Obituaries for Suwannee Democrat Sept. 3, 2003



Carol Eleanor Follett

We listed here below, extend our love in remembering the sweet simple life of Carol E. Follett who went to be with the Lord on July 29, 2003. Though no parades were ever given in her honor or special holidays named after her, she made a difference in this world by profoundly touching the lives of her family and friends. Her no longer being here leaves an empty place in the lives of her husband, George Follett; two daughters, Carol Clarkston and Susan Todd of Live Oak; one step-daughter, Sharon Taylor of W. Palm Beach; one brother, Bob Marceau of Rosamond, Calif.; one sister, Hazel Marceau of Bullshead, Ariz.; one grandson, Tech. Sgt. L. Davis, stationed in Germany; two granddaughters, Rainy Andrews and Windy Langford, Gainesville; a niece, Ramona Edmonson, Willimgton, Ohio; a nephew, Mike Marceau, Bullshead, Ariz.; two great-grandsons, Jake Davis and Clayton Andrews; and several step-grandchildren.





Obituaries for Suwannee Democrat Sept. 5, 2003



William G. Stauffer



William G. Stauffer, 74, passed away September 2, 2003. He proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1945 to 1957. In Pennsylvania he was a member of the Willow Grove fire company and the Willow Grove Moose Lodge. In Florida he was a member of the Live Oak fire company and a member of the Pine Grove United Methodist Church.



Survivors include: his beloved wife of 53 years, Marlene McVaugh Stauffer, one son, Robert M. Stauffer and three other children, Sherry Lynn Sherff, Joyce Anne Stauffer and Clyde Andrew Stauffer; nine grandchildren; one great-granchild, Jocelyn Stauffer; and one brother, Robert Stauffer.



Relatives and friends are invited to his memorial service at 3 p.m., Sept.7, at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Parkview and Lycoming Avenues, Abington, Pa. Friends are invited to gather in the Parlor adjacent to the church sanctuary after 2:30 p.m. No flowers at the family’s request. Donations may be made in his memory to Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Parkview and Lycoming Avenues, Abington, PA 19001.



Wetzel and Son, Inc., Philadelphia, Pa. in charge of arrangements.



Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur S. Anderson Jr.



Command Sgt. Maj. Arthur S. Anderson Jr., 72, of Live Oak, passed away, Aug. 31, 2003, in his home after a long illness. The Oakland Park native moved to Live Oak in 1965, retired from the National Guard as command sergeant major after 40 years serving during the Korean conflict and Vietnam War. He was a member of Westwood Baptist Church in Live Oak.



Survivors include: his wife of 51 years, Mary Anderson, Live Oak; one daughter, Cynthia (David) Penney, Live Oak. He was preceded in death by: his parents, Arthur S. Anderson Sr. and Pearl Anderson Neveils Nobles; sisters, Guion Anderson Hoppe, Velma “Billie” Anderson DeArtment, Jewell Carroll Johnson, Elsie Carroll Phair, Eunice Carroll Pyle and Willie Mae “Billie” Carroll Owens-Lewis, and brother, Vernon Carroll.



Funeral services were conducted at 11 a.m., Sept. 3, at Westwood Baptist Church, Live Oak, with the Rev. Retis Flowers, Col. Tom Sandlin, Mr. Jim Taylor, Mr. Richard Avery, Mr. Randy Brown and Dr. Jimmy Deas. Interment followed in Live Oak Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Hospice of Suwannee Valley, 1900 Florida Gateway Center Blvd., Lake City, FL 32024.



Daniels Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.



Joseph Odonal Kerby



Joseph Odonal Kerby, 83, passed away Aug. 24, 2003 at Lafayette Health Care in Mayo. A native of Lafayette County, he lived in Mayo since 1936 when he returned here from Kathleen. He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Army and was a member of the Church of Christ. Kerby founded the Mayo Gas Company in 1953, co-founded Kerby’s Dairy in 1970 along with his son. He was a former mayor of Mayo, a charter member of the Lafayette County Development Authority and also a charter member of the American Legion of Lafayette County. Kerby was a former VA service officer, a former member of the regional armed services draft board and a former member of the Florida Highway Patrol Auxiliary. He enjoyed being a licensed amateur ham operator and fishing and gardening in his spare time.



Kerby is survived by: his wife of 61 years, Ernesteen S. Kerby of Mayo; one son; Everett Kerby and wife, Sue, of Mayo; two daughters, Barbara Trawick and husband, Paul, of Mayo and Judy Lynn Barrington and husband, Gregg, of Luraville; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother, Mabry Kerby, and a sister, Irene Pearson.



Funeral service were held Aug. 27 at the Airline Baptist Church in Mayo. Interment followed at the Airline Church Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, donations my be made to: Baptist Children’s Home in Tallahassee and the David Tontin Family Home in Wewahitchka.



Joe P. Burns Funeral Home in Mayo was in charge of all arrangements.



Joyce Faye Dowdy



Joyce Faye Dowdy, 69, resident of Live Oak, passed away Sept. 1, 2003 in the Suwannee Healthcare facility following a long illness.



She was a native of Baker County, the daughter of the late Condy D. and Millie Mary Nipper Raulerson, of the Baptist faith and a homemaker.



Survivors include: one brother, Ivey “Jackie” Raulerson of Macclenny; five sisters, Vivian Cox of Live Oak, Irene Manning and Myrtie Mae Griffis, both of Macclenny, Peggy Burnett, of Columbia, Tenn., and Minnie Lee Holly of West Palm Beach. She was preceded in death by one brother, Daniel K. Raulerson.



