John K. Long, Sr., 'J.K.', a 4th generation pioneer, died September 12, 2004 at Tampa General Hospital. Born in Lee County, J.K. was a member of the First Baptist Church, Plant City, FL, and of the Masons. He was the son of the late William Long and Thelma Keheley Long.
Surviving are his children, John K. (Tina) Long, Jr. of North Fort Myers, FL; Tony (Wendy) Long of North Fort Myers, FL, Cathy (David) Hiers of Kissimmee, FL, David (Jennifer) Williams of Kissimmee, FL, Melvia (Greg) Kingen of Plant City, FL, Patricia (Billy) Reinhard of Brandon, FL, Regina (Jim) Le Heup of Thonotosassa, FL; brothers, J.C. Long of Moore Haven, FL and William Long of Cape Coral, FL; sisters, Midge Nipper of Tacoma, WA and Zona Faraci of Cape Coral, FL; 19 grandchildren; and 4 great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends Thursday, September 23, 2004 from 6-8 PM at North Fort Myers Memorial Funeral Home, 3453 Hancock Bridge Pkwy., North Fort Myers, FL. Graveside service will be held Friday, September 24, 2004 at 10:00 AM at Fort Myers City Cemetery, Michigan Ave., Fort Myers, FL. North Fort Myers Memorial Funeral Home 239-995-1113.
Murray Duncan, 65, a resident of Ft. Myers Beach for 30 years, passed away peacefully to join our Heavenly Father on Sunday October 3, 2004.
He is survived by his loving wife Carolyn, sons Mark Duncan (Tami) and Robert Duncan (Linda), daughter Linda Campbell (Skip), sister Peggy Gayle and Willy Murphy, brother Ernie Martin (Jean), 9 grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908. Memorial service will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements entrusted to Horizon Funeral Home & Cremation Center.
Lorraine Elizabeth Foster went to be with her Lord on Oct. 6, 2004. She was born on Feb. 1, 1931.
She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years, John B. Foster, her children; Robert A. (Bonnie), Randall E. (Debra), Gary F. (Patricia), Rebecca M. White (Steve), Nancy E. Desmond (Gary), David A., (Joy), 11 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren and 1 sister, Mary Ann Overmyer (Robert).
Memorial services will be held on Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004 at Lamb of God, 19691 Cypress View Dr., Ft. Myers at 3:00 PM. Reception will follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Lamb of God Church.
Bud Helms, 80, Ft. Myers, died on October 7, 2004 at Encore Senior Village. He was born November 26, 1923 in Wyandotte, Michigan.
He is survived by his wife Irene, 2 sons Leland M. Helms and a Gregory L. Helms, Gregory's wife Cynthia Nolt Helms, 2 granddaughters Emily M. Helms & Clara R. Helms, his sister Joyce Marquardt, a sister-in-law Catherine Dally, nieces and nephews.
Bud served in the Army during WWII. Joined the National Bank of Wyandotte in 1946. He began his career as a teller. He retired after 42 years and had risen to the positions of CEO, President and Vice Chairman of the Board. He served as president on several civic organizations, Lions Club, Michigan Bankers Association and chairman of the Southern Wayne County Chamber of Commerce. In 1989 he retired to Florida where he served as an Elder at the Chapel by the Sea (Presbyterian USA).
Memorial services will be held on Monday, Oct. 11, 2004 at 11:00 AM at the Ft. Myers Congregational United Church of Christ. In lieu of flowers the family would suggest a donation to the Fort Myers Congregational United Church of Christ, 8210 College Pkwy., Ft. Myers, 33919 or Hope Hospice, 9470 HealthPark Circle, Ft. Myers, 33908.
William Bole Hopkins, 88, of Cape Coral, passed away Thursday, under the care of Hope Hospice of Cape Coral. He was born September 13, 1915 in Irvington, Virginia. He was educated in Richmond, VA he attended the University of Virginia, where he was on the track team and held several world records. He served honorably during WWII in the U.S. Navy as a Captain of the Tanker Y67, in 1945. William retired from Mobil Oil as President of the Home Oil Company in 1976. In 1979 he moved to Cape Coral where he began a seasonal residency until 2000, when he made Cape Coral to be his full time home. He was a member of the Cape Coral Cruise Club. William often spoke of his children and was very proud of their accomplishments. He was a great husband, father, grandfather and friend. He will be missed by all.
