Muriel Shelby, 83
GAINESVILLE — Muriel Shelby, 83, a homemaker, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at New Horizons West Personal Care Facility.
Mrs. Shelby was a native of McHenry, Ill. She was valedictorian of Huntley High School in Illinois.
Survivors include her son, Gary Shelby, Gainesville; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Hillside Funeral Home of Gainesville provided information.
Hilton M. Smith Jr., 79
OCALA — Hilton M. Smith Jr., 79, a sales engineer for M & T Chemicals of Chicago, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Smith Jr. was a native of Riverton, N.J., and a resident of Ocala. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Ocala; Retired Officers Association; Lions Club of On Top of the World; and Masonic Lodge 192 F&AM, Matawan, N.J. He was a U.S. Navy Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara B. Smith, Ocala; daughters, Merrilynn A. Fickell, Columbus, Ohio, Donna J. Smith, Coconut Creek, and Tracy J. LaFalce, Westwood, N.J.; sister, Ellen McCamy, Palmyra, N.J.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Lions Eye Bank, 2000 Hamilton St., Rodin Place, Suite 301, Philadelphia, Pa. 19130, or the American Heart Association.
Hiers Memorial Chapel at TimberRidge provided information.
Harman E. Blackwell, 88
SILVER SPRINGS — Harman E. Blackwell, 88, a retired production foreman for FMC Textile Manufacturing, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at Ocala Regional Medical Center.
A native of Floyd County, Va., he came to Silver Springs from Front Royal, Va., in 1975. Mr. Blackwell was Jehovah's Witness.
Survivors include his wife, Eletha N. Blackwell, Silver Springs; daughters, Lois Ann Harrison, Bellview, Wash., and Doris Custlow, Disputanta, Va.; son, Rodger Blackwell, Disputanta; brother, Harvey Blackwell, Floyd County; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his sons E.J. and Kenneth Blackwell.
Memorial contributions may be made to N.E. Congregation of Jehovah Witness.
Hiers Funeral Home of Ocala provided information.
Francisco J. Colon, 84
OCALA — Francisco J. Colon, 84, a retired civil engineer for Puerto Rico Power Co., died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, in Ocala.
He was a native of Utuado, Puerto Rico. Mr. Colon was a U.S. Army service member, and former 31st Degree Mason and Ocala Shrine Club member. He enjoyed competing in state track and field competitions and was a world record-holder in the decathlon competion.
Survivors include his wife, Lilia Colon, Ocala; son, Francisco Colon, Puerto Rico; daughters, Carmen A. Colon, Puerto Rico, Lilia M., Yolanda M. and Ada H. Colon, all of Ocala; brother, Simplicio H. Colon; and sisters, Theresa, Connie, Mercedes and Ada Colon, all of Puerto Rico; 11 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Roberts Bruce West of Ocala provided information.
Frank R. Di Trani, 87
INVERNESS — Frank R. Di Trani, 87, a retired sheet metal mechanic, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001.
A native of Emerson, N.J., he came to Inverness from Clifton, N.J., in 1972. Mr. Di Trani was a member of Fatima Catholic Church, Inverness Elks Lodge 2522, Inverness Highlands Watch and Civic Club, Eugene Quinn Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4337, and the Italian Social Club of Citrus County. He an Army Air Corps veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his sisters, Marie Evander, Santa Ana, Calif., Clara Urgo, Emerson, and Gloria Mioli, Montvale, N.J.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Theresa De Rosa Di Trani, and his second wife, Irene Hill Di Trani, and brothers, Charles, Anthony, Angelo and Ercole Di Trani.
Hooper Funeral Homes & Crematory of Inverness provided information.
LaDosha L. Frazier, 86
OCALA — LaDosha L. Frazier, 86, a retired employee for General Motors in Indianapolis, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, in Ocala.
A native of Clay City, she came here from Hudson two years ago. She was Protestant.
Survivors include her nephew, Jack Shields, White Cloud, Mich.; and nieces, Wilma J. Lukasik and Sharon Owen, both of Clermont.
Forest Lawn Funeral Home of Ocala provided information.
Ben Greene, 79
MORRISTON — Ben Greene, 79, a retired postal worker, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Oakview Rehabilitation Center in Williston.
A native of Frostproof, he came to Morriston 75 years ago. Mr. Greene was an elder at Church of Christ in Archer and Morriston. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he received the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his actions as a medic during the Normandy invasion.
Survivors include his wife, Reba Greene, Morriston; son, Lamar Greene, Green River, Wyo.; daughter, Pam Legler, Morriston; sister, Betty Miller, Bell; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Knauff Funeral Home of Williston provided information.
Ronald Mowery, 48
CITRA -- Ronald "Rick" Mowery, 48, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Baltimore, he came to Citra from Lorain, Ohio, in 1968.
