Jimmie Marcus Thomas
Jimmie Marcus Thomas of Gainesville died unexpectedly Friday at Shands at AGH. He was 52.
Mr. Thomas was a correctional officer for North Florida Reception Center in Lake Butler.
He was a lifelong resident of Gainesville and a member of the North Central Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Alice Marie "Boots" Robinson Thomas of Gainesville; two daughters, Genise Marsan Thomas of Hopkinsville, Ky., and Lisa Thomas Ecklund of Gainesville; a sister, Sallie Jane Christiansen of Homosassa; and one grandson.
Claude Everett Harpe Sr.
OCALA - Claude Everett Harpe Sr. of Ocala died Thursday at Munroe Regional Medical Center in Ocala. He was 85.
Mr. Harpe was formerly employed in the auto sales industry.
He was born in Tampa and moved from Gainesville to Ocala 10 years ago.
Mr. Harpe was a member of the First Christian Church in Ocala.
Survivors include his wife, Lila Harpe of Ocala; four daughters, including Jo Ann Robarts of Old Town; five sons, including Claude Everett Harpe Jr. and Gordon Harpe, both of Gainesville; a brother, Edward Harpe of Gainesville; several grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Ira Francis Morgenstern
Ira Francis Morgenstern of Gainesville died Wednesday at Integrated Health Systems in Jacksonville. He was 52.
Mr. Morgenstern was a resident of Tacachale.
He was born in New York City.
Mr. Morgenstern was a Catholic.
Survivors include a sister, Vicki Larson of Jesup, Ga.
Willie S. Griggs
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Willie S. Griggs of Keystone Heights died Thursday at St. Vincents Hospital in Jacksonville after a long illness. He was 70.
Mr. Griggs was a retired helicopter technician in the Civil Service of the Florida National Guard. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Born in Samson, Ala., he moved from Jacksonville to Keystone Heights 22 years ago.
Mr. Griggs was a member of the First Baptist Church in Keystone Heights.
Survivors include his wife, Ruth Griggs of Keystone Heights; five sons, Ronnie Griggs and Butch Griggs, both of Orange Park, Willie Griggs of Keystone Heights, Ray Jordan of Sneads and Richie Jordan of Dothan, Ala.; a daughter, Linda Griggs of Jacksonville; a brother, Challie Griggs of Lake Panasoffkee; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
John Frederick Nims
CHICAGO - John Frederick Nims of Chicago died Jan. 19 at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He was 85.
Mr. Nims was a translator and author of several poetry books. He was also a former editor of Poetry magazine and The Harper Anthology of Poetry. He was a former visiting professor at the University of Florida's English department.
He taught poetry at Notre Dame, the University of Toronto, the University of Illinois at Urbana, Harvard University, Williams College and the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Mr. Nims also taught abroad as a visiting professor in Florence, Milan and Madrid.
He wrote "Western Wind," a textbook for introductory poetry and creative writing courses.
Born in Muskegon, Mich., Mr. Nims was a winter resident of Gainesville until about two years ago. He was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of Chicago.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Nims of Chicago; a son, Frank Nims of Chicago; two daughters, Emily Nims of Kalamazoo, Mich., and Sally Martin of Gainesville; and three grandchildren.
Jack Vanzant Parrish
LAKE CITY - Jack Vanzant Parrish of Lake City died Friday at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Lake City after a long illness. He was 81.
Mr. Parrish was a retired citrus farmer. He also served in the U.S. Army.
He was born in Parrish and lived most of his life in Manatee County before moving to Lake City 13 years ago.
Mr. Parrish was a member of the Third Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lake City.
Survivors include a son, James C. Parrish of Troy, Ala.; a granddaughter, Jackie Parrish of Tallahassee; and his guardians, Iva and Curtis Williams of Lake City.
James Alvin Richardson
HIGH SPRINGS - James Alvin Richardson of High Springs died Thursday at his home. He was 69.
Mr. Richardson owned Richardson Oil Co. in High Springs. He also served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
He was born in Nettleton, Miss., and moved from Nettleton to High Springs 50 years ago.
Mr. Richardson was a member of the First United Methodist Church and the High Springs Lions Club.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Richardson of High Springs; a son, James Richardson Jr. of Lake City; a daughter, Doris Ann Imler of High Springs; seven sisters, Lillie Mae Anthony, Martha Millwood, Geneva Hall, Judy Richardson and Ophie Wildmon, all of Nettleton, Peggy Hill of Columbus, Miss., and Mary Sullivan of Tupelo, Miss.; and four grandchildren.
James Monroe Venable
ARCHER - James Monroe Venable of Archer died Thursday in Gainesville. He was 86.
Mr. Venable was a farmer and a former Archer City Council member.
He was a lifelong resident of Archer.
Mr. Venable was a member of the Shrine Hospital, the Black Camel Fund, the York Rite Masonic Lodge in Gainesville, the Archer Blue Lodge No. 197 and the Archer United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Nila Amos Venable of Archer; and a nephew, Lamar Crevasse Jr. of Micanopy.
Paul William Welch
Paul William Welch of Gainesville died Thursday at his home. He was 87.
Mr. Welch was a retired foreman for Railway Express Agency.
He was born in Pulaski, Tenn., and moved from Miami to Gainesville 22 years ago.
Mr. Welch was a member of the University City Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Welch.
Survivors include two daughters, Bertha Isabel Welch and Paula Dee Welch, both of Gainesville.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to University City Church of Christ.
Levi Lawson Sr.
Levi Lawson Sr. of Gainesville died Saturday at his home after a short illness. He was 74.
Mr. Lawson was retired from the physical plant at the University of Florida. He also served in the U.S. Navy.
He was a lifelong resident of Gainesville. Mr. Lawson was a church van driver and member of the Deacon's Board and Usher Board at Mount Carmel Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Ora Bell Lawson of Gainesville; a daughter, Rosemary Lawson Davis of Gainesville; four sons, Henry L. Lawson of Belleville, Ill., and Levi Lawson Jr., Bernard Lawson and Clarence Leo Lawson, all of Gainesville; a foster daughter, Edwina B. Williams of Gainesville; his stepmother, Maggie Lawson of Gainesville; two sisters, Mary Ann Lawson Young of Gainesville and Margaret Trowell of Philadelphia; 13 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
