Thomas M. McClain, 59
OCALA — Thomas M. McClain, 59, a self employed telephone installer, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001.
A native of Canton, N.Y., he moved here from Cortland, N.Y., in 1997. Mr. McClain was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Pat McClain, Ocala; mother, Bertha McClain, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; brother, Paul McClain, Raleigh, N.C.; and sister, Gail Hill, Saranac Lake.
Florida Cremation Society, Ocala, provided information.
Earl C. Purcell, 85
HOMOSASSA — Earl C. Purcell, 85, a retired railroad conductor, died Sunday, June 17, 2001, at Crisp Regional Medical Hospital in Cordele, Ga.
A native of Bellevue, Ohio, he moved here from Live Oak in 1999. Mr. Purcell retired in 1980 from Norfolk Southern Railroad, after 50 years of service. He was a member of United Transportation Union. Mr. Purcell was Presbyterian. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II, and he was an Atlanta Braves fan.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara A. Purcell, Homosassa; sons, Mike Scott, Ozello, Terry Scott, Homosassa ,and Gregory Scott, New Port Richey; daughters, Diane Whitt, Reno, Nev., Brenda Taylor, Largo, and Patricia Webster, Spring Hill; 43 grandchildren; and 35 great-grandchildren.
Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills, provided information.
Pamela G. Smith, 47
OCALA — Pamela Goodwin Smith, 47, a former bank teller, died Tuesday, June 12, 2001, in Fulton, Ill.
Mrs. Smith was a native of Moline, Ill.
Survivors include her husband, Brad Smith, Ocala; daughter, Tracie Franklin, Ocala; parents, Arthur and Donna Goodwin, Fulton; sister, Karen Hesselbacher, Scales Mound, Ill.; brothers, Rick Goodwin, Hillsdale, Ill., and Randy Goodwin, Scales Mound; and two grandchildren.
Gibson Funeral Home, Moline, Ill., provided information.
Joseph L. Thiel, 72
DUNNELLON — Joseph Lee Thiel, 72, a retired customer service manager, died Monday, June 18, 2001, at home.
A native of Cincinnati, he moved here from Seattle in July 2000. Mr. Thiel retired from Princeton Packaging Co., after 20 years of service. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Mr. Thiel was an active member of Rainbow Lakes Billiards Club. He enjoyed fishing and boating.
Survivors include his wife, Joyce M. Thiel, Dunnellon; sons, David Thiel, New Orleans, Stephen Thiel and Gregory Thiel, both of Middletown, Ohio, Daniel Thiel, Michael Blue and Jonathan Blue, all of Seattle; daughters, Karen Dalton, Cincinnati, and Linda Sauder, Villa Hills, Ky.; brothers, Don Thiel, Cincinnati, and Charles Thiel, Middletown; and seven grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Thiel.
National Cremation Society, Fruitland Park, provided information.
Eugene C. Baxter, 80
FORT McCOY — Eugene C. Baxter, 80, a retired flight engineer, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., he moved here from Miami Springs 24 years ago. Mr. Baxter retired from Eastern Air Lines after 30 years of service. He was a member of First United Methodist Church; Marston Lodge No. 49, Fort McCoy; Scottish Rite; Morocco Temple; Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine; National Rifle Association; past president of Fort McCoy Civic Association; and past district grand master of the 14th Masonic District. Mr. Baxter served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Nanita Baxter, Fort McCoy; daughter, Leigh G. Greenhouse, Clifton Park, N.Y.; and two grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Joseph P. Catania, 84
OCALA — Joseph P. Catania, 84, a retired manager for Snap-On Tool Co., died Monday, June 18, 2001, at Estelle's Hospice House.
A native of Newark, N.J., he moved here from Sunrise 12 years ago. Mr. Catania was Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Eva Catania, Ocala; daughter, Flora Kagan, Des Moines, Iowa; sons, Vito J. Catania, Atherton, Calif., and Joseph Catania Jr., Wildwood, N.J.; five grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Marion County.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Larry E. Clark, 66
DUNNELLON — Larry E. Clark, 66, a retired senior operations engineer from Sumter Correctional Institute for 20 years, died Monday, June 18, 2001, at his home.
