William Arthur Russell
William Arthur Russell of Gainesville died Thursday at Shands at AGH after a short illness. He was 72.
Mr. Russell was a builder and cabinet maker. He also served in the U.S. Army and taught at Job Corps in Gainesville.
Mr. Russell was born in Corning, N.Y., and moved to Gainesville 29 years ago from Binghamton, N.Y.
He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Alachua. He also belonged the American Legion Post 1645 in Binghamton and was a Boy Scout leader in Conklin, N.Y., for several years.
Survivors include his wife, Marion B. Russell of Gainesville; three daughters, Diana M. Drum of Gainesville, Kathy M. Russell of Alachua and Wendy F. Carver of Gainesville; three sisters, Beverly Jean Williams of Arcadia, Jacqueline I. Baker of Avon, N.Y., and Suzanne B. Williams of Troy, N.Y.; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Jeanne Schessler
Jeanne Schessler of Gainesville died Wednesday at Integrated Health Services in Gainesville. She was 73.
Ms. Schessler was a homemaker.
She was born in Conneautville, Pa., and moved to Gainesville 10 years ago. She was a Catholic.
Survivors include a son, David Biggs of Clearwater; two daughters, Kathy Felt of Gainesville and Mari Lu Grant Desjardins of High Springs; a brother, Russell Trout of Cleveland; a sister, Virginia Trout of Ohio; and one grandson.
Nathan Miles Banes Sr.
Nathan Miles Banes Sr. of Gainesville died Monday in Gainesville. He was 91.
Mr. Banes was born in Jacksonville and moved to Gainesville two years ago.
He worked in the automobile business.
He was a member of the Ezra Masonic Lodge.
He was a Presbyterian.
Survivors include a son, Nathan Miles Banes Jr. of Gainesville; five stepdaughters, Brenda Inglis, Nancy Sikes and Frances Cullery, all of Jacksonville, and Barbara Collins and Joan Lowery, both of Atlanta; two stepsons, Richard Highsmith and Gary Highsmith, both of Jacksonville; two sisters, Georgette Carlyon and Mary Louise Freeman, both of Jacksonville; two grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 14 step-grandchildren; and six step-great-grandchildren.
Agnes Lillian Crosby Bleasdale
Agnes Lillian Crosby Bleasdale of Apalachicola died Monday at her daughter's residence in Tallahas- see.
The Brooker native was a homemaker and a Protestant.
Local survivors include a brother, Al Crosby of Starke; and a sister, Madeline Jones of Gainesville.
Lonnie C. Collier
BRANFORD -- Lonnie C. Collier of Branford died Monday at Lake City Medical Center.
Mrs. Collier was born in Kissimmee and moved to Branford 25 years ago.
She was a waitress. She attended the First Baptist Church of Branford.
Survivors include a daughter, Karen Young of Branford; three sons, Jeffrey Collier of Hendersonville, N.C., Mike Collier of Panama City and Steve Collier of Branford; a brother, Ray Clemons; and eight grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Christian Life Center.
Vera Mae Coultas
Vera Mae Coultas of Gainesville died Tuesday at Shands at Starke after a long illness. She was 76.
Mrs. Coultas was born in Tilden, Ill., and moved to Gainesville from Wyandotte, Mich., in 1984.
She was a schoolteacher for 28 years and earned teacher of the year honors in Michigan.
She served in the Navy during World War II. She was treasurer of Cooperative Services of Detroit.
She was a member of the Gainesville Garden Club, the Grosse Isle Yacht Club and Unity Church of Gainesville.
Survivors include three sons, Philip Coultas of Gainesville, and Paul Coultas, both of Gainesville, and Patrick O'Donnell of Arizona; six grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
John M. Collins
John M. Collins of Gainesville died Friday at his home. He was 81.
Mr. Collins was born in County Limerick, Ireland, and lived most of his life in the Chicago area. He came to Gainesville 12 years ago.
