Alicia Ines Yenarte Rhea
Alicia Ines Yenarte Rhea of Gainesville died Thursday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. She was 52.
A native of Argentina, Mrs. Rhea moved to Gainesville in 1956.
She was a licensed practical nurse and a member of Gethsemane Lutheran Church.
Survivors include her husband, Hugh D. Rhea of Gainesville; her mother, Maria Oyenarte of Gainesville; and brothers Mike Oyenarte of Gainesville, and Pete, Jorge, Paul and Charic Oyenarte, all of Jacksonville.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Jim Edward Yates
HAWTHORNE - Jim Edward Yates died Wednesday at Shands at AGH. He was 55.
Mr. Yates was born in Indiana and moved to Hawthorne from Starke in 1984. He was an auto mechanic and an avid Harley-Davidson enthusiast.
Survivors include a daughter, Crystal Arlene Jenkins of Bedford, Ind.; sons James Lindsey of Mitchell, Ind., Joseph Edward Yates of Hawthorne and Michael Riddles and Toy Rodney Yates, both of Interlachen; seven brothers; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Iva M. Ripley-Smith
n Iva M. Ripley-Smith of Crossville, Tenn., died Wednesday in Tennessee. She was 80.
She was a homemaker and a Methodist.
Local survivors include a son, Alan Ripley of Gainesville.
Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home.
Deanne Barlow Romrell
Deanne Barlow Romrell of Gainesville died Tuesday at the Hospice House of Gainesville. She was 51.
The Utah native moved to Gainesville 22 years ago.
She was a homemaker, an interior designer and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, First Ward.
Survivors include her husband, Lynn J. Romrell of Gainesville; daughters Janet Romrell of Gainesville and Jaime Saunders of Layton, Utah; sons David Romrell of Lake Butler, Robert Romrell of Hawthorne, and Devin and Jacob Prater, both of Gainesville; parents Phillip and Shirley Barlow of Idaho Falls; sisters Joan Berg of Santa Rosa, Calif., Kay Goodrich of Gainesville, Susan Richardson of Idaho Falls and Robbin Bean of Salt Lake City; brothers Les and Allen Barlow, both of Idaho Falls, and Brent and Bruce Barlow, both of Raleigh, N.C.; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Michael D. Short
WILLISTON - Michael D. Short died Wednesday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 48.
Mr. Short was born in Fort Pierce and moved to Williston from Lake City 20 years ago.
He was a carpenter and a member of the Universal Life Church. He enjoyed gardening, fishing, music and dance.
Survivors include his wife, Sharon Gillman of Williston; sons Jacob Short of Biloxi, Miss., and Bob Gillman of Williston; daughters Deanna Short of Cape Coral, Amy Short Smith of Fort Pierce and Laura Gillman of Gainesville; brothers Paul Short of Wellborn and F. Colby Short of Fort Pierce; sisters Audrey Short of Jacksonville, Darenda Rogers of Atlanta, Sabrina Dancy of Wellborn and Pamela Geer of Charlotte, N.C.; and two grandchildren.
Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.
Hazel Lee Ellis Thomas
n Hazel Lee Ellis Thomas, a lifelong resident of Gainesville, died Tuesday at Shands at AGH following a brief illness. She was 63.
She was a retired cook with the Alachua County schools and a member of Day Spring Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as usher. She graduated from Lincoln High School.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Nathaniel Thomas Sr.; and a son, Nathaniel Thomas Jr.
Survivors include sons Anthony and Chadewick Thomas, both of Gainesville; daughters Wanda Ellis, Thomasena "Nisa" Murphy and Alisha "Lisa" Shell, all of Gainesville; sisters Mayola Williams, Mary Frances Ford, Rosetta Campbell and Helen Davis, all of Gainesville; a brother, Ulysses Ellis of Gainesville; 12 grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Duncan Brothers Funeral Home.
Roth Albert Kemper
HAWTHORNE - Roth Albert Kemper died Saturday in Gainesville. He was 76.
Mr. Kemper was born in New York City and moved to Hawthorne from Homestead 10 years ago.
He was a PBX technician, served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, and was a member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
He was also a volunteer firefighter and enjoyed sailing, woodworking, travel and camping. He was an Episcopalian.
Survivors include his wife, Marion Kemper; daughter Debbie Tibbs of Gainesville; son Roth F. Kemper of St. Augustine; and five grandchildren.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas-Hawthorne Funeral Home.
Gary E. Koepke
Gary E. Koepke of Gainesville died Friday at his home. He was 57.
Mr. Koepke was born in Dayton, Ohio, and moved to Gainesville a year and a half ago from Orlando.
He was the director of the University of Florida Facilities and Campus Planning Department for 16 years.
He attended First Presbyterian Church and received a bachelor's degree in urban design and planning from the University of Cincinnati. He also studied at UF.
Survivors include his wife, Jane Koepke of Gainesville; a daughter, Brooke Koepke of Gainesville; a son, Brent Koepke of Orlando; his parents, Ed and Jane Koepke of Dayton; a brother, David Koepke of Cincinnati; and a sister, Connie George of San Francisco.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Robert J. Pelleteri Sr.
OCALA - Robert J. Pelleteri Sr. died Saturday in Ocala. He was 81.
He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and moved to Ocala six years ago.
He was a heavy-equipment supervisor in road construction.
He enjoyed plants and the outdoors. He was Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Marcella Pelleteri of Hawthorne; daughters Marsha Krell of Gainesville, Joan Douglass of Gainesville and Michelle Colesberry of Hawthorne; a son, Robert J. Pelleteri Jr. of Hawthorne; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.
Edward Willis Raimer
Edward Willis Raimer of Gainesville died Thursday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 86.
Mr. Raimer was born in Portage, Wis., and moved to Gainesville from Wayne, Mich., 20 years ago.
He was minister at Wayne/Tri-City Assembly of God from 1948 to 1981.
He was a member of First Assembly of God in Gainesville and co-founded Wayne Federal Credit Union in 1956. He was also chaplain at Annapolis Hospital in Wayne and president of the Wayne Ministerial Association for four years.
He was honored by the Michigan Legislature in 1981.
Survivors include his wife, Nellie Raimer of Gainesville; sons Edward A. Raimer of Fairfax, Va., David D. Raimer of Wayne, Timothy J. Raimer of San Mateo, Calif., and John P. Raimer of Gainesville; sisters Francis Branham of Merlin, Ore., and Mary Wagman of Tampa; and six grandchildren.
Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.
Marjorie Delores Perryman Ritch
STARKE - Marjorie Delores "Del" Perryman Ritch died Saturday at her home. She was 88.
She was born in Marshallville, Ga., and moved to Starke 53 years ago.
She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Starke and the United Methodist Women, and she was president of the Bradford County Hospital Auxiliary.
Survivors include a daughter, Jackie Thomas of Starke; two grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren.
Arrangements by Jones Funeral Home.
