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JERRY ARMSTRONG, 64
U.S. Navy
NALCREST -- Mr. Jerry Armstrong of Nalcrest died of heart failure Saturday (Dec. 4, 2004) at Lake Wales Medical Center. He was 64.
Born March 18, 1940, in Richmond, Ind., Mr. Armstrong came here from Kissimmee two years ago. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving in the Vietnam War.
Mr. Armstrong is survived by his wife, Yoko K. Armstrong; stepdaughters, Kathleen Cavalcante, Jupiter, Gloria Burton, Kissimmee; mother, Phynetta F. Armstrong, Jacksonville; brothers, Michael T. Armstrong, Fort Lauderdale, Patrick K. McCarthy, Jacksonville; sisters, Joetle G. McCarthy, Jacksonville, Susanna R. McCarthy, Amelia Island.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.
Lena James, 100, Schoolteacher
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Lena S. James of Lakeland shared a century of memories with her family.
Mrs. James died of cancer Saturday (Dec. 4, 2004) at her home. She was 100.
Born Nov. 11, 1904, in Winneconne, Wis., she came here from Oakfield, Wis. She was a Baptist.
Betsy K. Sawyer said her grandmother was family oriented and very generous. Mrs. James, a former schoolteacher and principal, would help her grandchildren with their homework.
"It was always education first with her, " Sawyer said.
Mrs. James would entertain her grandchildren with stories of her childhood in Wisconsin.
"Her family owned Winneconne Canning Factory, " Sawyer said. During World War II, Nazi prisoners of war were sent to work in the factory's vegetable fields, she said. Her grandmother said the prisoners would play with the children.
Another of Sawyer's favorite stories told by Mrs. James is of Sawyer's great-grandfather buying a car when they first came on the market, although his wife disapproved.
"Back then it was a luxury, not a necessity, " Sawyer said.
Sawyer tries to follow her grandmother's advice daily.
"She used to say `Everyone goes too fast, everyone needs to slow down and enjoy life, ' " Sawyer said.
Mrs. James was preceded in death by her husband, Harvey E. James. She is survived by her daughters, Mary Nehring, Lakeland, Nancy Bebow, Oakfield; 15 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Lanier Funeral Home, Lakeland.
Memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 115 S. Missouri Ave., Suite 500, Lakeland, FL 33815, or American Cancer Society (Polk County Unit, West), 809 S. Florida Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801.
JOHN SOJER, 67
Tractor Supply Salesman
LAKELAND -- Mr. John Patrick Sojer of Lakeland died of congestive heart failure Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2004). He was 67.
Born March 17, 1937, in Waukegan, Ill., he came here from Waukegan 15 years ago. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. He was a salesman for a tractor supply company.
Mr. Sojer is survived by his parents, John and Irene Sojer, Waukegan, Ill.; son, John Sojer, Gurnee, Ill.; daughter, Jill Lindstroth, Racine, Wis.; sister, Arlene Wicks, Aurora, Ill.; companions, James and Carol Martin, Lakeland; four grandchildren.
Heath Funeral Chapel.
DEBRA LAND, 46
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Ms. Debra Jean Land of Lakeland died of cancer Friday (Dec. 3, 2004) at her home. She was 46.
Born May 10, 1958, in Silvis, Ill., she came here from Tampa in 1996. She was a homemaker.
Ms. Land is survived by her daughters, Jennifer Land, Jessica Land and Julie Hay, all of Lakeland; sons, Jason Land, Fred Hay, Larry Hay and Christopher Hay, all of Lakeland; brothers, Stanley Land, Lakeland, Ricky Land, Madison, Wis.; sisters, Tracy Steger and Tammy Steger, both of Silvis; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at Willow Oak Baptist Church, Mulberry. Services will follow at 11 a.m. at the church.
David Russell Funeral Home, Lakeland.
EARLE EPPS, 82
Anesthesiologist
LAKELAND -- Dr. Earle William Epps died of heart failure Wednesday (Dec. 1, 2004) at his home. He was 82.
Born Oct. 28, 1922, in Sommerville, N.J., he came here from Staten Island, N.Y., in 1957. He was an anesthesiologist. He was a veteran of the Coast Guard. He was a member of St. David's Episcopal Church.
Dr. Epps is survived by his wife, Barbara A. Epps; son, Douglas Earle Epps, Odessa; daughters, Cynthia Epps Smith, Lakeland, Constance Madden-Coyle, Tampa; brother, Saward John Epps, Reynoldsburg, Ohio; and two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from noon to 1 p.m. today at Heath Funeral Chapel, Lakeland. Services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 1545 Lakeland Hills Blvd., Lakeland, FL 33805.
JEANNE DeBECK, 81
School System
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Jeanne DeBeck of Lakeland died Friday (Dec. 3, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center from injuries suffered in an auto accident. She was 81.
Born July 28, 1923, in Lowell, Mich., she came here from Colorado in 1978. She worked in media for the school system. She was a member of In the Grove Church.
Mrs. DeBeck was preceded in death by her husband, James Garrett DeBeck. She is survived by her sons, Bill DeBeck, Boynton Beach, Richard James DeBeck, Lakeland; brother, Bill Schneider, Michigan; and three grandchildren.
Gentry-Morrison Beacon Hill
CONNIE BAILEY, 70
Homemaker
PLANT CITY -- Mrs. Connie Marie Bailey of Plant City died of cancer Saturday (Dec. 4, 2004) in Plant City. She was 70.
Born March 21, 1934, in Lake Butler, she came here from Union County. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church of Plant City.
Mrs. Bailey was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Thorny "Buck" Bailey. She is survived by her sons, Jeffrey Bailey and Trenton Bailey, both of Plant City; daughter, Lori Ann Griffin, Okeechobee; sisters, Elena B. Veltheim, Plant City, Juanita McAlpin and Bea Norman, both of Lake City, Sarah F. Sankey, Brandon, Mattie L. Jordan, Lakeland; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Haught Funeral Home, Plant City.
CHESLEY ANDERSON, 96
Anderson's Grocery Store
BARTOW -- Mr. Chesley L. Anderson of Bartow died Saturday (Dec. 4, 2004) at his home. He was 96.
Born Nov. 16, 1908, in Chicora, he came to Bartow from Eagle Lake 58 years ago. He was the owner of Anderson's Grocery Store. He was a member of Edgewood Church of God, Lakeland. He was a missionary, working in Barbados, Cat Island and Jamaica.
Mr. Anderson was preceded in death by his wife, Thelma Anderson. He is survived by his daughters, Gay A. Ford, Bartow, Merry Eldridge, Webster; brother, Hubert Anderson, Lakeland; sisters, Mabel Durrance, Lakeland, Lucille McLaulin, Lawrenceville, Ga.; 15 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and five great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 p.m. Tuesday at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home, Bartow. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home.