He graduated from DePaul University in 1941, served as a captain with the 394th Infantry Regiment of the 99th Infantry division during World War II, and retired from the Amphenol Corp. in 1984. He was a past grand knight of the St. Anthony DePadua Council of the Knights of Columbus in Elmwood Park, Ill., and served as eucharistic minister representing Holy Faith Catholic Church at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Gainesville.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Sister Mary Marcia, a Mercy nun.
He is survived by his wife, Helen Collins of Gainesville; 11 children, Terry Collins of Great Britain, John Collins Jr. of Kenilworth, Ill., Helen O'Rourke of Normal, Ill., Suzanne Arendt of Dowagiac, Mich., Dick Collins of San Leandro, Calif., Robert Collins of Cypress, Texas, David Collins of Houston, Yvonne Shenfield of Corralitos, Calif., Joanne Wickersham and of Nekoosa, Wis., Pat Potempa, both of Nekoosa, Wis., and Ted Collins of Chanhassen, Minn.; a brother, Michael Collins of Schererville, Ind.; a sister, Margaret LaGigilia of Orland Park, Ill.; and 29 grandchildren.
Jewett Chesley Fogg
STARKE -- Jewett Chesley Fogg of Starke died Saturday at his residence following a brief illness. He was 79.
Mr. Fogg was born in Graham and was a retired control superintendent with DuPont Co. He also served 4 years with the U.S. Air Force.
He was the founding treasurer and manager of the DuPont Mining Employees Credit Union, a past president of the Florida Credit Union League, a past treasurer of the Starke Golf and Country Club and a member of the National Rifle Association.
He was an avid outdoorsman and a committed conservationist.
Survivors include two daughters, Susan Smith of Del Rio, Texas, and Sandra Fogg of Gainesville; a son, Michael Fogg of Atlantic Beach; two sisters, Leola Christy of Starke and Leecy Johns of Macclenny; and four grandchildren.
Margaret Marie Gilliam
Margaret Marie Gilliam died Sunday at Surrey Place Convalescent Center. She was 88.
Mrs. Gilliam was born in Chiefland and moved to Manatee County many years ago from Gainesville.
She managed the Bradenton Trailer Park for 23 years and was a member of Eastern Star and Manatee United Methodist Church.
Survivors include three stepsons, James Gilliam of Palmetto, Philmore Gilliam of West Point, Maine, and Robert Gilliam of Bath, Maine; four nephews, Thomas Durrance of Chiefland, Marco Hardee of Lakeland, Tony Gilliam of Plant City and Oscar Hardee; two nieces, Sally Sehl of Williston and Margaret Lou Kaliush of Los Angeles; and two great-nephews.
David Lee Higdon
ALACHUA -- David Lee Higdon, a lifelong resident of Alachua, died Saturday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 60.
Mr. Higdon was a retired supervisor with the city of Gainesville's Waste, Water and Sewer Division, where he worked for 22 years. He also worked for Andrews Paving for 10 years.
He attended Glen Springs Road Church of Christ.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Higdon of Alachua; his mother, Ruth Higdon of Alachua; a son and daughter-in-law, Tracey and Rhonda Higdon of Alachua; two brothers, Jack Higdon of Alachua and Mike Higdon of Sylvester, Ga.; a sister, Barbara Wright of Ocala; an aunt, Allene Parrish Stark of Alachua; and a granddaughter, Emily Higdon.
William Edward Veal
STEINHATCHEE -- William Edward Veal of Steinhatchee died Sunday at South Georgia Medical Center. He was 67.
Mr. Veal was born in Rightsville, Ga., and moved to Steinhatchee from Douglasville, Ga., 21 years ago.
He served in the U.S. Army. He enjoyed golf and fishing. He was a fishing guide.
Mr. Veal was a Methodist.
He is survived by a daughter, Renee Veal of Steinhatchee.
George Leslie Westfall
George Leslie Westfall of Gainesville died Monday. He was 65.
Mr. Westfall was born in Louisville, Ky., and moved to Gainesville from Jupiter six weeks ago.
He was a registered nurse and a Catholic.
Survivors include his wife, Anita C. Westfall of Gainesville; a daughter, Whitney Westfall of Louisville; a son, Leslie Westfall of Louisville; and one grandchild.
