 years. She enjoyed shopping, cooking, gardening and playing cards and was of the Methodist faith.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Doris A. Darte; and brother, William D. Gifford.
Survivors include: her daughter, Sherrie Woods Setzer and son-in-law, Bart Hanson, both of Villa Rica, Ga.; father and stepmother, William and Evelyn Gifford of Ocala; brother, Timothy Gifford of Kissimmee; two sisters, Candace Gifford of Ocala and Tracy L. Troendle and her husband, Mark Troendle of Okeechobee; grandchildren, Elyse King, Brad Hanson and Chris Hanson, all of Villa Rica, Ga. and Austin Setzer of Okeechobee; a host of other grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive her.
Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, Oct. 10, at 7 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel. A private interment will be held in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Stephen S. Click
Stephen S. Click, age 60, of Lakeport, died Monday, Oct. 7, 2002, at his residence.
Mr. Click was born on Sept. 28, 1942, in Lakeport to Daniel S. and Ada Lou Sheffield Click. A lifetime resident of Lakeport, he was a member and deacon of the Lakeport Church of Christ. He was a commercial fisherman by trade and enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include: his wife of 39 years, Margaret H. Click of Lakeport; two sons, Stephen Sherman (Lisa) Click of Maryville, Tenn. and Walter Jarvis (Nancy) Click of Phoenix, Az.; seven grandchildren; mother, Ada Lou Click of Miami; and six sisters, Becky (Tommy) Choates of Lakeport, Lois (John) Brinn of Moore Haven, Debbie (Carl) Paschal of Miami, Janice (Arthur) Peterson of Lake Butler, Vickie (Wes) Lovell of Tiger, Ga. and Julie (Robert) LaBarnes of Kissimmee.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, from 5 until 7 p.m., at the Church of Christ in Lakeport.
Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m., at the Church of Christ in Lakeport, with Reverend Carl G. Paschal, Pastor of South Dade Christian Church, officiating. Interment will follow in Ortona Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Ja'Keem Jamal Lawton
Ja'Keem Jamal Lawton, age 9 months, of Okeechobee, died Sunday, Oct. 6, 2002, at his residence.
Ja'Keem was born on Jan. 11, 2002, in Fort Pierce.
Survivors include: his father, Watson Mathis, Jr., of Malone; mother, Tacara Lawton (Jeremy Smith) of Okeechobee; one sister, Bianca Johnson of Okeechobee; maternal grandparents, Minnie Lawton of Okeechobee and Kenneth McQueen of Mississippi; paternal grandparents, Watson Mathis, Sr. and Betty Jean Mathis, both of Pahokee; great-grandparents, Inez Collins and Raymond Collins, both of Okeechobee; aunt, Shalond Parker; uncles, Bruce Parker, Jarvis Lawton and Cornelius Lawton, all of Okeechobee; and godmother, Kynthia Garner.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Oct. 11, from noon until 1 p.m., at the Buxton Funeral Home Chapel.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 p.m., following visitation, with Reverend Kenneth Williams, officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Cemetery.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Barbara Marie Isaman
Barbara Marie Isaman, age 53, of Okeechobee, died Saturday, Sept. 28, 2002, at her residence.
Mrs. Isaman was born on April 6, 1949, in Lackawanna, N.Y. She had been a resident of Florida since 1993. Mrs. Isaman taught cosmetology at New Penn Beauty School in Olean, N.Y., where she also played Mrs. Santa Claus for many years in nursing homes and hospitals, before operating her own beauty salon in Hinsdale, N.Y. She was an acclaimed poet, publishing many poems for which she received recognition as being among the Most Accomplished Women in 1983. Barbara was an active member of the Okeechobee Women of the Moose, receiving her cap and gown on June 29, 2002. Barbara was always donating her time to Catholic Charities, St. Vincent De Paul or to the many food drives held in Okeechobee.
She was preceded in death by her father, Rob Roy Olver.
Survivors include: three sons, Thomas Olver and Patrick (Berna) Manning, both of Hinsdale, N.Y. and Matthew Bender of Chiefland; her mother, Alvina (Olver) Davis of Okeechobee; two brothers, LeRoy (Lynda) Olver of Hinsdale, N.Y. and Rob Roy (Cheryl) Olver of Freedom, N.Y.; sister, Jeanette (James) Belvees of Olean, N.Y.; eight grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews, all of which will miss her dearly.
There will be no visitation. A private memorial services will be held at the Colden Cemetery in New York at a later date.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Buxton Funeral Home and Crematory.
Linda J. McBride
Linda J. McBride, age 54, of Winchester, Ky., died Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2002, at her residence.
Mrs. McBride was born on Sept. 30, 1948, a native of Clark County, Ky. She and her husband moved to Kentucky after living in Okeechobee for a number of years. Mrs. McBride was a secretary at JenMar Corporation and a member of Cornerstone Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her father, Roy Jacob.
Survivors include: her husband, James "Lightfoot" McBride of Winchester, Ky.; her mother, Ruby Jordan Jacob of Winchester, Ky.; her daughter, Cheryl (James) Harrison of Winchester, Ky.; two sons, Marcus (Nancy) Watts and Marshall (Cindy) Watts, all of Winchester, Ky.; five grandchildren, Casey, Traci and Jacob Watts and Corey and Emily Harrison; brother, Wayne (Ruby) Jacob of Winchester, Ky.; several nieces and nephews including Darlene Carrington of Winchester, Ky., Frank Carrington of Somerset, Ky.; and several cousins also survive her.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 3, from 5 until 9 p.m., at the Scobee Funeral Home, Winchester, Ky.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, Oct. 4, at 1 p.m., at the Scobee Funeral Home, with Reverends Foy Back and Alan Sutherland officiating. Interment to be held in Winchester Cemetery, Winchester, Ky.
Memorials may take the form of contributions to Hospice East, 407 Shoppers Drive, Winchester, Ky. 40391.
All arrangements have been under the direction and care of the Scobee Funeral Home, Winchester, Ky.
Francis "Mike' Michaels
Francis "Mike' Michaels, age 86, of Okeechobee, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, in Clewiston.
The son of the late Ernest and Nora Michaels, Mr. Michaels was born Nov. 15, 1925, i9n Bainbridge, Ind. He had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1989 moving from Miami.
He was a World War II veteran having served in U.S. Air Force. He was an upholsterer for Eastern Airlines and enjoyed the Florida Keys.
Three sisters survive him, Vonnie Whitaker of Okeechobee, Ilene Lanpher of Indiana and Majorie Lee of Panama City and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
There will be no visitation or funeral.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Bass Funeral Home.
Francis "Mike' Michaels
Francis "Mike' Michaels, age 86, of Okeechobee, died Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2002, in Clewiston.
The son of the late Ernest and Nora Michaels, Mr. Michaels was born Nov. 15, 1925, i9n Bainbridge, Ind. He had been a resident of Okeechobee since 1989 moving from Miami.
He was a World War II veteran having served in U.S. Air Force. He was an upholsterer for Eastern Airlines and enjoyed the Florida Keys.
Three sisters survive him, Vonnie Whitaker of Okeechobee, Ilene Lanpher of Indiana and Majorie Lee of Panama City and numerous loving nieces and nephews.
There will be no visitation or funeral.
All arrangements are under the direction and care of the Bass Funeral Home.