He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Ayleen G; three children, Mary Ellen Kroll and her husband John, MD, William B. Hopkins, Jr. and his wife Zoe, and Dr. H. Donald Hopkins and his wife Susan; sister, Elizabeth Kibler; two grandsons, Paul Douglas Kroll and Donald Bryant Hopkins; two great-grandsons, Tyler Kroll and Dylan Kroll.
Funeral service will be conducted on Sunday, October 10, 2004 at 1:00 PM at the Metz Funeral Chapel, 1306 Lafayette St. The Metz Chapel of Harvey-Engelhardt-Metz Funeral Homes & Crematory of Cape Coral is in charge of arrangements.
"Dodie" Knapp was born in Ashland, Wisconsin on June 28, 1920 as Dorothy Mae Thorsen to Thorwald Thorsen and Mabel Linnander. She married George Penn Dillard of Leahsville, NC and 10 years after his death married John A. Knapp, both of whom were psychiatrists in the Christian Medical Society.
She is survived by her children Sarah Dillard Thorsen, Linn Dillard Crowe, Anne Dillard Smith, George Penn Dillard & Betsy Booker Dillard and 8 grandchildren, Song Dorada Thorsen, Ashley Crowe Martindale, Julie Crowe, Andrew Crowe, Ethan Knapp, Pheobe K. Cole, Eli Knapp & Andrew Knapp.
Dodie was a resident of Shell Point Village for the past 14 years and had also spent many years in Atlanta, where she raised her children. Dodie was a giving, selfless person and an inspiration to many in her months of suffering.
Arrangements by Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home.
Lee Memorial Park
334-4880
Virginia Lee Blanco Williams, 90, of Brevard, NC died Thursday October 7, 2004. She was a native of Ft. Myers, Fl., the daughter of the late Louis and Hattie Blanco. Her husband, Bard H. Williams and a son, Bard "Bimby" H. Williams, Jr, also preceded her in death. Mrs. Williams was a charter member of the Church of God; an award winning Master Gardner, accomplished pianist and composer of gospel music, and a bible scholar.
Survivors include her four children, Paul Sheridan Williams of Inverness, FL, Linda Arlene McCosh of Brevard, Patti Ann McQuattie of Reno, NV, and Stephen Michael Williams of Hillsborough, NC; a sister, Ruby Griffin of Arcadia, FL; ten grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Private services were held. Moore Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Geoffrey P. Athey, 65, passed away Sunday, October 10, 2004 in the care of Hope Hospice. A resident of Ft. Myers since 1969. Former Owner/Operator of Ft. Myers Radiator Service. Member of East Ft. Myers Rotary Club. Born December 8, 1938 in Washington , D.C. Graduated from Georgia military College.
Survived by his best friend and loving wife of over 30 years, Thelma "Beth" Athey: daughters Olivia "Libby" Fuller (Thomas "Jeff" Cox), Tracy Athey (Patrick Conner), Mary Chapman and Marie Burgess: granddaughters Christina, Mechelle, Brittany "Bree", and Shelby: brother Forrest T. (Norma) Athey. Predeceased by Father and Mother Forrest T. Athey, Sr. and Myrtle Athey.
Geoffrey Athey in his retirement dedicated his time and loving energies to his family. He will be remembered for his love and dedication to all of his children and grandchildren, loyalty to his friends, selfless acts of kindness, love of country, and these values will live on through his family. Geoff loved scuba diving, dancing, car and motorcycle racing, boating, fishing and travel.
The family will receive friends Friday, October 15th from 6-8 PM at Lee Memorial Park Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 16th at 2:00 PM at St. Michaels Lutheran Church with the Reverend Jerry Hawkins officiating. Burial following at Lee Memorial Park Cemetery, 12777 S.R. 82.
Pallbearers are Charles Doss III, Ray Everett, Mark Hanners, Peter Lautenbach DO., Phil Scott and Richard Smith. Honorary pallbearers Harold "Doc" Barnhill, Randy Berger, Tony Cesa, CB Daniels, Charles Smrekar and Charles Welch.
To do the useful thing, to say the courageous thing, to contemplate the beautiful thing, that is enough for one man's life.- T.S. Eliot
Elaine D. Brill, 68, of Ft. Myers died October 13, 2004. She was born in Washington , D.C., a daughter of the late Nathan and Anne Millstein, she moved to the local area in 1975. Elaine was a member of Temple Beth-El, she volunteered at ARC and special equestreians for many years, she enjoyed arts, crafts and traveling.
