Huge Marriages Search Engine!
Loyola Ross, 85, Registered Nurse
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Loyola Kerekes Ross, kept a plaque in her kitchen that stated, "The hurrieder I go, the behinder I get, " which family members said was perhaps one of the most inaccurate descriptions of this nurse, mother and family caregiver.
Mrs. Ross, 85, of Lakeland, died Tuesday of pancreatic cancer at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
"She made us self-sufficient and believed in us working to earn our own spending money, " her son, state Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland said, of himself and his four siblings. "In the eighth grade she had me mowing lawns and she was my accountant."
"Everything I ever did in my life was to try to please her, to show her I was self-sufficient and independent, " he said. .
Born on March 28, 1921 in Cleveland, Ohio, Mrs. Ross received her certification as a registered nurse at Fairview Park Hospital in Cleveland in 1942.
She married William A. Ross in 1945 and in 1950 they moved with their two oldest sons to Clearwater, settling in Lakeland in 1953.
She was a devout Roman Catholic and daily communicant at Resurrection Catholic Church. She was active in the Lakeland chapter of the American Cancer Society for more than 30 years, a Cub Scout den mother and a blood donor, giving nearly 20 gallons of blood since 1991.
A tireless supporter of local cultural organizations, she was a season ticket holder to the Imperial Symphony Orchestra, Pied Piper Players, The Polk Theatre, Florida Southern College and The Lakeland Center.
"Her devotion to the theater was just phenomenal. She had tickets for us to the symphony and Florida Southern and we would respond `We gotta go where, we gotta do what?' " said her daughter, Therese Ross Arrington. "Yet, I got to see the real Maria Von Trapp and Victor Borge. It is amazing what they spent their money on for us."
Mrs. Ross is survived by her husband of 61 years, William A. Ross, Lakeland; her brother, Charles Kerekes, Clearwater; sons, William A. Ross III, Clearwater, Charles A. Ross, Valrico, and Larry E. Ross and Dennis A. Ross, both of Lakeland; daughter, Therese R. Arrington, Lakeland; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be on Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. at Heath Funeral Chapel, 328 S. Ingraham Ave., Lakeland.
A funeral Mass will be held Friday at 11:30 a.m. at the Church of the Resurrection Catholic Church, 3720 Old Highway 37, Lakeland.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Polk Community College Foundation in the name of the Loyola Kerekes Ross Nursing Scholarship, 999 Ave. H N.E., Winter Haven, FL 33881 .
Douglas Smith, 58, Lawyer
LAKELAND -- Mr. Douglas H. Smith of Lakeland, who died of injuries from an automobile accident Friday (Nov. 11, 2005) in Auburndale, founded Smith Law Group with his son. He was 58.
Born Aug. 9, 1947, in Plant City, Mr. Smith moved to Lakeland from Winter Haven six years ago.
While working toward a degree in criminology from Florida State University, Mr. Smith interned as a dispatcher in Polk County. Hoping to gain more experience in law, he left to intern at Edmund & McDaniel, a Bartow firm. The internship piqued his interest in law, his brother, Circuit Judge Bruce Smith of Lakeland, said.
Mr. Smith served as chair of the Tenth Judicial Circuit Nominating Committee and Florida Bar Grievance Committee. He also presided over the Polk County Trial Lawyers Association and Polk County Criminal Defense Attorneys Association.
After his son graduated from law school in 1999, Mr. Smith founded Smith Law Group in Lake Alfred, specializing in family cases.
"With his experience of 30 years, he was very respected by his colleagues, " his brother said.
Mr. Smith was a member of the Willson American Inn of Court. He attended Exeter University, England, as a Fulbright scholar. He attended St. David's Episcopal Church. He was an Eagle Scout who received the Mile Swim Award.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Angela Smith; son, Victor Ramsey Smith, Winter Haven; daughter, Claire Smith Patten, Jacksonville; stepmother, Edith S. Smith, Plant City; brother, William Bruce Smith, Lakeland; sisters, Mary Smith Naugle, Plant City, and Devony Smith Burgess, Bradenton; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at First Presbyterian Church, Lakeland.
A.M. Seigler Funeral Home.
MILDRED McCLELLAN, 56
School Bus Driver
DAVENPORT -- Mildred "Millie" McClellan of Davenport died of cancer Tuesday (Jan. 31, 2006). She was 56.
She was born in Bristol on June 6, 1949. She was a bus driver for the Polk County School District.
Mrs. McClellan was preceded in death by her husband, Howard McClellan. She is survived by her sons, Earl McClellan, Sanford, Harold McClellan and Ray McClellan, both of Davenport, George McClellan and Sam McClellan, both of Haines City, and Rod Mayberry; daughters, Wanda Mehia, Haines City, Mildred Pickern, South Carolina, and Missy Scherzer and Samonia Hoffman, both of Davenport; brothers, James Minton, Winter Haven, Paul Tipton, Fort Pierce, Darrell Sanderson, Winter Haven, and Frankie Strickland, Bartow; sisters, Irene Harrison, Davenport, Linda White, Winter Haven, and Lamanda Jones, Dundee; mother, Mildred Strickland; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. today at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Davenport.
PEARLEY SAYRE, 79
Kaiser Aluminum
LAKE WALES -- Mr. Pearley Bud Sayre of Lake Wales died of a heart attack Sunday (Jan. 22, 2006) at home. He was 79.
Born in Leon, W. Va., on June 16, 1926, he was a winter resident before coming to Lake Wales from Nitro, W. Va., permanently in 1995. He was a retired pipe fitter for Kaiser Aluminum and a farmer. He was a Navy veteran of World War II, serving in the European Theater. He was a member of South Lake Wales Church of God and the Church of God in Nitro.
Mr. Sayre is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mildred Sayre; daughters, Kathy Grinstead, Bartow, Debbie Christian, Huntington, W. Va., Betina Leslie, Winfield, W. Va.; son, Douglas Sayre, Daniels, W. Va.; brothers, Gerald Sayre, Nitro, John Haze Sayre, Dunbar, W. Va.; sisters, Ina Jean King, Lakeland, Hope Absten, Gloria Barr, both of Leon, W. Va., Sybill Campbell, Winter Haven; 12 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 7:30 this evening at South Lake Wales Church of God, 210 President Drive, South Lake Wales. Services will be held in Nitro, W. Va.
Memorials may be made to the HEART Missionary Training Institute, 13895 U.S 27, Lake Wales, 33859, or Warner Southern College music auditorium fund, 13895 U.S. 27, Lake Wales, FL 33859.
Johnson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.
THOMAS TROTT, 76
U.S. Air Force
WAUCHULA -- Mr. Thomas J. "T.J." Trott, of Wauchula, died at home Tuesday (Jan. 31, 2006) after suffering a stroke. He was 76.
Born June 24, 1929, in Bibb County, Ala., he lived in Wauchula for most of his life.
He was a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church and was a heavy equipment operator with IMC for 45 years.
He was a veteran, serving in the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Army in Korea.
He is survived by his wife, Ruth Trott; sons, Clyde Trott, Ian Trott, both of Wauchula, Jayme Trott, Jacksonville; daugters, Cyndee Ziglar, Cheryl Group, Charlotte Terrell, all of Wauchula, Joni Baker, Avon Park; brothers, Billy Trott, Zolfo Springs, Rev. Bobby Trott, Clinton, N.C.; sisters, Irene Cravens, Avon Park and Gail Merhar, Lakeland; seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m.tonight at Robarts Funeral Home.
Services will be 3 p.m. Friday at Robarts Family Garden Chapel.
