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WILLIAM BARKER, 88
Salesman
LAKE WALES -- Memorial services for Mr. William "Bill" Barker of Lake Wales, who died Aug. 16, 2004, will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Johnson Funeral Home, 322 N. Scenic Highway, Lake Wales.
LUCY THOMASON, 88
Homemaker
FROSTPROOF -- Mrs. Lucy P. Thomason of Frostproof died of heart failure Saturday (Aug. 21, 2004) at Lake Wales Medical Center. She was 88.
She was born in Watts, Ark., on Sept. 18, 1915. She was a homemaker. She was a Protestant.
Mrs. Thomason is survived by her son, Gerald N. Thomason, Frostproof, nine grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home of Frostproof.
LOUISE PADAR, 86
Medical Social Worker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Louise Kimball Padar of Lakeland died of heart failure Thursday (Aug. 19, 2004) at Oakbridge Park Club. She was 86.
Born Feb. 24, 1918, in Akron, Ohio, she came here from Cleveland, Ohio, 41 years ago. She was a medical social worker. She was a member of the American Association of University Women and First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
Mrs. Padar was preceded in death by her husband, Joseph Padar. She is survived by her niece, Jennifer Shontz, Overland Park, Kans.; nephews, Lawrence Kimball, Meriden, Conn., Dennis Kimball, Gahanna, Ohio; caregivers, Edgar and Beverly Germain, Lakeland.
Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday at Heath Funeral Chapel, Lakeland. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the funeral chapel.
Memorials may be made to First Christian Church Disciples of Christ, 400 S. Oak Avenue, Bartow, FL 33830 or Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
LEROY THROWER, 86
L & R Trucking
HAINES CITY -- Mr. Leroy Thrower of Haines City died of heart failure Monday (Aug. 23, 2004) in Davenport. He was 86.
Born in Haines City on May 19, 1918, he came to Haines City from Luverne, Ala., in 1940. He was the owner and operator of L & R Trucking in Haines City. He was in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Troy, Ala. He was a member and charter deacon of Faith Temple Assembly of God.
Mr. Thrower is survived by his wife, Ruth Thrower; son, Jesse Thrower, Lakeland; daughters, Carolyn Willis, Davenport, Connie Wilkinson, Haines City; sister, Molly Sasser, Haines City; seven grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 this evening at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 1001 Grace Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Faith Temple Assembly of God, Haines City. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Haines City.
Memorials may be made to Cornerstone Hospice, 901 John Ave., Haines City, FL 33844.
Jimmy Rogers, 41, Bluegrass Musician
FORT MEADE -- Mr. Jimmy Rogers was a natural when it came to music and won the state bluegrass championship in 1982 playing the mandolin.
"He could play the guitar first. He just learned to play them all. He was good enough that he could use about any instrument, " said his father, James T. Rogers of Fort Meade. "In fact a couple of people called him from Nashville, but he wouldn't go because he was real religious and he didn't want to get worldly.
"He could have been in Nashville, but he just didn't want to choose that life."
Mr. Rogers, who was a heavy equipment operator and independent truck driver, died of heart failure Monday (Aug. 23, 2004) at Bayfront Medical Center in St. Petersburg. He was 41.
Born in Bartow on Nov. 16, 1962, he grew up in Fort Meade where he was a lifelong resident.
He developed an interest in music while watching his father perform in a bluegrass band and learned to play by ear.
"We played at all the bluegrass festivals and he just grew up in it, he was a kid but he wanted to do the same. He had a God-given talent to know music without anyone teaching him, " James Rogers said.
The family organized its own bluegrass group called The Rogers Family and performed throughout Florida.
Mr. Rogers also taught instrumental music.
After working as heavy equipment operator for a couple of businesses, Mr. Rogers bought his own Peterbilt semi.
But he was also called to preach.
"He and another preacher spent two or three months in the mountains, traveling and preaching at different churches in the mountain areas, " James Rogers said.
He ministered on the radio in North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee.
Mr. Rogers was a member of the Full Gospel Church.
In addition to his father, Mr. Rogers is survived by his mother, Clara Ruthann Rogers of Fort Meade.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McLean Funeral Home, 306 E. Broadway in Fort Meade. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Pleasant Grove Cemetery in Fort Meade.
INGRID HILLERY, 60
Dietary Aide
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Ingrid Margaret Hillery of Lakeland died of lung cancer Monday (Aug. 23, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 60.
Born in Miglitz, Czechoslovakia, on Aug. 24, 1943, she came to Lakeland from Norwalk, Iowa, in 1983. She was a dietary aide in the health care industry. She was a Catholic.
Mrs. Hillery is survived by her son, John Hillery, Lakeland; daughters, Joan Sallot, Sandra Hillery, Michelle Kraemer, all of Lakeland, Leslie Parker, Pompano Beach; mother, Hildegard Krannich Penka, Germany; three sisters, Germany.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday with a memorial service at 2:30 p.m. at Trinity Memorial Gardens Funeral Home.
ANDREW GARRISON, 73
Foreman
BARTOW -- Mr. Andrew Garrison Jr. of Bartow died of heart failure Aug. 17, 2004, at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 73.
He was born in Ripley, Tenn., on Aug. 24, 1930. He was a fertilizer company foreman. He was a member of St. John Missionary Baptist Church.
Mr. Garrison is survived by his sons, Calvin L. Garrison, Andrew C. Garrison, Antonio Garrison, Hildrick L. Garrison, all of Bartow, Johnny Fitzpatrick, Charles Fitzpatrick, both of Ripley, James Braddy, Fort Brevorr, Va.; daughters, Toni Smith, Winter Haven, Gwendolyn Garrison, Memphis, Tenn., Bobbie Robinson, Patricia Alexander, both of Bartow; sisters, Gussie Simmons, St. Louis, Maria Williams, Ripley, Larlean Warren, Sacramento, Calif.; 20 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday at Gause Funeral Home, 625 S. Holland Parkway, Bartow. Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. John Missionary Baptist Church. Burial will be in Wildwood Cemetery, Bartow.
