St. Petersburg Times Online: Obituaries

SUNCOAST DEATHS

Monday, May 22, 2000

This list is extracted from the
regional editions of the St. Petersburg Times.

Citrus| Hernando | Hillsborough | Pasco
North Pinellas | South Pinellas

JOHNSON, HOLLY BETH VALENTINE, 47, of Brooksville, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at Suncoast Hospital. Born in Union City, Ind., she came here several years ago from Union City and was a bookkeeper for Oliver and Co., Brooksville. She was Presbyterian. Survivors include her husband, Rufus B. Jr., Brooksville; a son, Danny Moore, Pinellas Park; a daughter, Donna Crace, Crystal River; three brothers, J.C. Valentine, Hartford City, Ind., Tim Valentine, Largo, and Noah Valentine, Dunnellon; a sister, Nora Schultz, Winchester, Ind.; and three grandchildren. National Cremation Society, Brooksville.

LUGER, MURIEL HELEN, 79, of Inverness, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at home. Born in New York, she came here 21 years ago from Jersey City, N.J., and was a sales representative for Sears Roebuck. She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church and Branch 186 Fleet Reserve Auxiliary. Survivors include her husband, Alan R.; a son, Richard, Chicago; a daughter, Deborah Walsh, Santa Rosa, Calif.; a brother, James Morris, Woodside, N.Y.; and eight grandchildren. Chas. E. Davis Funeral Home, Inverness.

PALMER, EUGENE C., 85, of Beverly Hills, Fla., died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at home. Born in Arlington, N.J., he came here 11 years ago from Miami and was a retired contractor and former owner of Palmers Painting, Miami. He was an Army veteran of World War II. Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth; a son, Eugene Jr., Beverly Hills; two daughters, Judith Palmer-Cattell, Philadelphia, Miss., and Patricia Palmer, Chicago; a brother, William, Stony Brook, N.Y.; and two granddaughters. Heinz Funeral Home, Inverness.

Hernando County Back to top

SMITH, TRUMAN "T.J.," 87, of Brooksville, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at home. Born in Lawrence County, Ala., he came here 23 years ago from Tampa and was owner of T.J. Smith and Son Dairy, Brooksville. He was past president of Dairy Farmers Inc., past president of the Tampa Independent Dairy Farmers Association, an inductee to the Florida Dairy Hall of Fame, a member of Gulf Ridge Park Baptist Church and a deacon. Survivors include his wife, Janie; a son, Kenneth, Brooksville; a sister, Claudia Rucks, Okeechobee; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Turner Funeral Homes, Brooksville Chapel.

Hillsborough County Back to top

DAVIS, KENNETH W. JR., 62, of Riverview, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at his residence. He was born in Petoskey, Mich., and came to the Tampa area in 1979 from Soesterberg, Holland. He was a member of the non-commissioned Officer Association and was a retired Vietnam Air Force veteran after 31 years of service. Survivors include his wife, Charlotte E.; two sons, James S. Walczak, Zephyrhills, and James S. Walczak; two daughters, Leora J. Reeves, Tampa, and Gail A. Persak, Bolingbrook, Ill.; a sister, Pat Davis, Oxnard, Calif.; and two grandchildren. Stowers Funeral Home, Riverview.

HARRELL, FRANCIS "FRANK," 68, of Plant City, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at his residence. He was born in Detroit and came to the Tampa area in 1935 from Dearborn, Mich. He was a retired Coast Guard commander for 27 years and a retired mail carrier. He was a member of St. Clement Catholic Church and a member of the Retired Warrant Officers. Survivors include his wife, Mary Lee; a son, John Olin, Webster, Texas; a daughter, Helen Harrell Howard, Plant City; a brother, Alan R., Lakeland; three sisters, Mary Jeanne Gilbert and Ruth Miller, both of Lakeland, and Patty Harrington, Winston-Salem, N.C.; and two grandchildren. Haught Funeral Home, Plant City.

SETNEY, DICK F., 55, of Riverview, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at Brandon Regional Hospital. He was born in Jesup, Ga., and lived in the Tampa area most of his life. He was a packer for Swift Meat for 23 years. He was a Navy veteran and was Protestant. Survivors include his companion, Sandra Clifton, Riverview; a son, Richard K., Temple Terrace; a daughter, Kristine A., Brandon; mother, Annie Sumphere, Thonotosassa; two brothers, James, New Jersey, and John, Lakeland; three sisters, Sylvia Mingo, Englewood, Marie Yarborough, Riverview, and Darlene Hallman, Plant City; and a grandchild. Hamilton Funeral Home, Riverview.

