Mai Neel Kahlich
HIGH SPRINGS -- Mai Neel Kahlich died Wednesday at Shands at AGH after a lingering illness. She was 85.
She was a lifelong resident of High Springs, living in the same house her entire life.
Mrs. Kahlich was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of High Springs, holding one of the longest memberships in the history of the church. She was recently presented with the Lifetime Membership in Presbyterian Women.
She is survived by a nephew, John Stephens Neel Jr. of Gainesville; and two grand-nieces, Laura and Cimaron Neel, both of Flagler Beach.
Barbara Jane Stephens Leigh
BROOKER -- Barbara Jane Stephens Leigh of Brooker died Wednesday at the Hospice House of Gainesville. She was 74.
She was born in Jacksonville and spent most of her school years in Alachua.
Her great-grandparents were pioneers of the state, settling in Punta Gorda and Alachua in the 1800s. Her father was a civil engineer and traveled the United States. During that time, she remained with her grandparents, Isaac and Birdie Futch.
She graduated from the last class of Florida State College for Women in 1947 and married
Louis Leigh in the same year. His ministry with the Methodist church took them throughout the state.
She was a retired elementary school teacher of 30 years and a self-proclaimed Florida historian.
Survivors include her husband of 52 years, Louis H. Leigh of Alachua; a daughter, Susan Leigh of Tallahassee; two sons, Thomas Leigh of Russell, Ky., and Hank Leigh of Gainesville; and seven grandchildren.
Alfonso Louis Rivers
WALDO -- Alfonso "Peter" Louis Rivers died Sunday at North Florida Special Care Center after a lingering illness. He was 82.
He was a lifelong resident of Waldo.
Mr. Rivers attended the public schools of Alachua County. He was a retired U.S. Railroad Employee with the Seaboard Coastline Railroad.
He was a member of the Philadelphia Missionary Baptist Church, where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher and a member of the choir. He was also a member of the True Light Masonic Lodge.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine Gibson-Rivers of Waldo; four daughters, Gwendolyn R. Spradley of St. Petersburg, Catherine Baisden and Phyllis Rivers, both of Gainesville, and Debbie Rivers of Waldo; three sons, Alfonso L. Rivers Jr. and Jeffrey Rivers, both of Gainesville, and Richard R. Rivers of Waldo; two stepdaughters, Shirley M. Jones and Cherristine Peterson, both of Gainesville; a stepson, Ellis Pelham of Waldo; a stepmother, Elouise Rivers Mack of Gainesville; 20 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Delores M. Crowe
GREENCASTLE, Ind. -- Delores M. Crowe of Greencastle, Ind., died Sunday in the Clay County Hospital after an extended illness. She was 68.
Mrs. Crowe was a homemaker.
She was a member of Croys Creek Christian Church and the Moose and Eagles Lodge in Greencastle.
Survivors include her mother; two daughters, including Alfreda Eastman of High Springs; three sons; two sisters; 12 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
Elizabeth Golino
TRENTON -- Elizabeth Golino of Trenton died Saturday at Ayers Health and Rehabilitation Center in Trenton after a lengthy illness. She was 95.
Mrs. Golino, a seamstress, was a native of New York City, N.Y., and lived in Deerfield Beach before moving to Trenton 10 years ago.
She was Catholic.
Survivors include a son, Domenick Golino of Deerfield Beach; two daughters, Vera Wilson and Louise Robinson, both of Bronson; a sister, Anne Tassinari of Scarsdale, N.Y.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Gourney Horne
CHIEFLAND -- Gourney Horne of Chiefland died Monday at his residence.
He was 70.
Mr. Horne was a retired mechanic who was born in Gilchrist County and lived in the area all of his life.
He was a member of the Brown Masonic Lodge of Chiefland and a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Mary F. Horne of Chiefland; a son, James Horne of Chiefland; a daughter, Connie Asbell of Chiefland; two brothers, Avis Horne of Chiefland and Harry Horne of Plant City; two sisters, Montie Horton of Fort Walton Beach and Vitalee Jones of Plant City; and one grandchild.
Bertha A. Laczko
WILLISTON -- Bertha A. Laczko of Williston died Saturday in Nature Coast Regional Hospital in Williston following a heart attack. She was 82.
Mrs. Laczko was born in Freeland, Mich., and moved to Williston from Midland, Mich., 10 years ago.
She was a homemaker, a member of Holy Faith Catholic Church in Williston and the Williston Highlands Golf and Country Club. She loved arts and crafts.
