Patricia Singleton Coles Evans
Patricia Singleton Coles Evans of Gainesville died Monday at Shands at the University of Florida following a sudden illness. She was 47.
Mrs. Evans, a teacher at Howard Bishop Middle School, was a graduate of York College of the City University of New York. She earned master's degrees from Lehman College and Hunter College.
She was a member of Church of God by Faith in Gainesville, where she served as musician for the choirs.
She is survived by her husband, Clarence Lamar Evans of Gainesville; three sons, Lamar R. Evans, Jarred A. Evans and Thais P. Evans, all of Gainesville; her mother, Mary Coles; three sisters, Dr. Jo Ann Rivers of Tucson, Ariz., Barbara Singleton of New York and Caroline Adams of Gainesville.
Richard Fonda
Richard Frank Fonda of Trenton died Wednesday at his home of natural causes. He was 65.
Mr. Fonda was born in Chicago, Ill., and lived in Pinellas County before moving to Trenton in 1988. He was a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.
He was a Methodist and a Navy veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and the National Association of Letter Carriers.
Mr. Fonda is survived by his wife, Geraldine Fonda of Trenton; a daughter, Ember Fonda of St. Petersburg; five sons, Mike Fonda of Oldsmar, Ronald Fonda of St. Petersburg, Kevin Fonda of Stuttgart, Germany, Tim Fonda of Fork River, N.J., and Darrin Fonda of Trenton; two sisters, Jean Prevatt of Louisville, Ky., and Darlene Fonda-Reed of River Grove, Ill; his mother, Viola B. Fonda of Louisville, Ky.; and five grandchildren.
Glenford Ray Griswold
CHIEFLAND -- Glenford Ray Griswold of Chiefland died Friday at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center. He was 85.
Born in Winthrop, N.Y., Mr. Griswold moved to Chiefland in 1976.
He worked as a school bus driver.
Mr. Griswold is survived by his wife, Ruth Griswold of Chiefland, two daughters, Glenda Lockwood of Chiefland and Marlene Simpson of Cedar Key; three grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Eunice Houston
Eunice Houston, a lifelong resident of High Springs, died Sunday at her home following a brief illness. She was 40.
Mrs. Houston was a child care provider and a member of the Allen Chapel A.M.E Church.
She was preceded in death by a daughter, Kindle Houston of High Springs.
She is survived by three daughters, Raynyoda Houston, Essa Houston and Aundreshia Williams, all of High Springs; her mother, Burnell Diston of High Springs; her father, Willie J. Houston of St. Petersburg; two sisters, Annie LeGree of High Springs and Mary McRoy of Gainesville; six brothers, Robert E. Diston of High Springs, Danny Earl Diston of Tampa, Bernard L. Reed of Lake Butler, Jeffery Houston and Willie Mark Houston, both of St. Petersburg, and Michael Houston of Trenton, N.J.; and two grandchildren.
Earl Howard Minger
GULF HAMMOCK -- Earl Howard Minger died Monday at Seven Rivers Hospital in Crystal River. He was 83.
Born in Versailles, Ind., Mr. Minger moved to Gulf Hammock from Jacksonville.
He served with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. He was a Methodist.
Mr. Minger is survived by his wife, Neena Minger of Gulf Hammock; three brothers, John Minger of Franklin, Ind., Keith Minger of Milan, Ind., and Bob Minger of Burlington, Ky.; three sisters, Wilma Terry of Bedford, Ind., Ruth Havey of Lawrenceburg, Ind. and Norma Bradford of Burlington, Ind.; two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Michael Ronald Niccum
OCALA -- Michael Ronald Niccum of Ocala died Monday at Monroe Regional Hospital after a sudden illness. He was 50.
He was vice president and treasurer of W.W. Gay in Gainesville.
Mr. Niccum was born in St. Louis, Mo., and moved to Ocala from Gainesville in August 1999. He belonged to Local Union 234, the Big Scrub Trail Riders and the Florida Trail Riders.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Kaye Niccum of Ocala; his mother, Blanche Niccum of Gainesville; three daughters, Linda Niccum of Boca Raton, Lisa Niccum and Jennifer Niccum of Gainesville; one brother, Paul Stephen Niccum of St. Petersburg; two sisters, Irma Marie Allen of St. Petersburg and Kathryn Ann Gossard of Gainesville.
Phelton Owens
Phelton Owens, a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Wednesday at Shands at AGH following a short illness. He was 46.
Mr. Owens was an automotive detailer.
He is survived by a son, Cedric Owens of Gainesville; his mother, Onetta Owens of Gainesville; two brothers, Derek Owens and Joseph Owens, both of Gainesville; and a sister, Darba Owens of Gainesville.