Pasco County Back to top

KLEIER, GERTRUDE JOSEPHINE, 89, of Spring Hill, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at Forest Oaks Care Center, Spring Hill. She came here 23 years ago from her native Detroit. She was a Lutheran. Survivors include two sons, Donald, Hudson, and Richard, Detroit; a daughter, Barbara Harrower, Hudson; three brothers; a sister; two grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Curlew Hills Funeral Home, Palm Harbor.

SCHNEIDER, KATHRYN, 79, of Wesley Chapel, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at Hospice House in Dade City. Born in Maryland, she came here 17 years ago from Philadelphia. She was Methodist. Survivors include her husband, Harry; two sons, Gary Gray, Bear, Del., and Franklin Gray, Seaford, Del.; two daughters, Bonnie Scott, Wilmington, Del., and Janet Brennan, Gibbsborough, N.J. Hodges Family Funeral Home, Dade City.

SIMPSON, MICHAEL F. "PATCH," 52, of Hudson, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at home. He came here 14 years ago from his native Port Huron, Mich., and was employed by Pasco County Landfill. He was an Army veteran of the Vietnam War. Survivors include his wife, Martie Black; a son, Davin, Kailua, Hawaii; a daughter, Stacey Black, Los Angeles; his mother, Margaret Simpson, Smith Creek, Mich.; a brother, R. Kurt, Kimball, Mich.; and one grandchild. Family Funeral Care, Hudson.

North Pinellas Back to top

Clearwater

BITTER, KARL H., 83, of Clearwater, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at home. He was born in Toledo, Ohio, and came here in 1982 from Port Sanilac, Mich. He worked as a die designer for Fisher Body Division of General Motors Co., Warren, Mich. He was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Largo, Knights of Columbus, Detroit, and Lions Club of Port Sanilar. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Jeanne C.; two sons, James E., Minneapolis, and Karl E., Holland, Mich.; four daughters, Judith Buchkowski, Marietta, Ga., Karen Bitter and Katherine DeKresz, both of Royal Oak, Mich., and Mary Spearman, Simi Valley, Calif.; a sister, Marie Fejes, Toledo; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Belcher Road Chapel, Clearwater.
BRILES, VIRGINIA, 87, of Sarasota, formerly of Clearwater, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at HCR Manor Care, Sarasota. She was born in Marion, Ind., and came here in 1948 from Fairmount, Ind. She was a homemaker and a Methodist. Survivors include a son, Lawrence D., Murphy, N.C.; a daughter, Beverly Parks, Aiken, S.C.; two sisters, Georgiana Alexander, Wintersville, Ohio, and Gladys Webber, Long Boat Key; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Curlew Hills Funeral Home, Palm Harbor.
Indian Rocks Beach
REMUS, JOHN R., 37, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at home. He was born in Joliet, Ill., and came here in 1998 from Plainfield, Ill. He worked as a waiter. Survivors include his parents, Edward R. and Dorothy Remus, Plainfield; two brothers, Mike and Tom, both of Joliet; three sisters, Kathy Freedlund and Linda Burgeson, both of Batavia, Ill., and Nancy Odeh, Plainfield; and several nieces and nephews. Abbey Affordable Cremation and Funeral Services, Largo.

Largo

CANTATORE, VINCENT, 80, of Largo, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at Arbors of St. Petersburg Seminole nursing home. He was born in Bronx, N.Y. He worked as a machinist and a gunsmith. He was a champion speed skater and cyclist. He was a member of Our Lady of Carmel Catholic Church, Bronx, N.Y. Survivors include a son, Vincent, Bronx; two daughters, Christine Cantatore, Largo, and Karoline Cantatore, Ozona; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. E. James Reese Funeral and Crematory, Seminole.
LEWIS, VICKI L., 45, of Largo, died Monday (May 15, 2000) at home. She was born in Owego, N.Y., and came here in 1964 from Elmira, N.Y. She worked as a customer service representative and was a Baptist. Survivors include a son, Chet, St. Petersburg; her mother and stepfather, Myrna and Wayne Guesman, Dunedin; two brothers, William Haner, Safety Harbor, and Thomas Haner, Homosassa; two aunts, Betty Karukas, Dunedin, and Kay Boyle, Lowman, N.Y.; and several cousins, nieces and nephews. Abbey Parklawn Funeral Home, Palm Harbor.
SIMMS, ANNA MAE, 91, of Largo, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at Hospice House Woodside, Pinellas Park. She was born in Charleston, W. Va. and was a homemaker. She was a member of Heritage Presbyterian Apartments missionary group, missionary Bible study and worked in the gift shop. Survivors include a son, John Herr, Naples; five grandchildren, Jessica Bazley and Jill Devlieger, both of Dunedin, Betsy Cunningham, Powder Springs, Ga., Cindy Fernandez, Naples, and John Herr, Charleston, W. Va.; and nine great-grandchildren. Vinson Funeral Home, Tarpon Springs.
STOWELL, KAREN C., 61, of Largo, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at Morton Plant Hospital, Clearwater. She was born in Troy, N.Y., and came here in 1975 from Berlin, N.Y. She worked as a senior assembler for the NASA program at Honeywell. She was a member of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church, Largo, and an auxiliary member of Augustus Ruser Jr. American Legion Post 273, Madeira Beach. Survivors include her husband of 27 years, Thomas; a son, Daniel Thibodeau, Haines City; a daughter, Cheryl Thibodeau, Petersburgh, N.Y.; two brothers, Gary Lezotte, Watervliet, N.Y., and Thomas Lezotte, Troy; and three grandchildren. Garden Sanctuary Funeral Home and Cemetery, Seminole.

