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Ovetta Richardson, 67, Vanguard School
LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Ovetta Johnson Richardson's love for children and cooking led her to a career of more than 20 years as a cook at the Vanguard School in Lake Wales.
"She loved to feed people, " said her daughter, Cassandra F. Sweet of Winter Haven.
Mrs. Richardson, who retired from the Vanguard School in 1999, died of kidney failure Saturday (Oct. 2, 2004) at Winter Haven Hospital. She was 67.
Born in Prattville, Ala., on Sept. 11, 1937, she came to Lake Wales from there in 1939 and attended Roosevelt Academy.
Mrs. Richardson was very active in the Lake Wales community. "She was always on the go. She was always out to help somebody. She believed in helping the needy, " Sweet said, and she noted that her mother often visited nursing homes and the hospital.
She was a woman of a strong faith and a longtime member of Mount Calvary CME Church in Lake Wales, where she was a secretary and treasurer. She was a member of the Senior Citizens Fellowship Dining.
In addition to her daughter, Mrs. Richardson is survived by her sons, Johnny Johnson, Lake Wales, Arnell Richardson, Jonesboro, Ga., Michael Richardson Sr., Winter Haven, and Connell Richardson Sr., Orlando; stepmother, Inez Johnson, Lake Wales; brothers, Jack Johnson Sr., Old Saybrook, Conn., Tony Johnson, Haines City, and Lemuel Johnson, Union Springs, Ala.; sisters, Sandra Johnson, Orlando, Olivia Johnson, Livingston, Tenn., and Phyllis Johnson and Carla Dunn, both of Lake Wales; 20 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Allen Temple AME Church, Lake Wales. Services will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Epps Mortuary, Lake Wales.
Ann Wright, 64, Technician
FROSTPROOF -- Mrs. Ann Wright of Frostproof, who died of heart failure Wednesday (Dec. 22, 2004) at her home, was well known in Frostproof after her many years of baby-sitting. She was 64.
Born March 24, 1940, in Tryon, N.C., she came here from Hendersonville, N.C., 40 years ago.
For 15 years, Mrs. Wright babysat children in her town, her daughter-in-law, Deneen Wright of Frostproof, said. At one time, she made 25 cents per hour, 35 cents if there was more than one child. "She practically raised half the town."
Mrs. Wright had a way with children because she "genuinely loved them, " Wright said.
In 1993, Mrs. Wright lost her right leg below the knee in an automobile wreck involving a semitrailer, her daughter-inlaw said. Working as a lab technician for Ben Hill Griffin Citrus at the time, she spent only a year and a half out of work, regaining her ability to walk with the aid of a prosthetic leg.
"She was probably the strongest person I ever met, " her daughter-in-law said. "She was the type of person you'd like to be."
She was also a homemaker. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Frostproof.
Mrs. Wright is survived by her daughters, Tina Rucks and Dawna McKenzie, both of Frostproof, Jessica Wright, Babson Park; sons, William Jeffrey Wright, Frostproof, Alan Wright, Hendersonville, N.C., Christopher Martin Wright, Palm Bay; brother, Jesse W. Edwards, Skyland, N.C.; sister, Kaye Edwards, Skyland, N.C.; 13 grandchildren; and four great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. today at Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Frostproof.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Frostproof and Jackson Funeral Home, Hendersonville, N.C.
DOROTHY CAVANAH, 93
Advertising
LAKELAND -- Ms. Dorothy Cavanah of Lakeland died of heart failure Thursday (Dec. 23, 2004) at Highlands Lake Center. She was 93.
Born May 6, 1911, in St. Louis, Ms. Cavanah came here from there in 1930. She worked for Lamar Outdoor Advertising. She was a member of First Baptist Church at the Mall.
Ms. Cavanah was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil Cavanah. She is survived by her daughter, Kathleen Lancaster, Macon, Ga.; four grandchildren; five great-grandchildren.
Gentry-Morrison Southside.
NORMA LOKKEN, 83
Clerk
MULBERRY -- Mrs. Norma L. Lokken of Mulberry died of a heart attack Thursday (Dec. 16, 2004) at her home. She was 83.
Born March 25, 1921, in East Groveland, N.Y., Mrs. Lokken came here in 1973. She was a clerk for a government office. She was Methodist.
Mrs. Lokken is survived by her sons, Timothy Lokken, Lakeland, Terry Lokken, Ackron, N.Y., Todd Lokken, Leroy, N.Y.; daughter, Laurie Brown, Greenvalley, Ariz.; sister, Marion Marshall, Avon, N.Y.; seven grandchildren.
Donations may be made to Groveland Federated Parish, Groveland and the American Cancer Society.
Oakley Funeral Homes, Dade City.
WALTER EASLICK, 46
DeFUNIAK SPRINGS -- Mr. Walter David Easlick, 46, of DeFuniak Springs, a former resident of Polk County, died Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Healthmark Regional Medical Center, DeFuniak Springs. His cause of death is pending medical examination.
Born Oct. 28, 1958, in Mount Holly, N.J., Mr. Easlick is a former resident of Polk County.
Mr. Easlick is survived by his parents, Walter and Marie Easlick, New Jersey; wife, Meri Easlick; sons, Wesley James Scheehle and David Walter Easlick, both of Lakeland; daughters, Rolanda Sue Scheehle, Lakeland, Jessica Marie Easlick, DeFuniak Springs; brother, Dan Easlick, Alabama; sisters, Gert Lopez, New Jersey, Joy Jones, Lakeland; four granddaughters.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Heart Association.
Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs.
VELMA ONKST, 84
Homemaker
LAKELAND -- Mrs. Velma O'Neal Onkst of Lakeland died of complications from surgery Tuesday (Dec. 21, 2004) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. She was 84.
Born Aug. 19, 1920, in Lunner, Ky., Mrs. Onkst came here from London, Ky., in 1958. She was a homemaker. She was Baptist.
Mrs. Onkst is survived by her husband, Hobert R. Onkst; son, Dwight Onkst, Harker Heights, Texas; daughter, Carolyn Walker, Polk City; sister, Vickie Tuggle; London; brothers, Denver O'Neal and Glen O'Neal, both of London, Paul O'Neal, Winter Haven; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Bowling Funeral Home, London. Services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Liberty Baptist Church, London.
Gentry-Morrison Northside.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3236, Lakeland, FL 33802.