Jessie Lee Peoples
Jessie Lee Peoples of Gainesville died Friday at the Veteran's Administration Medical Center after a brief illness. He was 82.
Mr. Peoples was born in Otter Creek and moved to Gainesville from Bronson 52 years ago. He was a retired construction worker.
Mr. Peoples was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was a member of Emmanuel Missionary Baptist Church and was assistant superintendant of the sunday school.
Survivors include his wife, Edna Thomas-Peoples of Arredondo; seven sons, George A. Peoples, Alfred C. Peoples, Walter L. Peoples, Frank Jackson and Larry Peoples, all of Gainesville, Mingo C. Peoples of Long Island, N.Y., and Carl Peoples of Phoenix, Az.; and seven daughters, Jessie M. Peoples, Gail Singletary, Barbara Jackson, Lisa Lewis and Doris Kelly, all of Gainesville, Brenda Smith of Fairbanks, Alaska, and Linda Smith of Chicago; one adopted brother, Cleveland Peoples of Ocala; one adopted sister, Cleo Peoples of Bronson; 24 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Benjamin Reynolds
Benjamin Reynolds, a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Thursday at his home following a brief illness. He was 51.
Mr. Reynolds was as a cashier.
He was a member of the Highway and Hedges Go Tell Interdenominational Church.
He is survived by a sister, Flossie Reddick of Gainesville; and seven brothers, Johnny Reynolds of Ft. Lauderdale, Joseph Reynolds of Orlando, Samuel Reynolds of Jacksonville, and Will Reynolds, Elmore Reynolds, Gilmore Reynolds and Robert Reynolds, all of Gainesville.
Elaine Marie Huth Spillers
Elaine Marie Huth Spillers of Gainesville died May 21 following an extended illness. She was 61.
Mrs. Spillers was born in Akron, Ohio, and moved to Florida 31 years ago.
She was a former employee of North Florida Regional Medical Center.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan Cooper of Gainesville and Dee Beam of Tampa; a son, James D. McKee of Great Falls, Mont.; her parents, Herman and Lorrayne Huth of Mogadore, Ohio; three sisters, Ruby Luke of Akron, Donna Holshy of Mogadore and Ann Stouffer of Tallmadge, Ohio; three brothers, Herman Huth Jr., Elton Huth and Tim Huth, all of Mogadore, Ohio; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Hospice House of Gainesville.
Cynthia Ann Rowe
STARKE -- Cynthia Ann Rowe of Starke died of natural causes Tuesday at her home. She was 44.
Mrs. Rowe worked as an insurance agent.
She was a member of Air Park Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, James Rowe of Starke; one daughter, Rachel Danielle Ray of Starke; one son, Brandon Eugene Ray of Starke; her mother, Helen Beswick, and stepfather, Bob Beswick, both of Middleburg; her father, Jack Rossman, and step-mother, Joan Rossman, both of Pennsylvania; two brothers, Elton Rossman of California and David Rossman of Gainesville; three sisters, Cathy Starling of Lawtey, Teresa Rossman of Jacksonville and Sandy Dube of Maxville.
Maxine Blake
ALACHUA - Maxine Blake of Alachua died April 22 at her home after a short illness. She was 43.
Mrs. Blake was a waitress.
Born in Alachua, she moved from Fort Lauderdale back to Alachua five years ago. She graduated from Santa Fe High School.
Mrs. Blake was a Baptist.
Survivors include four sisters, Mattie Joe Baker, Betty Blake and Evelyn Williams, all of Alachua, and Mae Griner of Gainesville; five brothers, Jimmy Blake, Edward Blake, Norman Blake, Eddie A. Blake and Glemm Blake, all of Alachua; her stepmother, Geraldine Blake of Alachua; six stepsisters, Dorothy Caine, Ethel Brown, Eilene Hayes and Shirley Miller, all of Alachua, Sandra Miller of Gainesville and Eyvonne Gibbs of Inverness; and four stepbrothers, Edward Miller of Texas, Joe Miller and Swanson Miller, both of Alachua, and Eugene Miller of Gainesville.
Simon Certain Sr.
ALACHUA - Simon Certain Sr. of Alachua died Saturday at Shands at AGH in Gainesville after a short illness. He was 73.
Mr. Certain was retired from Alltel.
He was a lifelong resident of Alachua.
Mr. Certain was a graduate of the former Alachua County Training School in Alachua.
Survivors include his wife, Beatrice Certain of Alachua; four sons, Leon Bell and Anthony Brooks, both of Gainesville, Simon Certain Jr. of Florahome and Alan Certain of Greensboro, N.C.; a sister, Ada Bell Hunt of Alachua; 15 grandchildren; and 11 great- grandchildren.
