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Woman, 50, killed in single-car crash

Joyce Blease died early Thursday morning when her car crashed into a culvert, throwing her from the vehicle.

By MOISES MENDOZA
Published June 30, 2006

HOMOSASSA - A Homosassa woman died early Thursday after she crashed her Oldsmobile Bravada into a concrete culvert at U.S. 19 and Cyprian Court and was thrown from the car.

No one else was hurt in the single-car accident about 1:35 a.m.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Joyce Blease, 50, was traveling north on U.S. 19 when she drove along the highway's shoulder for 270 feet. She hit the culvert, and her car traveled more than 90 feet before it came to a stop on its roof.

Blease had moved to the area from Massachusetts about six months ago and worked as a bartender at Jake's Bar and Grill in Homosassa. She had a 29-year-old son in California.

Friends and family remembered her Thursday as a generous person who loved making other people happy.

Her sister Susan O'Dell, 51, wept Thursday as she remembered how Blease would sometimes take hours to get ready for work, perfecting her clothes and makeup. She added that Blease had recently given her money for car insurance.

"She was a good person, a good sister," O'Dell said. "I'll miss her; we'll all miss her. I just hope she's now at peace."

Times researcher Caryn Baird contributed to this report. Moises Mendoza can be reached at mmendoza@sptimes.com or 860-7337.

[Last modified June 30, 2006, 10:46:21]