Edward M. Davis
Edward M. Davis died Thursday at his residence in Gainesville. He was 88.
Mr. Davis was born in Birmingham, Ala., and moved to Gainesville from New York City 39 years ago.
He was a fire chief and a college professor. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1942-1945.
Mr. Davis was a member of Westside Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher and a deacon. He held a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education from the University of Florida. He was a member of the UF tennis team from 1962-1966.
Survivors include his wife, Antoinette Davis of Gainesville; a daughter, Diane Dansby of Satellite Beach; a son, Edward J. Davis of Grayson, Ga.; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Samuel Grant
Samuel Grant of Gainesville died Saturday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 68.
Mr. Grant was born in Wilmington, N.C., and moved to Gainesville in 1964.
He was a retired school teacher and a member of Bartley Temple United Methodist Church.
He served in the U.S. Air Force.
Survivors include his wife, Artise Grant of Gainesville; a daughter and son-in-law, Michelle Grant and Darryl Akins of Albany, Ga.; a sister, Frances Green of Wilmington, N.C.; and a grandchild.
Mary Catherine Hill
Mary Catherine Hill, a lifelong resident of High Springs, died Sunday at her sister's home in High Springs. She was 62.
Mrs. Hill worked for the Alachua County School Board, retiring after 28 years.
She was a member of Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church, where she served as a member of the Sunlight Pallbearers Lodge No. 235.
Survivors include her husband, Roy Hill of High Springs; a daughter and son-in-law, Katrina and William Brown of Gainesville; a son and daughter-in-law, Carlton and Iris Hill of Gainesville; two sisters, Lucille Hughes and Velma Hampton, both of High Springs; two brothers, Robert Williams of High Springs and John Williams of Alachua; and eight grandchildren.
Oscar J. Hitson
Oscar J. Hitson of Gainesville died Wednesday in Gainesville. He was 67.
Mr. Hitson was born in Newton, Ala. He was a painter. He enjoyed fishing and working on cars.
Survivors include two sisters, Betty Mills of Gainesville and Jo White of Brooker; an aunt, Rosa Lee Smith of Midland, Ala.; five nieces; and three nephews.
Mary Frances Sutton Howell
LAKE BUTLER -- Mary Frances Sutton Howell died Sunday at her residence in Lake Butler. She was 47.
Mrs. Howell was born in Hampton, Va., and moved to Lake Butler in 1976. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Christian Church of Lake Butler.
Survivors include her husband, John N. Howell of Lake Butler; three daughters, Merry Star Howell, Megan Unique Howell and Truly Destiny Howell, all of Lake Butler; a sister, Brenda Burgman of Gainesville; a brother, Jimmy Sutton of Norfolk, Va.; and a half-brother, Roger Sutton of Jacksonville.
Curtis F. McCain
TRENTON -- Curtis F. McCain of Trenton died Wednesday in Gainesville. He was 74.
Mr. McCain was born in Cedar Key and moved to Trenton in 1987.
He was a commercial fisherman.
Survivors include his wife, Joanne Follis of Trenton; a sister, Barbara Smith of Chiefland; a brother, Malcolm McCain of Cedar Key; and a niece, Nancy Cothern of Chiefland.
Frances J. Wright
HIGH SPRINGS -- Frances J. Wright, a lifelong resident of High Springs, died at her residence Monday. She was 89.
Mrs. Wright was a homemaker and an office manger for Isbell-Wright Gas Co. for many years. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of High Springs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, W. E. Eldridge Wright.
Survivors include a daughter, Kay Wright Yates of Alachua; a brother, Dr. Jack Johnson of Dade City; and three grandchildren, Monica Griffin, Matthew Yates and Elizabeth Yates.
Lillian Kear Bell
Lillian Kear Bell of Gainesville died Monday in Gainesville. She was 85.
Mrs. Bell was born in Sweetwater, Tenn., and lived in Apopka for 21 years and Knoxville, Tenn., for 11 years, before moving to Gainesville in 1989.
She was a retired state employee with Sunland Training Center, now Tacachale.
She was a member of Westwood Hills Church of God.
Mrs. Bell was preceded in death by her husband and a grandson.
Survivors include two sons, John R. Kear of Gainesville and Hollis F. Kear Jr. of Kissimmee; six grandchildren, Matthew Kear and Brad Kear, both of Gainesville, Kenny Kear of Kissimmee, Richard S. Kear of Lexington, S.C., Clayton Kear of Greensboro, N.C., and Alison Kear of Anchorage, Ala.; and four great-grandsons.
Clara Oakley Townsend
HIGH SPRINGS -- Clara Oakley Townsend of High Springs died Sunday. She was 78.
She was born in Lavonia, Ga., and moved to Gainesville in 1940 from Dade City. She retired in High Springs four years ago. She was a retired owner of Teddy Bear Nursery and a member of Grace Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her first husband, Wade Hampton Townsend Sr., and a son, Alexander Townsend.
Survivors include a daughter, Sandra Faye Townsend of High Springs; three sons, Wade Townsend Jr. and Bill Townsend Sr., both of Gainesville, and Christopher Townsend of Citrus Springs; two brothers, Tom Ed Oakley of Lake Wales and Julien Oakley of Trenton; five grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Ella Elizabeth Waldeck
Ella Elizabeth Waldeck of Gainesville died Monday at Hospice of North Central Florida. She was 88.
Mrs. Waldeck was born in St. Joseph, Mich., and moved to Gainesville from Columbus, Ohio, seven years ago.
She worked for the state of Ohio.
She was a member of the First Christian Church Disciples of Christ.
Mrs. Waldeck was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Waldeck; a sister, two brothers, a daughter and a grandson.
Survivors include three daughters, Gail M. Waldeck and Joann E. Ihas, both of Gainesville, and Bette L. Sidlo of Brookline, Mass.; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
Dorothy Whitaker Blake
Dorothy Whitaker Blake of Jacksonville died Friday at Palm Garden of Gainesville after a long illness. She was 89.
Mrs. Blake was a former secretary for an accounting firm. Born in Atlanta, she moved to Jacksonville 56 years ago.
She was a Baptist.
Survivors include a son, Robert Barnes of Gainesville; two grandchildren; and four great- grandchildren.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
Simual T. Bozeman Jr.
Simual T. "S.T." Bozeman Jr. of Gainesville died Thursday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 86.
Mr. Bozeman was a former farm equipment dealer and high school teacher. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Born in Live Oak, he moved to Gainesville 60 years ago. He was a member of and financial secretary for both the First United Methodist Church and the American Legion. He was also a member of the Lions Club of Newberry.
Survivors include a son, Theodore Dwight Bozeman of Iowa City, Iowa; and a brother, Louie E. Bozeman of Live Oak.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
Daniel Carl Coon
Daniel Carl Coon of Gainesville died Wednesday at Integrated Health Services of Gainesville. He was 98.
Mr. Coon was a mechanic for Ford Motor Co. for 35 years.
Born in Medina, N.Y., he moved from Clearwater to Gainesville 23 years ago. He was a member of Highlands Presbyterian Church in Gainesville. Mr. Coon enjoyed square dancing.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 73 years, Ethel Ellen Coon.
Survivors include a daughter, Jean Coon Hart of Gainesville; a son, Daniel Eugene Coon of Indiantown; eight grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Milam Funeral Home.
