Etta Phillips Smith

Etta Phillips Smith, 92, of Live Oak, passed away, April 12, 2004, at Suwannee Health Care, Live Oak. She was born, January 16, 1912, to Henry and Lydia Phillips in Deerlodge, Tenn. Her family moved to Leesburg when she was 14. After her marriage to Wilmer R. Smith Sr., they moved to West Palm Beach, where they lived until moving to Tallahassee in 1955. She lived in Tallahassee until moving to Live Oak to live with her son W.R. Smith Jr. three years ago. Smith was a graduate of Florida State University and taught school until she was 70. Most of her teaching career was at Oak Ridge Elementary School in Tallahassee. She loved teaching and it had been one of the highlights of her life. Smith was the first women bondsman in the State of Florida and she was a member of Lakeview Baptist Church were she taught Sunday school for many years.

Survivors include: one son, W.R. Smith Jr. and his wife Linda of Live Oak; two daughters, Janie Barnes, Albany, Ga. and Jackie Beckley, Bremerton, Wash.; a brother, Jesse Phillips of Thonotassa; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, her parents and other brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, April 17, at Bevis Funeral Home Chapel, Tallahassee. Interment will follow at Oakland Cemetery, Tallahassee.

Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimer’s Resource Center of Tallahassee, 1400 N. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32303.

Bevis Funeral Home, Tallahassee is in charge of all arrangements.



John Galler



John Galler, 52, of Live Oak, passed away Friday, April 9, 2004, due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. The Coral Gables native moved to Live Oak from Miami 19 years ago, was a truck driver and of Church of God faith.

Survivors include: his mother, Marguerite Wilson, Live Oak; one son, Johnny S. Galler, Crestview; one sister, Bronwyn Welkner, Dunnellon; and one brother, Randy B. Galler, Live Oak.

Daniels Funeral Home of Live Oak is in charge of all arrangements.



Mary Lois Haney



Mary Lois Haney, 76, of Live Oak, passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2004, in the Shands at the University of Florida Hospital, Gainesville, following a long illness. Haney was a native of Newton, Ga., daughter of the late Paul and Lola Benton Powell, and had resided in Hollywood for many years, prior to moving to Live Oak in 1982. She had worked as a hospital dietitian and was of the Baptist faith.

Survivors include: her husband, Robert Haney of Live Oak; one son, Marvin Edward Haney of Hollywood; one daughter, Charlotte Haney Rhoden of Live Oak; one brother, Phillip Powell of Ft. Myers; and one sister, Carmen Futch.

Graveside funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m., Thursday, April 15, in the Live Oak Cemetery, with the Rev. Brad Bailey, officiating.

Suwannee Funeral Home, Live Oak, was in charge of all arrangements.



Michael James Blocker



Michael James Blocker, 54, resident of Lake Butler, passed away Tuesday, April 13, 2004, in the E.T. York Care Facility, Gainesville, following a long illness. A native and former resident of Live Oak, he was the son of the late Jim and Edith Louise McMullan Blocker and had resided in Lake Butler for many years. Blocker was a graduate of Suwannee High School, Class of 1969, was a retired sergeant with the 269th Engineer Company of the National Guard, having served 23 years. He was a corrections officer with the Reception and Medical Center in Lake Butler for the past 24 years.

Survivors include: two sons, Michael (Callie) Smith of Live Oak and Corey Blocker of Interlachen; and two grandchildren, Dallas Smith and Chase Smith, both of Live Oak.

Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m., Thursday, April 15, in the Chapel of Suwannee Funeral Home, with the Rev. Jim Robinett, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Live Oak, officiating. Interment followed in Mt. Gilead Cemetery.

Suwannee Funeral Home, Live Oak, was in charge of all arrangements.