Oldsmar

PUGNETTI, CARLO, 72, of Oldsmar, died Friday (May 19, 2000) at Mease Countryside Hospital, Safety Harbor. He was born in Milan, Italy, and came here in 1989 from Sao Paulo, Brazil. He was a Catholic. Survivors include his wife, Maria; two sons, Alberto and Aldo ; and three grandchildren. American Burial and Cremation Society, Palm Harbor.
SHEEHY, JOHN L., 77, of Oldsmar, formerly of Tarpon Springs, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at Arbors of St. Petersburg Seminole nursing home. He was born in Syracuse, N.Y., and came to Tarpon Springs in 1979. He moved to Oldsmar in 1997. He retired as detective and sergeant from Syracuse Police Department after more than 25 years. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the 101st Airborne. He was a member of St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Tarpon Springs. Survivors include three sons, Patrick, Kissimmee, John, Syracuse, and Donald, St. Petersburg; a daughter, Donna, Oldsmar; a brother, Donald, Spring Hill; two sisters, Lib Britt and Margaret Andrews, both of Syracuse; and three grandchildren. Thomas B. Dobies, Tarpon Avenue Chapel, Tarpon Springs.

Palm Harbor

HERSMAN, EDWARD, 78, of Palm Harbor, died Wednesday (May 17, 2000) at Largo Medical Center. He was born in Spencer, W. Va., and came here in 1989 from Ponte Vedra Beach . He retired from the Navy as a lieutenant commander after 32 years and taught school in Ohio for 31 years. He had a master's degree in education from Kent State University, Ohio. He was a Navy veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was Methodist. He was a member of American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Tawas-Reeves Golf Association, Michigan. Survivors include his wife, Marie; three sons, Gary, Madison, Ohio, Todd, Painesville, Ohio, and Mark, Kirtland, Ohio; a daughter, Judy Varga, Madison; a brother, Bob, Spencer; two sisters, Gay Hersman, Front Royal, Va., and Pearl Butcher, Circleville, Ohio; and 11 grandchildren. Moss-Feaster Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Palm Harbor Chapel.
SORTINO, ROSE R., 74, of Palm Harbor, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at the home of her daughter in Palm Harbor. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and came here in 1979 from Brooklyn, N.Y. She worked as a seamstress for Emlee Fashions, Brooklyn. She was a Catholic. Survivors include her husband, John; two daughters, Camille Cardwell and Johanna Fornaro, both of Palm Harbor; a sister, Paula Rios, Tampa; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. Holloway Funeral Home, Oldsmar.

South Pinellas Back to top

ETLING, KENNETH W. "JIM," 83, of Treasure Island, died Saturday (May 20, 2000) at St. Petersburg General Hospital. Born in Marshallville, Ohio, he came here in 1973 from East Gary, Ind. He was a retired foreman for a steel mill and was an Army veteran of World War II who served in the Philippines. He was a member of the American Legion Post 125, St. Petersburg, and Post 158, Treasure Island. He was a member of the Paradise Islands Civic Association, the Treasure Island Board of Adjusters, SOAR and the Retired Steel Workers Association. Survivors include his wife of 61 years, Louise; a sister, Betty Pint, Akron, Ohio; a daughter, Ann Miranda, Lake Station, Ind.; six grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren. E. James Reese Funeral Home & Crematory, Seminole.

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