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JACQUELINE CRAWFORD, 74
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Jacqueline W. Crawford of Lakeland died of an airway obstruction Thursday (Dec. 29, 2005) at home. She was 74.
Born in St. Louis on Oct. 13, 1931, she came to Lakeland from Missouri in 1960. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Southside Assembly of God in Lakeland.
Mrs. Crawford is survived by her sister, Regina Blanchard, Lakeland; brothers, Howard C. Werner, Lakeland, Larry Werner, California, Reginald Werner, Bellville, Ill.; caregiver, David Goheen, Lakeland.
Graveside services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lakeland.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.
David Russell Funeral Home, Lakeland.
MIMIE STEPHENS, 93
Housekeeper
BARTOW -- Mrs. Mimie A. Stephens of Bartow died of heart failure Wednesday (Dec. 28, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 93.
She was born in Bartow on Feb. 23, 1912. She was a housekeeper. She was a member of First Providence Missionary Baptist Church.
Mrs. Stephens is survived by her daughter, M. Sue Stephens Jackson, Boynton Beach; sons, Louis A. Stephens, Verbon Stephens, both of Lakeland; sister, Florida Bryant, Bartow; seven grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 this evening at Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow. Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Providence Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Bartow.
Sara Bernt, 86, Nurse
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Sara Jane Bernt of Winter Haven, who worked as a nurse for Winter Haven Hospital for 32 years, died of heart failure Tuesday (Dec. 27, 2005) at Winter Haven Hospital. She was 86.
Born in Johnstown, Pa., Mrs. Bernt moved to Winter Haven from Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1958. Just after her move, she began working as a nurse for Winter Haven Hospital. She quickly gained a reputation for undertaking tasks other staff members considered dangerous.
"I've seen her do some pretty heroic things, " her friend, Marie Flanagan of Winter Haven, said.
Flanagan recalled a patient who went into cardiac arrest just after receiving a radiation treatment. While other staff members hesitated to treat the patient for fear of coming into contact with the radiation, Mrs. Bernt began to perform CPR.
"It didn't matter to Marie. She hopped right up on that gurney, " Flanagan said.
While working for Winter Haven Hospital, Mrs. Bernt enlisted in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. She spent her service stateside, attached to a hospital unit.
Mrs. Bernt served as president of the Pilot Club, Winter Haven. She was a member of the Winter Haven Hospital Auxiliary and Special Ministries. She attended Grace Lutheran Church, where she was an elder.
Mrs. Bernt is survived by her sisters, Betty Upton, Sturbridge, Mass., and Joanne Bernt, Johnstown.
Services will be 11 a.m. Friday at Grace Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Multiple Sclerosis & Pastor's Pantry at Grace Lutheran Church.
Crisp-Coon Funeral Homes Inc., Winter Haven.
PATRICIA BAUGHMAN, 73
National Association of Letter Carriers
PLANT CITY -- Mrs. Patricia J. Baughman of Plant City died of heart failure Saturday (Dec. 24, 2005) in Brandon. She was 73.
Born Dec. 31, 1931, in Washington, D.C., Mrs. Baughman moved to Plant City from Virginia six years ago. She worked as a secretary for the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Mrs. Baughman is survived by her husband, Raymond Baughman, Plant City; daughter, Deborah Rainard, Plant City; brother, Robert Trunnell, Virginia; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Haught Funeral Home.
William Hagerman, 94, Worth Steel Co.
LAKELAND -- Through his work as a mechanical engineer, Mr. William A. Hagerman turned concepts into realities, his son said.
Mr. Hagerman died of heart failure Thursday (Dec. 22, 2005). He was 94.
Born Dec. 26, 1910, in Coatesville, Pa., Mr. Hagerman moved to Lakeland from Wilmington, Del., in 1951, after retiring as manager of the Worth Steel Co.
After moving to Lakeland, Mr. Hagerman began the Hagerman Co., a machine shop and foundry. Raised as a Quaker, he had a reputation as an honest businessman.
"He wasn't super religious, but he believed in being the person he was supposed to be -- someone of high ideals, " said his son, Richard Hagerman of Lakeland.
Mr. Hagerman later opened the Imperial Marine Center. The companies brought him business from local industries such as phosphate and citrus.
"He invented the first fluorimeter in Florida, " his son said. The device measured the amount of uranium, a valuable metal, in phosphate byproduct.
Among his other inventions was a juicer that sliced and squeezed oranges.
"It was about the size of two ATM machines. The idea was to put these in public so people could drink fresh O.J., " his son said.
Though the inventions were often commissioned from larger companies, Mr. Hagerman "always had an inventive mind, " his son said. "He was known in Central Florida as someone who could take a concept and make it work."
Mr. Hagerman was a member of the American Iron Steel Institute, Lakeland Yacht & Country Club, Bradenton Yacht Club, Shriners and Sons of the American Revolution. He was also a Rotarian and 32nd degree Mason. He was Episcopalian.
Mr. Hagerman was preceded in death by his wife, Helen Hagerman. He is survived by his son, Richard Hagerman, Lakeland; daughter, Carole Donlon, Lakeland; five grandchildren; and eight great grandchildren.
Services will be at 2 p.m. on Jan. 7 at Heath Funeral Chapel, Lakeland.
Memorials may be made to the Salvation Army, 2620 Kathleen Road, Lakeland, FL 33810.
VERA BENOIT, 82
Herman Shoe
BIDDEFORD, Maine -- Ms. Vera Benoit of Biddeford, Maine, died of pneumonia Friday (Dec. 23, 2005) at Kennebunk Nursing Home. She was 82.
Ms. Benoit was born Oct. 6, 1923, in Saco, Maine. She worked for Herman Shoe for 20 years. She attended Cornerstone United Methodist Church, where she joined the Women's Club and ENL Club. She was a member of Ivory Temple of the Pythian Sisters of Kennebunk for 50 years.
Ms. Benoit is survived by her companion, Kenneth C. Arrington, Biddeford; daughters, Gloria Leonard, Idaho Springs, Colo., Carol Benoit Reynolds, Bedford, Mass., Kathleen Benoit, Lakeland; brother, Milton Mitchell, Saco; sister, Barbara Mitchell, Saco; and two grandsons.
Services will be at noon today at Cote Funeral Home, Saco.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Cornerstone United Methodist Church, Jenkins Rd., Saco, ME 04072.