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COLON BEST, 82
Fruit Farmer
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.
June Schermal, 87, Secretary
DAVENPORT -- Mrs. June C. Schermal of Davenport enjoyed quilting with her daughter.
Mrs. Schermal died of complications from a stroke Wednesday (Dec. 8, 2004) in Davenport. She was 87.
Born Jan. 16, 1917, in Trenton, N.J., she came here from Yardley, Pa., 32 years ago.
Mrs. Schermal's daughter, Carol Gill, considers the day her mother came to live with her 14 years ago as one of her favorite memories.
"She was a wonderful woman and a good friend, " she said.
Together they enjoyed shopping and finding bargains at garage sales and thrift stores, she said. They also picked patterns and schemes for quilts.
"I've got a legacy of quilts to finish."
Gill said she will remember her mother as someone who taught her many life lessons.
"She helped me in every way, " she said.
Mrs. Schermal was a administrative secretary in the health care industry. She was a member of the Auxiliary of Star Post of the American Legion, Jamesburg. She was a Methodist.
Mrs. Schermal is survived by her daughters, Carol Gill, Davenport, Joan Trim, Haines City; three grandchildren.
Services will be from 3 to 7 p.m. Monday at 220 W. Orange St., Davenport.
Memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Polk County or Good Shepherd Hospice, Lakeland.
TONYAJEAN WHITAKER, 31
BROOKSVILLE -- Ms. TonyaJean Frances "TJ" Whitaker of Brooksville, who has family in Lakeland, died of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Tuesday (Dec. 7, 2004). She was 31.
Ms. Whitaker is survived by her daughters, Cyanna, and Savanna; mother, Judith; brothers, Mark, Lamar, and Mickey; sisters, Gaynelle, Judyrea Whitaker, and Tammy Laurel; maternal grandparents, Robert and Janet Rayboy; paternal grandmother, Frances Whitaker; fiance, Jason Dicus.
Memorial services will be at 1 this afternoon at First Baptist Church of Gibsonton.
Hamilton Funeral Home, Riverview.
NICHOLAS WEST, Infant
FLORAL CITY -- Master Nicholas Robert West, the son of Blain and Christin West of Floral City, who has family in Lakeland, died Wednesday (Dec. 8, 2004) at Spring Hill Regional Hospital. He was an infant.
In addition to his parents, Master West is survived by his brother, Nathaniel, Floral City; paternal grandfather, Bill West, Floral City; paternal grandmother, Debbie West, Lakeland; paternal great-grandparents, Bob and Pauline West, Inverness; maternal grandfather, Steven Zeeler, Santa Rosa, Calif.; maternal grandmother, Valerie Zeeler, Lakeland; maternal great-grandparents, Elaine and William Fitzugh, Sun City.
Visitation will be from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at the Brooksville Chapel of Brewer and Sons Funeral Home, 1190 S. Broad St. Services will follow at 4:30 p.m. at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Brooksville Cemetery.
BOOTS WOOTEN, 73
Truck Driver
LOUGHMAN -- Mr. Boots Wooten of Loughman died of heart failure Monday (Dec. 13, 2004) in Loughman. He was 73.
Born in Loughman on May 1, 1931, he was a lifelong resident. He was a retired truck driver. He was a member of Evergreen Baptist Church in Davenport.
Mr. Wooten is survived by his daughter, Diane McGinnis, East Palatka; sons, Freddie Zorba, Tommy Zorba, both of Loughman, Leo Zorba, Davenport, Timothy Drennen, Shawn Drennen, Christopher Drennen, all of Haines City; sisters, Ollie Ann Alexander, East Palatka, Karen Sweat, Palatka; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, 1001 Grace Ave., Haines City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Evergreen Baptist Church in Davenport. Burial will be in Etoniah Cemetery, Palatka.
RODERICK PEEPLES, 82
Animal Nutritionist
LAKELAND -- Mr. Roderick Leslie "Rod" Peeples of Lakeland died of heart failure Tuesday (Dec. 14, 2004) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 82.
Born in Jasper on Aug. 27, 1922, he came to Lakeland from Sebring in 1989. He was an animal nutritionist. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club in Sebring and the Masonic Lodge of Deerfield Beach. He was a member of the Scottish Rite of Miami. He graduated from the University of Florida. He was an Army veteran of World War II, in which he was a prisoner of war in Poland. He received the Purple Heart and was a member of the Imperial Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Sebring where he served as a deacon.
Mr. Peeples is survived by his wife, Evelyn Peeples; son, Gary Peeples, Sebring; daughter, Shirley McCarty, Brandon; stepsons, Peter Gray, Vero Beach, John Gray, Aiken, S.C.; stepdaughter, Barbara Campbell, Bronxville, N.Y.; sisters, Lillian Watson, Lakeland, Kathleen McGhin, Valdosta, Ga.; six grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at Lanier Funeral Home, 717 W. Griffin Road, Lakeland.
Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Service Founation, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, 45214.
RUTH MERRIMAN, 85
Homemaker
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Ruth K. Merriman of Winter Haven died of heart failure Monday (Dec. 13, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 85.
Born in Williamsport, Ohio, on Feb. 2, 1919, she came to Winter Haven from Marion, Ohio, in 1974. She was a homemaker. During World War II she worked in war construction for Curtiss-Wright. She was a member of Beta Phi Kappa and the Junior League in Ohio and Winter Haven. She was a former member of Lake Region Yacht and Country Club. She was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Winter Haven.
Mrs. Merriman is survived by her husband, William Merriman; daughters, Lisa K. Lalik, Polk City, Deborah Merriman, Enid, Okla.; sons, Tim Merriman, Upper Sandusky, Ohio, Jeff Merriman, Winter Haven; sister, Mildred Jording, Dayton, Ohio; brother, Neil Frazier, Circleville, Ohio; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be at 7 this evening at Steele's Family Funeral Services, 207 Burns Lane S.E., Winter Haven.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Toys for Tots.
