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Mabel Lovelace, Born in N.Y., Dies at 102
LAKELAND -- Ms. Mable E. Lovelace of Lakeland died of complications of dementia Dec. 8, 2004, at Highlands Lake Center. She was 102.
Born in Enfield, N.Y., on Jan. 25, 1902, she came to Lakeland from McKlenburg, N.Y., in the 1980s. She was a homemaker.
Ms. Lovelace was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Lovelace. She is survived by her son, John Swartz, Trumansburg, N.Y.; stepdaughters, Helena Burlew, Betty Havens, both of Lakeland, Pat Muckey, Joan Griswold, both of Newfield, N.Y.; 29 grandchildren; 51 great-grandchildren; 52 great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 1 to 2 this afternoon at Gentry-Morrison Southside Funeral Home. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, GA 30368, or Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
Mary Cowles, 92, City Commissioner
BABSON PARK -- Mrs. Mary Louise Beakes Cowles of Babson Park was a former city commissioner who held a strong belief in education.
Mrs. Cowles died of heart failure Friday (Dec. 10, 2004). She was 92.
Born April 29, 1912, in Newburgh, N.Y., she moved to Babson Park in 1969.
"She was probably the brightest person I ever knew, " said her son, C. Deming Cowles IV of Babson Park. "She instilled into us kids a sense of duty to the community, family and thinking about others."
In 1951, Mrs. Cowles helped found the Orchard Park Cooperative Nursery School, which included certified teachers and a focused parent involvement, he said. She went on to create programs for college-bound students in the community.
"She was a person who looks around and sees what needs to get done. It wasn't for the limelight, " her son said.
For 10 years, Mrs. Cowles served on the Hillcrest Heights Town Commission.
"She thought that people should have good representation, " her son said. "She was a strong woman, a fist in a velvet glove."
Her daughter, Louisa Cowles of Chambersburg, Pa., remembers her mother's artwork. After graduating from Wellesley College, Mrs. Cowles traveled to Europe to tour and paint.
"It was for her own sense of accomplishment, " she said.
She was a volunteer for Ridge Audubon and the Frostproof Historical Museum. She was a member of Defenders of Crooked Lake, Florida Bipartisans, Babson Park Women's Club, Wellesley College Club of Tampa Bay and AAUW.
Mrs. Cowles is survived by her children, Louisa Cleveland Cowles, C. Deming Cowles IV; brother, Francis Cleveland Beakes, Olympia, Wash.; and two grandchildren.
Services will be at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at her home in Hillcrest Heights.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Ridge Audubon, Defenders of Crooked Lake or the American Heart Association.
INVERNESS -- Mr. Colon E. Best of Inverness, a former resident of Frostproof, died of heart failure Friday (Dec. 10, 2004) at his home. He was 82.
Born Sept. 12, 1922, in Bereah, he moved to Inverness 15 years ago. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in World War II. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was a chief in the U.S. Coast Guard.
He was a fruit farmer in Michigan. He was a member of the Frostproof Bullpups football team. He was a Protestant.
Mr. Best is survived by his companion, Lillian Amerson, Frostproof; daughters, Jayne B. Davis, Winter Haven, Karen Andresen, Palmyra, Va., Nancy Kelly, Springtown, Texas, Suzanne Martens, Madeira Beach; sons, C. Stanley Best, Umatilla, Perry Best, Winter Haven, Benjamin Best; sister, Rita Donahoe, Frostproof; 23 grandchildren; and 20 great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Frostproof. Services will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Corinth Baptist Church.
Bernard Raff, 81, Security Guard
LAKELAND -- Mr. Bernard Theady Raff of Lakeland, who will be remembered for his dedication to his children, died of cancer Saturday (Dec. 11, 2004) at Good Shepherd Hospice, Auburndale. He was 81.
Born Nov. 23, 1923, in Mt. Ida, Va., he came here 18 years ago.
While raising his children, Mr. Raff got involved with their activities, his son David Raff of Lakeland remembers.
"He was the greatest dad in the world, " he said.
Mr. Raff volunteered as assistant pack master in the Cub Scouts for six years and as master for two years. He also coached softball.
"The holidays were his favorite time of year, " his son said. Mr. Raff went to great lengths to create the fantasy of Santa Claus, even leaving the Christmas tree unadorned until Christmas Eve, when he would stay up all night decorating and arranging presents.
"He would go to sleep twenty minutes before we woke up, " his son said.
His grandson, Ryan Bittinger of Orlando, said Mr. Raff was the center of the family, often opening his home to family to help them through hard times.
"He was the peacekeeper, the focal point, " he said.
Mr. Raff was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served in World War II.
He was a plumber for the State Department in Washington, D.C., for 15 years and a security guard for Wackenhut Security in Lakeland for eight years.
Mr. Raff is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Louise Raff; daughter, Elaine Bittinger, Lakeland; sons, Michael Raff and David Raff, both of Lakeland, and Tim Raff, Bradenton; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Lakeland Funeral Home. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Mike Crawford, 53, Mike's Marine Center
LAKELAND -- Michael Crawford, the owner of Mike's Marine Center, died of cancer Wednesday (March 17, 2004) at home, surrounded by his children and friends. He was 53.
His wife, Beverly Crawford, said her husband was given enough time to accomplish his last desires.
"His last wish was to take his family on a camping trip. He had not had the opportunity to take his daughter, Megan, on a trip."
Last weekend, the family borrowed a Winnebago from a friend and took a trip to Homosassa Springs.
"He was able to see his 11year-old son, Trevor, swim with manatees and fish on the flats, " she said. "He was able to spend some very special time with his daughter."
Mr. Crawford was born Dec. 27, 1950, in Orlando.
He was a member of the NRA and a sponsor of Lakeland City Baseball.
He was a member of Highland Park Church of the Nazarene and loved the worship and praise portion of church services. Sunday he was able to attend his last worship service at the church with his family.
"Everything he desired to do, the Lord gave him time to do it, " Mrs. Crawford said.
The couple was married for 11 years.
Crawford's favorite quote was from Colossians 3:23-24: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving."
"In his work life, he always lived by that Scripture, " Mrs. Crawford said. "In his relationships with everyone, that verse is how he lived. He gave 150 percent of himself at work with his clients and when he came home he did the same with us."
Mr. Crawford is survived by his wife, Beverly Crawford, Lakeland; mother, Lynette Crawford, Lakeland; son, Trevor Andrew-Dylan Crawford, Lakeland; daughter, Megan Jennifer Crawford, Lakeland; stepdaughter, Jessica Elizabeth-Abby Brown, Lakeland; brother, Tom Crawford, Tennessee; and sister, Barbara Crawford, Tampa.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Highland Park Church of the Nazarene.
Gentry-Morrison Southside