Survivors include his mother, Elizabeth Mowery, Ocala; wife, Jamie Mowery; daughter, Kayla Basham; son, David Mowery, all of Citra; sisters, Caroline Longerream, Hedgesville, W. Va., Phyllis Gardner, Baltimore, Angie Manning and Kathy Mowery, both of Ocala; brothers, Jack Mowery, Lorain, Tom and Dennis Mowery, both of Ocala.
Roberts Downtown of Ocala provided information.
Mabel M. Myers, 85
OCALA — Mabel McMullen Myers, 85, a homemaker, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001, in Ocala.
A native of Verona, Ky., she came here more than 40 years ago. Mrs. Myers was Baptist, past worthy matron of Order of the Eastern Star, Fort McCoy chapter, member of the Ocala Square Dance Club, and former City of Ocala ceramics instructor.
Survivors include her sisters, Naomi Kobman, Cincinnati, Alice Sowle, Verona, Ky., and Audrey McBee, Covington, Ky.
Memorial donations may be made to a charity of your choice.
Hiers Funeral Home of Ocala provided information.
Robert D. Nichols, 83
OCALA — Robert "Nick" D. Nichols, 83, a retired brake specialist for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co., died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, in Ocala.
A native of Pine Mount, he came here from Dade City 58 years ago. Mr. Nichols was Baptist, and a member of the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed hunting and fishing.
Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Tavia Nichols, Ocala; daughters, Betty Lou Brandford, Fort McCoy, Dempsey Hasslinger, Melbourne, and Denise Prigge, Ocala; brothers, the Rev. Clyde Nichols, Bartow, Clifton Nichols, Deltona, Clinton Nichols, and Leon Nichols, both of Ocala; sister, Zada Ricketson, Ocala; five grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Marion County.
Forest Lawn Memory Gardens and Funeral Homes of Ocala provided information.
Jesse L. Sanders, 74
WILLISTON — Jesse Lee Sanders, 74, a retired salesman, died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2001, at North Florida Regional Hospital.
A native of Lanett, Ala., he came to Williston from Gainesville one year ago. Mr. Sanders was Baptist and enjoyed camping and fishing.
Survivors include his wife, Voncile M. Sanders, Williston; sons, Michael Sanders, Newberry, Bradley Sanders, Dothan, Ala., and Richard Sanders, Alachua; brother, James Sanders, Fort White; sisters, Betty Blount, Atlanta, and Dorothy Strickland, Gainesville; and six grandchildren.
Knauff Funeral Home of Williston provided information.
Raymond E. Adams, 91
SILVER SPRINGS — Raymond E. Adams "Joe Adams Boy", 91, a retired mason, died Friday, Feb. 2, 2001, at Munroe Regional Medical Center.
A native of Athol, Mass., he moved here from Delray Beach 27 years ago. Mr. Adams was a member of St. Joseph of the Forest Catholic Church, Masons Union, and a life member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks.
Survivors include his sons, Neil J. Adams, Callahan, Ronald P. Adams, Delray Beach, and Thomas E. Adams, Boynton Beach; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Hiers Funeral Home, Ocala, provided information.
Chester L. Barnett, 78
PALM BAY — Chester L. Barnett, 78, a retired Disciples of Christ minister, died Thursday, Feb. 1, 2001, at Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne.
A native of Orlando, he was a former resident of Ocala. Mr. Barnett served as a chaplain in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was a member of First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy Barnett, Palm Bay; sons, Michael Barnett, Littleton, Colo., and Lamar Barnett, Lake Mary; daughters, Joyce Price, Jacksonville, and Beth Erdman, Palm Bay; sisters, Fran VonBergmamm, Camarillo, Calif, and Yolande Roberts, Poulsbo, Wash., and eight grandchildren.
Brownlie-Maxwell Funeral Home, Melbourne, provided information.
Alan Barresi, 52
OCALA — Alan Barresi, 52, a retired chef, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001.
A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he moved here from Shirley, N.Y., in 2000. Mr. Barresi was Catholic.
Survivors include his sisters, Mary Gorgone, Ocala, Lucy Randazzo, Malvern, N.Y., and Teresa Barresi, Greenport, N.Y.; and brother, Gerald Barresi, Shirley.
Florida Cremation Society, Ocala, provided information.
Ruth H. Begley, 64
OCKLAWAHA — Ruth H. Begley, 64, a homemaker, died Sunday, Feb. 4, 2001.
A native of Knox, Ind., she moved here in 1959. Mrs. Begley was of Christian faith.
Survivors include her husband, Dan Begley, Ocklawaha; sons, Danny Begley, Miami, Jeff Begley and John Honaker, both of Ocklawaha; brothers, Paul Howard, Tampa, and James Howard, Indiana; sister, Barbara Jones, Florida; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Steverson Hamlin and Hilbish Funeral Home, Tavares, provided information.