A native of Sanford, N.C., he moved to Dunnellon in 1972 from Pinellas Park. Mr. Clark was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War and a member of the National Rifle Association. He was Protestant.
Survivors include his wife of 46 years, Shirley H. Clark, Dunnellon; daughters, Sherry Drawdy, Inverness, Robin Hannah, Live Oak and Kelly Clark, Clearwater; mother, Clara Cagle, Hernando; brother, Earl Clark, Torrance, Calif.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness Chapel, provided information.
Paul L. Erb, 74
McINTOSH — Paul L. Erb, 74, a retired truck driver, died Wednesday, June 20, 2001, at Sylvia's Hospice House.
A native of Alto, Mich., he moved here from Michigan 14 years ago. Mr. Erb was a member of American Legion, Teamster's Union, North American Fishing Club, Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, and served as deacon at McIntosh Christian Church. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn Erb, McIntosh; daughter, Marsha Kuykendall, Middleville, Mich.; son, Walter Erb, Grand Rapids, Mich.; sisters, Pauline Kimball, Grand Rapids, Mich.Zephyrhills; four children; and six great-grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Mamie Green, 80
SPARR — Mamie Green, 80, a homemaker, died Tuesday, June 12, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Green was a native and a lifelong resident of Sparr. She was Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Aggie Green, Sparr; daughters, Barbara Love, Glenn Dale, Md., and Vivian Hairston, Columbia, Md.; son, Eugene Green, Sparr; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Summers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Enes I. Hillcher, 94
INVERNESS — Enes I. Hillcher, 94, a homemaker, died Wednesday, June 20, 2001.
A native of Union City, N.J., she moved to Inverness in 1991 from Treasure Island. Mrs. Hillcher was a member of the Order of Eastern Star. She was Catholic.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold A. Hillcher.
Survivors include her sons, Christopher Sanson, Paramus, N.J., and Harold C. Hillcher, Cocoa Beach; daughter, Ida Fazio, Clifton, N.J.; sister, Ida Galka, St. Petersburg; three grandchildren; and three step-grandchildren.
Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness Chapel, provided information.
Dollie M. Holloway, 72
OCALA — Dollie M. Holloway, 72, a retired employee of a juvenile delinquent home, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Ocala, she was a lifelong resident of Florida. Mrs. Holloway was an honorary member of the Elks. She was Protestant.
She was preceded in death by her husband, George K. Holloway.
Survivors include her daughter, Sandra Grizzle, Ocala; son, Chester K. Holloway, Ocala; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information..
Ollie B. Houston, 74
OCALA — Ollie Bernice Houston, 74, a retired supervisor for Vineland State School, died Saturday, June 16, 2001, at Ocala Regional Medical Center.
A native of Putney, Ga., she moved here 50 years ago. Mrs. Houston was Baptist.
Survivors include her husband, Rev. J.E. Houston, Ocala; daughters, Georgia L. Gordon, Orlando, Tascha J. Wilkerson and Fatima Houston, both of Atlanta; brothers, James Buckner, Blackwood, N.J., Joe L. Harrell and Roosevelt Harris, both of Albany, Ga.; sisters, Ruth L. Battles, Chicago, Annie P. Arline, Pellham, Ga., and Mary Newkirk, Thomasville, Ga.; nine grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Cunningham's Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
John J. Kaplun, 68
LOWELL — John Joseph Kaplun, 68, a retired welder, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, in Gainesville.
A native of Weirton, W.Va., he moved here from Amsterdam, Ohio, one year ago. Mr. Kaplun was a member of Veterans of Foreign Wars. He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. Mr. Kaplun was Catholic.
Survivors include his daughters, Johnna Snatchko, Lowell and Debra Morse, Canton, Ohio; son, Mark Kaplun, Canton; brother, Robert Kaplun, Weirton; sisters, Irene Mesler, Newell, W.Va., Stella Blanchard, Seneca Lake, Ohio, Jean Kaplun, Theresa Wagner and Carol Baker, all of Weirton; and two grandchildren.
Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Thomas McClain, 59
OCALA — Thomas McClain, 59, a self-employed telephone installer, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001.
A native of West Carthage, N.Y., he moved here from Cortland, N.Y., in 1997. Mr. McClain was a U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Pat McClain, Ocala; mother, Bertha McClain, Saranac Lake, N.Y.; brother, Paul McClain, Raleigh, N.C.; and sister, Gail Hill, Saranac Lake.
Florida Cremation Society, Ocala, provided information.
Evelyn L. Miller, 75
BEVERLY HILLS — Evelyn Lane Miller, 75, a registered nurse, died Tuesday, June 19, 2001, in Lecanto.
A native of Newport News, Va., she moved to Beverly Hills 14 years ago from Williamsburg, Va. Mrs. Miller was education director for Eastern State Hospital for 30 years. She was a member of Beverly Hills Women's Club and Beverly Hills Community Church.
Survivors include her husband of 53 years, Leroy Miller, Beverly Hills; daughter, Sandra Lunceford, North Pole, Alaska.; sons, Steven Miller, Wallace, Idaho., Gary Miller, Woodbridge, N.J., and David Miller, Crystal River; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills, provided information.
Laura Oliver, 87
OCALA — Laura Oliver, 87, a retired business owner, died Saturday, June 16, 2001, at Ocala Health Rehabilitation Center.
A native of Richland Ga., she moved here 60 years ago. Mrs. Oliver was a member of Greater Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church.
Survivors include her daughters, Clemmye L. Jackson, Ames, Iowa, Ethel Nelson and Grace W. Huffman, both of Ocala; seven grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.
Cunningham's Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Edward Petroski, 86
CARRABELLE — Edward Petroski, 86, a retired chief warrant officer in the U.S. Coast Guard, died Saturday, June 16, 2001, at his home.
A native of Manistee, Mich., he was a former residence of Anthony. Mr. Petroski was an amateur radio service operator for more than 55 years. He was a member of the Retired Officers Association; Kingdom of the Sun Chapter; and a former member of St. Jude's Catholic Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Kathleen Hagel, New Port Richey; son, Dale Petroski, Carrabelle; seven grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Blount, Curry and Roel Funeral Home, St. Petersburg, provided information.
Klara Roka, 94
DUNNELLON — Klara Roka, 94, a homemaker, died Wednesday, June 20, 2001, in Ocala.
A native of Breslow, Germany, she moved here from New Jersey in 1980.
Survivors include her sons, Andy Roka, Dunnellon and Alex Roka, Seattle; nine grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon provided information.
Clayton C. Adams, 81
DUNNELLON — Clayton Charles Adams, 81, a retired plumber, died Thursday, June 21, 2001, at home.
A native of Savannah, Ga., he moved here from Miami in 1985. Mr. Adams served with the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Marian Adams, Dunnellon; son, Bruce Adams, Dunnellon; daughter, Susan Gonzalez, Midland, Mich.; four brothers; three sisters; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Marion County.
Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon provided information.
Benjamin L. Calhoun, 83
KNOXVILLE — Benjamin L. Calhoun, 83, a retired bricklayer, died Friday, June 15, 2001, at St. Mary's Medical Center.
A native of Tennessee, he was a former resident of Silver Springs. Mr. Benjamin was a member of Master of Royal Secret Lodge No. 414, Rockdale, Texas. He was a 32nd degree Mason and Baptist.
Survivors include his daughters, Susan Chislon, Melrose, Barbara J. Kaylor and Marilyn Robinson, both of Silver Springs; son, Kevin Calhoun, Ocala; sisters, Bonnye K. Gorman, Knoxville, Charlotte Witt, Benton, Tenn., Nancy Byrum and Betty J. Byrum, both of Madisonville, Tenn.; brother, Dick Calhoun, Madisonville; and 11 grandchildren.
Steven Mortuary, Knoxville, Tenn., provided information.