Mrs. Brill is survived by her husband of 36 years Marty, her daughter Stacey, the 7 dogs she loved, her sister Marilyn, her close friends whom she loved and cared for very much, in the end she was surrounded by the ones who loved her the most.
A graveside service will be conducted at the Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens Cemetery
(Gan Shalom Section) on Friday at 11 AM., with Rabbi Bruce Diamond. In her memory memorial contributions may be made to American Cancer Society 4575 Via Royale #110, Ft. Myers, FL, 33919, to help find a cure or to Hope Hospice, 9470 Health Park Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908 for all the help they gave. Ft. Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home 936-0555
Thomas Edward "Tom" Brush, 47, of Dickson, TN passed away October 10, 2004. He was employed by Arrow Exterminating Co., Dickson, TN.
Survivors include his wife, Janet Bleadingheiser Brush, Dickson, TN, three sons, Anthony Brush, Memphis, TN, Nicholas Brush and Daniel Brush of Dickson, TN, his mother, Lois Elliott, Bonita Springs, FL, his father, James Robert Brush, Washington , his brother, Kasey Wince, Tampa, FL.
Memorial services will be conducted Thursday Oct. 14, 2004 at 11:00 AM from the chapel of Taylor Funeral Home, Dickson, TN with Bro. Samuel Curtis officiating. Those desiring memorials, may contact Debra Wince at 813-689-3489. Cremation arrangements under the direction of the Taylor Funeral Home, Dickson, TN 615-446-2808.
Annette Bryant Johnson Fink passed on to be with the Lord on the 11th of October 2004, in Ft. Myers, FL. At 46, she was called onward after her valiant fight against breast cancer.
Annette is survived by her dedicated and loving husband of 12 years, Jerry B. Fink. Nettie will be missed dearly and remembered lovingly by her mother, Annette Bryant Goodard of St. Petersburg, FL; her aunt, Judy B. Brown of Asheville, NC; her sister, Patricia Johnson Dunbar of Richmond, VA; her nephew Bryant Dunbar of Chicago, IL; nephew Michael Dunbar and his wife Kari, of Houston, TX; her step-daughter and son-in-law Michelle and Michael Slawiak of Tampa, FL; her stepson and daughter-in-law Robert and Leigh Anne Fink, and her grandsons, Matthew and Ryan Fink, of Alpharetta, GA; her sister-in-law, Susan Grace Fink Stokes of Naples, FL; sister-in-law Victoria Johnson, and nephews Miller Mobley and David Cromwell Johnson, Jr., of Birmingham, AL, half sisters Pricilla Goddard Wilson of Mobile, AL and Elizabeth Goddard Selkey of Highland, NC. Many other dear friends and family will also miss her presence.
Annette worked with Jerry in their insurance business and was extremely active with their church. Additionally, she loved travel, fishing, shopping, and gift-giving. She will always be remembered for her immeasurable selflessness, love and caring of others, love of animals, and sense of adventure.
In lieu of flowers, Annette requested donations to Daniels Road Baptist Church Building Fund. A memorial service will take place on Saturday, October 16, at 3:00 PM, at Daniels Road Baptist Church, 5878 Daniels Rd., Ft. Myers, FL 33912.
Adele Galter, age 87, of N. Ft. Myers, died on October 12, 2004 at Health Park Care Center. Born on February 7, 1917 in Brooklyn, NY to Harry and Marie Unger. A homemaker who was devoted to her family, she moved to N. Ft. Myers in 1972 from Staten Island, NY and was a member of St. Francis Xavier Church.
Mrs. Galter was the wife of the late Erwin A. (Al) Galter who died on June 2, 2004 after 66 years of marriage. She is survived by her children, Rosemarie (Bill) Hammond of Ft. Myers, Alvin H. (Barbara) of N. Ft. Myers, Carol Ann (Edward) Delizia of Cape Coral and Thomas J. (Linda) of Cape Coral, her grandchildren, Bill (Debbi) Hammond, Barbara (Don) Williams, Carolyn (Chris) Mendrick, Susan (Jeff) Butler, Alicia (Jim) Mc Vitty, Denice (Brian) Bishop, Dawn (Jim) Nolan, Carolyn, Kristen and Allison Delizia, Jill Anne and Dana Galter, 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Thursday, (TODAY) at 1:00 PM in St. Francis Xavier Church, 2157 Cleveland Avenue, Ft. Myers. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers memorial gifts may be sent in her memory to the Alzheimer's Resource Center, 9470 Health Park Circle, Ft. Myers, FL 33908. Arrangements by the Fort Myers Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, (239) 936-0555.
