Kermit S. Murphy
Kermit S. Murphy, 87, Nokomis, died June 14, 2001.
He was born June 8, 1914, in Bask Bay, Va., and came to Nokomis in 1965 from Washington. He was a retired painter for the government in Washington and was a member of American Federation of Government Employees. He was an Army veteran of World War II. He was a Mason and past master of a Washington lodge.
Survivors include two brothers, Alvin E. of Chesapeake, Va., and William of Norfolk, Va.; three sisters, Pauline Williams of Norfolk, Leona Tatem of Bask Bay and Joycelynn Murphy of Norfolk.
Services and burial will be in Virginia. Farley Funeral Home, Venice Chapel, is in charge.
Arthur D. O'Rourke
Arthur D. O'Rourke, 81, Sarasota and formerly of Bradenton, died June 18, 2001.
He was born May 31, 1920, in Louisville, Ky., and came to Sarasota in 1997 from Bradenton. He moved to Bradenton in 1974 from Cincinnati. He graduated from Lexington University and was a county assessor for Cincinnati. He worked for the adult recreation hall in Sarasota County. He was an Army veteran of World War II and was a court reporter in the Philippines. He was a member of Moose and Elks.
Survivors include his companion, Penny Ray.
Services will be private. National Cremation Society, Sarasota chapter, is in charge.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 4955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238; or to PEO, Chapter F, 7904 Meadow Rush Loop, Sarasota, FL 34238.
Mona K. Sowers
Mona K. Sowers, 70, Venice, died June 17, 2001.
She was born Nov. 8, 1930, in Chicago and came to Venice six years ago from Miami. She was a homemaker. She was a member of Eastern Airline's Silver Liners and Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.
Survivors include her mother, Mynn Kowalewski of Venice; a daughter, Carolyn Buehler of Venice; a son, Richard E. Jr. of St. Petersburg; a brother, Donald Kowalewski of St. Petersburg; and two grandchildren.
Services will be private. Ewing Funeral Home, Venice, is in charge.
Memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota, FL 34238.
Leona Suojanen
Leona Suojanen, 81, Venice, died June 16, 2001.
She was born May 3, 1920, in Union City, Ind., and came to Venice 21 years ago from Greenwich, Conn. She was a homemaker and a Cub Scout den mother for 20 years.
Survivors include a son, Charles of Venice; three sisters, Ethel Stewart and Agnes Tipple, both of Union City, and Gladys Ellet of Lakeland; a brother, Ted Rohr of Union City; two grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
Services will be private. Ewing Funeral Home, Venice, is in charge.
Veta M. Thigpen
Veta M. Thigpen, 98, Arcadia and formerly of Sarasota, died June 19, 2001.
She was born Oct. 17, 1902, in Sarasota and came to Arcadia 65 years ago from there. She was a homemaker and a member of Mt. Ephriam Baptist Church. She was a member of the Florida Sheriff's Boys Ranch and Girls Villa, Arcadia Saddle Club, DeSoto County Home Extension, and a charter member of the DeSoto County Fair Association.
Survivors include three cousins, Sallie Mathews, Mildred Martin and Lillie Johnson, all of Sarasota.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m Thursday at Ponger- Kays-Grady Funeral Home in Arcadia. Graveside services will be at 11 a.m. Friday at Tatum Ridge cemetery in Sarasota.
Memorial donations may be made to Florida Sheriff's Youth Ranches, P.O. Box 2000, Boys Ranch, FL 32064-9984.
Joseph A. Bailey Jr.
Joseph A. Bailey Jr., 89, Venice, died June 20, 2001.
He was born Sept. 2, 1911, in Philadelphia and came to Venice in 1970 from St. Petersburg. He worked for St. Pete Heating and Air and had owned Bailey's Re-frigeration in New Jersey. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife of 67 years, Alma; two sons, Bruce of St. Petersburg and Lindsay of Windsor, Conn.; a daughter, Judith Swindell of Sarasota; eight grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
R. Lee Williams and Son Funeral Home, St. Petersburg, is in charge.
Paul E. Bird
Paul E. Bird, 82, Nokomis, died June 20, 2001.
He was born Jan. 25, 1919, in Jacobstown, N.J., and came to Nokomis in 1998 from Surf City, N.J. He was an insurance salesman and an Army veteran of World War II. He was a former member of the Elks of Mount Holly, N.J., and Squires 12 Club of Surf City, N.J. He was a Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine; a daughter, Paula V. of Lakehurst, N.J.; a son, Edward G. of Mount Holly; a brother, Lester of Wrightstown, N.J.; and a grandchild.
Services and burial will be in New Jersey. Wiegand Brothers Funeral Home, Sarasota, is in charge.
Joel Elliot Davis
Joel Elliot Davis, 50, Daytona Beach and formerly of Sarasota, died June 18, 2001.
He was born June 11, 1951, in Sarasota and moved to Daytona Beach 30 years ago from there. He was a level-three maintenance worker for the city of Daytona Beach. He was a member of Apostolic Faith Temple.
Survivors include his wife, Sybilline; two daughters, Cecelia Lattimore and Tanya Dickens, both of Daytona Beach; two sisters, Vernice Ball and Ina Black, both of Sarasota; and a brother, James R. of Oakland, Calif.
A service will be at 4 p.m. Saturday in Daytona Beach, where Gainous Funeral Home is in charge.