Survivors include her husband, Peter J. Laczko of Williston; a son, Richard P. Laczko of Williston; four daughters, Karen Johnson of Texas, Linda Shipley of Elizabeth City, N.C., Rose Mary Laczko of Michigan and Loretta Boelkins of Texas; three sisters; 19 grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Cedar Key leader Walter Beckham dead at age 66
Walter Melvin Beckham
CEDAR KEY -- Walter Melvin Beckham, a lifelong resident of Cedar Key, died Monday at his residence. He was 66.
Mr. Beckham was a commercial fisherman, a former Gainesville firefighter and a former Levy County Sheriff's deputy. He was also the owner and operator of several restaurants, most recently, Posey's Restaurant and Oyster Bar in St. Mark's.
He was an incumbent city councilman, having served for four terms.
In addition, he was a former mayor of Cedar Key. He was a former president of Cedar Key Oysterman's Association. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
Mr. Beckham was a member of the Church of Christ. He enjoyed fishing, cooking and singing.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy Stoffer Beckham of Cedar Key; three daughters, Luz Marina Beckham Kraujalis of New Hope, Penn., Vanessa Dawn Beckham Edmunds of Cedar Key and Molly Leigh Beckham Cowart of Paris, Texas; a son, Walter Melvin "Mel" Beckham II of Fernandina Beach; three sisters, Reba Jordan of Haines City, Shelby Ridgeway of Cedar Key and Gloria Beattie of California; four brothers, Jerry Beckham, Cris Beckham, Simmuel Beckham and Donnie Beckham, all of Cedar Key; and six grandchildren.
Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of donations to the Arthritis Foundation for Rheumatoid Research.
Robert Chumney Sr.
OLD TOWN -- Robert Chumney Sr. died Monday at his home in Old Town. He was 70.
He was born in Cottonwood, Ala., and moved to Old Town from Plant City two years ago.
He was a retired truck driver.
Mr. Chumney was a member of First Baptist Church of Old Town.
Survivors include four daughters, Donna Wilson, Teresa Frost and Patricia Ann Arcad, all of Old Town, and Cheryl Stephens of Sarasota; a son, Robert Chumney Jr. of Old Town; a brother, Don Chumney of Auburdale; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Constance Lamb Hartley
CHIEFLAND -- Constance Lamb Hartley of Chiefland died Sunday at Tri-County Nursing Home in Fanning Springs. She was 89.
Mrs. Hartley was born in Indiantown and moved to Chiefland from South Bend, Ind., 26 years ago. She was a homemaker and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Chiefland.
Survivors include a daughter, Constance Rockwell of Alachua; two sons, Richard Warren Hartley of Escondido, Calif., and Herbert M. Hartley of Orange City; six grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.
Patricia Lynn Burnham
LIVE OAK -- Patricia Lynn Burnham, a lifelong resident of Live Oak, died Thursday in Live Oak. She was 38.
She was a beautician.
Mrs. Burnham was a Baptist.
Survivors include a son, Brian A. Neely of Live Oak; her mother, Lyndra O. Smith of Branford; her father, Lawrence Burnham of Lake City; a sister, Elizabeth Leazer of Branford; and a brother, Lawrence "Bubba" Burnham of Alachua.
William A. Hinote Sr.
HIALEAH -- William A. Hinote Sr. died Sunday at his residence in Hialeah. He was 101.
Mr. Hinote was born in Loxeley, Ala., and moved to Hialeah from Key Largo three years ago.
He was the owner and operator of W.A. Hinote Construction.
Survivors include a daughter, Betty J. Scott of Hialeah; a son, William A. Hinote Jr. of Chiefland; three sisters, Ethel Toms of Ocala, Erma Hicks of Williston and Alice Allen of Summerdale, Ala.; a brother, James Hinote of Ocala; 10 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and a great-great-grandchild.
Lawrence Hugh Markwich
CRYSTAL RIVER -- Lawrence Hugh Markwich of Crystal River died Monday at Seven Rivers Hospital in Crystal River. He was 75.
He was born in Detroit and moved to Crystal River from St. Petersburg 21 years ago. Mr. Markwich served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of the Christian Center Church of Homosassa Springs.
Survivors include his wife of 52 years, Mary E. Young Markwich of Crystal River; two daughters, Debra Hodge of High Springs and Donna Webb of Orlando; a son, Gary Markwich of Gainesville; a sister, Dorothy Swimm of St. Petersburg; seven grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.