Graveside funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Sept. 5, in Macedonia Cemetery, Macclenny, with the Rev. Fred Raulerson officiating.



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



Earl Box



Earl Box, 61, of Live Oak, passed away Sept. 2, 2003, in his home after a short illness. The Suwannee County native moved to Live Oak from Jacksonville in 1985. He retired after 30 years as a child abuse investigator for the State of Florida, Department of Children and Family Services. He was a U.S. Army veteran and was of the Baptist faith.



Survivors include: his wife of 34 years, Sara Box, Live Oak; one daughter, Rebecca Box, Live Oak; one son, Ethan Box, Live Oak; four sisters, Mary Godbold, Live Oak, Bobbie Brewer, Ocala, Julie Wolf, Orlando and Lisa Stewart, Lake City; three brothers, Aaron and Randall Box, both of Live Oak and Claude Box, Elmore City, Okla. He was preceded in death by one brother, Clyde Box.



Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m., Sept. 4, at Bible Baptist Church, Live Oak, with the Rev. Brad Bailey officiating. Interment followed in Live Oak Cemetery.



In lieu of flowers, family requests donations be made to Hospice of Suwannee Valley, 1900 Florida Gateway Center Blvd., Lake City, FL 32024.



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



Gertrude Smith



Gertrude Smith, 73, of Live Oak, passed away Aug. 31, 2003 in Shands at University of Florida Hospital, Gainesville after a long illness. The Suwannee County native was a telephone operator at North Florida Telephone (ALLTEL) in Live Oak for 20 years and was a member of Westwood Baptist Church, Live Oak.



Survivors include: one daughter, Anna Lou Harrell, Live Oak, two sons, Russell Smith, Wellborn, and Ronald Smith, Live Oak; one sister, Myrna Hurst, Tallahassee; and five grandchildren.



Funeral services were conducted at 4 p.m., Sept. 3, at Westwood Baptist Church, with Dr. Jimmy Deas and the Rev. Vernon Clifton officiating. Interment followed in Live Oak Cemetery.



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





Obituary for Mayo Free Press Sept. 4, 2003



Vinetta M. Guyer



Vinetta M. Guyer, age 88 died at her home in Mayo, Fl. on Tuesday, August 19, 2003 following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Guyer was born June 29, 1915 in Mt. Ayr, Iowa.



She was preceded in death by three daughters: Helen Brady, Jean Bell and Patsy Ryan. Survivors include her son James Mosier of Mayo, Fl.; 13 grandchildren, 33 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.





Obituary for Branford News Sept. 4, 2003



Powell, Laverne



Laverne Powell, 74, of O’Brien passed away August 23, in the Baptist Medical Center, Jacksonville. The Florence, S. C. native moved to O’Brien from Jacksonville in 1955. He farmed the Eva Lee Redifer farm in O’Brien; was a U. S. Air Force Veteran serving during World War II, and attended Northern Florida Christian Center, O’Brien.



Survivors include his daughter, Lynette Starling, Hatch Bend; one son, Ernie Powell, Branford; one step son, Kenneth Mosig, Croton-On-Hudson, NY; one brother, A. A. “Junior” Powell, Florence S. C. Eight grandchildren and five great grandchildren also survive.



Funeral services were held 11 a.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2003 at Northern Florida Christian Center, with Rev. Retha Garten officiating.



Daniels Funeral Home of Branford was in charge of all arrangements.



Obituary for Jasper News Sept. 4, 2003



Gene Madison Caldwell Hughes



Mr. Gene Madison Caldwell Hughes, 75, died August 28, 2003 at his home in Anchorage, Alaska. Mr. Hughes has been an Alaskan resident since 1947. In recent times he split his time visiting with family in Alaska, Florida and Hawaii.



Gene worked as a heavy equipment operator and retired from Teamster Local 959 in 1968. During that time he worked both foreign and domestic locations. He worked many sites in Alaska, including Amchitka and the Horner Spit. He also helped build the Alaska Highway. After retirement from the Teamsters he worked as a construction supervisor around the United States until his health declined.



From his Alaskan family: Dad was born a rambling man and was ready to go anytime he felt his wandering star begin to move. His heart was forever divided between his children in Alaska and his love for his family in Florida. He was a man of tremendous resilience and spirit. During years of adjustment, as his illness took more and more from him, he never gave up or fell into self-pity. He chose not to let his handicap keep him from living and frequently traversed the country by automobile and airplane. Dad enjoyed the simple things of life such as beating his boys at poker, reading Louis L’amour books and listening to old-time country music. He deeply loved every member of his family. Dad actively went about the business of living until the very end. Even in his final weeks he enjoyed dancing and giving his great grandchildren rides on his wheelchair. We are all comforted knowing that he is now dancing with Jesus. He added a spice to our lives that we will truly miss.



Mr. Hughes was preceded in death by his parents, Lem Burton and Juanita Caldwell Hughes; his brother, Lem B. Hughes, Jr.; brother-in-law, Fred H. Guest and an infant great grandson, Caillou Myers.



Survivors include two sons, Gene M. Hughes of Anchorage, Alaska and Gary M. Hughes of Oceanview, Hawaii; two daughters, Vicky L. Beeman and Susan M. McKibbon both of Anchorage, Alaska; his sister, Quida M. Guest of Jacksonville; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Graveside services will be held in Evergreen Cemetery in Jasper at 2 p.m. on Sunday, September 7, 2003.



Harry T. Reid Funeral Home was in charge of all Florida arrangements.