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DOROTHY JARRETT, 77
Bonded Insurance
BABSON PARK -- Mrs. Dorothy Ann Jarrett of Babson Park died of heart failure Wednesday (Aug. 3, 2005) at Lake Wales Medical Centers. She was 77.
Born Nov. 18, 1927, in Sandusky, Ohio, she came to Babson Park from there 28 years ago. She was the retired owner of Bonded Insurance in Lake Wales. She was an honorary member of the Kiwanis Club of Lake Wales and the Order of the Eastern Star in Sandusky. She was a member of the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Lake Wales.
Mrs. Jarrett was preceded in death by her husband, Eugene E. Jarrett. She is survived by her daughter, Ann Marie Carver, Babson Park; sons, David E. Jarrett, Babson Park, Allen T. Jarrett, Granite Bay, Calif.; sister, Helen Steinert, Sandusky, Ohio; brother, James Henkelman, Beltsville, Md.; two grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson Funeral Home, Lake Wales. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd. Burial will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell.
James Stephens, 68, Banker
WINTER HAVEN -- Known to kids as "Papa, " nature lover James Edwin "Ed" Stephens believed in giving back to the community.
Mr. Stephens, of Winter Haven, died of lung cancer Monday (Aug. 22, 2005). He was 68.
Born March 11, 1937, in Lake Wales, he was a lifelong resident of Polk County. He graduated from Frostproof High School in 1955. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps for two years. He graduated from the University of Tampa.
In banking, he started with First National Bank in 1960 and was promoted to assistant vice president the following year, managing the Commercial Loan Credit Department. From 1974 to 1996, he was employed by Lake Region Bank of Commerce, National Bank of Lake County, Harmon Fruit Co. Inc., Commerce Bank of Central Florida, and most recently First Commerce Banks of Florida Inc. as director and president. After his retirement from the banking industry in 1996, he earned his real estate license and joined Trueheart Properties as a commercial sales associate.
He was a member of the Elks Club, the Lake Region Yacht and Country Club, and the Cypress Gardens Rotary Club. He was on the board of directors for the Boys Club in Winter Haven.
"He's always loved children. He had five of his own, but anything he could do for kids was something he was interested in, " said his wife, Betty Stephens. "The kids all knew him as `Papa.' He was a great storyteller and loved a joke. He had a wonderful sense of humor."
He may have been active in the community, but he was content to just sit on his deck and feed the birds.
"He loved to hunt and fish, and he played golf. He loved anything to do with nature, " said Betty Stephens.
He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven and was recently nominated to be an elder there.
Mr. Stephens is survived by his wife, Betty Stephens; sons, James Edwin Stephens III, Center Hill, Theodore Craig Stephens, McDonough, Ga., Jonathon Edward Stephens, Orlando; daughters, Elizabeth Shannon Cahours, Clermont, Jennifer Elaine Gilmore, Clermont; brother, Joe Stephens, Carabelle; step-daughters, Lesley Finlay, Alpharetta, Ga., Cynthia Saterbo, Winter Haven, and Vicki Rafool, Lake Wales; step-son, Robert Van Hart, Lakeland; and 17 grandchildren.
Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday at First Presbyterian Church of Winter Haven.
Oak Ridge Funeral Care.
Helen Peterson, 71, Educator
LAKELAND -- As an educator, tutor and piano teacher, Mrs. Helen Smith Peterson touched the lives of countless children.
The retired teacher for the Polk County School Board died at home Monday (Aug. 29, 2005) of complications of cancer. She was 71.
"She had former students that she taught here at Rochelle and Lincoln, and after all those years, they were still coming to see her and visit her, " said her niece, Denai Ardis of Lakeland. "They were students who were active in her life, and she was active in their lives."
Mrs. Peterson was born in Lakeland on Jan. 11, 1934, and graduated from Rochelle High School. While attending Florida A & M University, she met her future husband, Air Force Master Sgt. Eugene Gordon Peterson.
She graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business education and a master of education degree in administration and supervisor from the university. She also received graduate certifications in exceptional education from FAMU, early childhood education from the University of South Florida and counseling from Peabody College. She later received several graduate certificates in religious studies.
Mrs. Peterson began her career teaching at Rochelle Elementary in 1955 and later taught at Rochelle Junior High and Lincoln Avenue Elementary schools until 1962, when the military family began traveling the world.
Mrs. Peterson taught in public and Department of Defense Schools in Tokyo, Japan, Tullahoma, Tenn., Panama City and Berlin, Germany, until her husband's retirement in 1983, when the family returned to Lakeland.
She taught exceptional student education at Kathleen Junior High School until her retirement in 1996. During her teaching career, she received numerous awards, including being named several times as Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
After retiring, Mrs. Peterson, tutored students in a church after-school program and taught piano lessons in her home.
"She has been a very strong Christian, and her faith really guided the way that she lived her life, " said her son, Lt. Col. Eugene G. Peterson Jr. of Niceville.
Mrs. Peterson was a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. She was a lifelong member of Harmony Missionary Baptist Church and a Sunday school teacher for the Berean Bible Class.
In addition to her son, Lt. Col. Eugene G. Peterson Jr., Mrs. Peterson is survived by her husband of 45 years, Eugene G. Peterson; son, Brian F. Peterson, Lakeland; sisters, Betty S. Porter and Tereather B. White, both of Lakeland; brothers, Richard L. Smith Jr. and Horace Bobby King, both of Lakeland; and four grandchildren.
Visitation will be Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Harmony Missionary Baptist Church, 1645 N. Webster Ave., in Lakeland Services will be at 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Charles A. Lewis Funeral Home, Lakeland.
LOUISE EVERIDGE, 86
Homemaker
TAMPA -- Mrs. Louise Estelle Johnson Everidge of Tampa, who has family in Plant City, died of heart failure Tuesday (Aug. 23, 2005) in Tampa. She was 86.
Born in Morven, N.C., on Dec. 8, 1918, Mrs. Everidge moved to Tampa from there in 1928. She was a homemaker. She was a Baptist.
Mrs. Everidge is survived by her son, Glenn Everidge, Seffner; daughter, Sharon Bewll, Augusta, Ga.; brother, Hugh Johnson, Plant City; sisters, Vivian DeVane, Plant City, Flora Huneycutt, Richfield, N.C.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 this evening at Wells Memorial Funeral Chapel, Plant City. Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home chapel. Burial will be in Oaklawn Cemetery.
DOUGLAS SAVAGE, 78
HPS Industries Manager
AUBURNDALE -- Mr. Douglas D. Savage of Auburndale died of cancer Tuesday (Aug. 16, 2005). He was 78.
He was born in Franklin County, Iowa, and moved to Central Florida in 1998 from Texas. He was a retired manager for HPS Industries. He served in the Army during World War II. He was a member of the American Legion, the Shriners and the Moose Lodge. He was a Presbyterian.
Mr. Savage was preceded in death by his wife, Elaine M. Savage. He is survived by his daughter, Susan E. Knutson, Arlington Heights, Ill.; sons, D. Craig Savage, Kearns, Utah, and Scott W. Savage, Cypress, Texas; sister, Judy Savage, The Villages; and eight grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Hamptons, in care of Mary Nicholls, 1094 U.S. 92 W., Auburndale, 33823.
National Cremation Society Beacon Chapter, Winter Park.
