Mabel Blessing, 93 Midland, Mich.
Mabel S. Blessing, 93, of Midland, Mich., died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003.
Born Jan. 23, 1910, in Rosebush, Mich., she was the youngest daughter, the fourth of six children, of the late Jacob Fredrich and Minnie Olive (Allen) Seiter. She came to Inverness from Midland, Mich., in 1975.
She graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in 1928, and earned her Registered Nurse degree from Saginaw General Hospital in 1931.
Next to being surrounded by her family, she enjoyed entertaining and was a marvelous hostess. She played golf, was a skilled bridge player and an accomplished seamstress. She was a member of the Inverness Country Club, and longtime member of the Midland Country Club. She was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Janet B. Leslie Bitler, and sisters, Marie J. Strobel, Vera C. Ahlborn and Esther L. Warnock.
She is survived by her husband of 70 years, Olin; a daughter, Constance Jean (James) Burt of Flushing, Mich.; sons, Dr. William Douglas (Mary Ellen) Blessing of Tulsa, Okla., Robert Stephen (Sara) Blessing of Grand Ledge, Mich.; son-in-law, Lyle H. Bitler of Midland Mich.; brothers, Floyd B. Seiter of Rosebush, Mich., and Robert A. (Marion) Seiter of Midland Mich.; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; and five step-great-grandchildren.
Ware-Smith-Woolever Funeral Directors, Midland Mich.
Steve Cox, 51 Homosassa
Steve Cox, 51, Homosassa, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, in Citrus Memorial Hospital, Inverness.
Born March 9, 1952, in Connersville, Ind., to Charles and Betty (Wyrick) Cox, he came to this area in 1983 from Hollywood.
Mr. Cox was a retired painter. He enjoyed the outdoors, gardening and traveling with his family and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Vicki Cox of Homosassa; daughter, Stephanie Cox of Beverly Hills; brother, David Cox of Crystal River; stepdaughter, Michelle Murphy (David) of Homosassa; and two step-grandchildren.
Strickland Funeral Home, Crystal River.
Carl Evers, 88 Ocala
Carl Eugene Evers, 88, Ocala, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, in Ocala.
Born in Bradenton, he moved to Ocala in 1988 from Fort Myers.
Mr. Evers was a retired engineer for Florida Power & Light.
He was Baptist.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma J. Evers of Ocala; son, Darrell E. Evers of Ocala; daughter, Carlena Wright of Tampa; two grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Roberts Funeral Home, Dunnellon.
Alice Fretz, 72 Floral City
Alice Mary Fretz, 72, Floral City, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, at her home under the care of her husband.
Mrs. Fretz was born Nov. 27, 1930, in Cleveland Ohio, to John and Laura Bold. She moved here from Fort Lauderdale in 1980.
She was a waitress.
She was a member of Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in Inverness.
Survivors include her husband, Edwin Fretz of Floral City; son, Edwin Fretz of Floral City; three daughters, Joyce Read of Ocala, Lorraine Fretz of Hernando and Kimberlee Gemkow of Floral City; two brothers, Lawrence Bold of Syracuse, N.Y., and Madeline Llewellyn of Jeanette, Pa.; and eight grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be given to Hospice of Citrus County, 3350 W. Audubon Park Path, Lecanto, FL 34461-8450.
Heinz Funeral Home & Cremation, Inverness.
Doris Goodbread, 74 Homosassa
Doris J. Goodbread, 74, Homosassa, died Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2003, in Homosassa.
Born Sept. 9, 1929, in Albany, N.Y., daughter of George and Ethel Mae (Knapp) Phillips, she came here in 1991 from Geneseo, N.Y.
Mrs. Goodbread was a retired self-employed seamstress. She also enjoyed knitting and crocheting, especially making sweaters. She loved being at home caring for her family.
Survivors include her husband of 24 years, Mort H. Goodbread of Homosassa; son, Eric Jon Carney of Florida; daughter, Dawn Carney of Mount Morris, N.Y.; and a brother, Frank E. Phillips of South Carolina.
Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, Beverly Hills.
Ronald Peck, 63 Crystal River
Ronald Kenneth Peck, 63, Crystal River, died Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2003, in Crystal River.
Born March 11, 1940, in Seekonk, Mass., to C. Kenneth and Clara Peck, he came here in 2000 from East Greenwood, R.I.
Mr. Peck was a retired security guard for the city of Providence, R.I., and a U.S. Army veteran.
He was Baptist.
Survivors include his sisters, Helen Sinapi (John) and Janet Wilkinson, both of Charlestown, R.I., and Carol Carlson of Tucson, Ariz.; and three nephews, Kevin Wilkinson, Steven Wilkinson and Jeffery Wilkinson, all of Charlestown, R.I.
Hooper Funeral Home, Homosassa.
Ruth Pielow, 72 Winder, Ga.
Ruth Faye Pielow, 72, Winder, Ga., formerly of Inverness, died Thursday, Sept. 25, 2003, in Lawrenceville, Ga.
She was born Feb. 10, 1931, in Dothan, Ala., to Otto and Lona Wade. She moved to Georgia in 1964 from Inverness.
Mrs. Pielow was a retired waitress.
She loved sewing and crocheting. She was Baptist.
Survivors include three sons, Gary Studstill (Jenny) of Winder, Ga., Mike Studstill (Theresa) of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Louis B. Pielow Jr. (Darlene) of Lithonia, Ga.; two daughters, Myra Echols (Bobby) of Cummings, Ga., and Myrna Leaphart (Jerry) of Dahlonega, Ga.; two brothers, Jake Wade of Ocala and Basil Wade of Florida; and two sisters, Dorothy Naglor of Old Town and Ruby Olsteen (Larry) of Cross City.
Hooper Funeral Home, Inverness.
Stanley Anderson, 66 Inverness
Stanley Edward Anderson, 66, Inverness, died Monday, Sept. 8, 2003, at his home.
Mr. Anderson was born May 4, 1937, in St. Paul, Minn., to Abner and Edith Anderson.
He was a U.S. Navy veteran and a retired painting contractor.
Survivors include wife, Evelyn Burges of Inverness; two sons, Michael Anderson of Louisburg, N.C., and Douglas Anderson of Chattanooga, Tenn.; daughter, Sabrina King of Fort Myers; two sisters, Marjorie Thatcher of Medina, Minn., and June Anderson of Maywood, Ill.; seven stepchildren, Judy Bromer of Ocala, Dewayne Adams and Janet Bugner, both of Lehigh, Rhonda Adams of Fort Myers, David Burges of Cape Coral, Sherri Jarlis of Bonita Springs and Patricia Schelloff of Naples; eight grandchildren; 24 step-grandchildren; and several step-great-grandchildren.
Heinz Funeral Home and Cremation, Inverness.
Clarence Carlson, 81 Quincy, Mass.
Clarence Henry Carlson, 81, Quincy, Mass., and Beverly Hills, died Monday, Sept. 15, 2003, at Quincy Medical Center.
He was born in Virginia, Minn. He was a longtime resident of Quincy, Mass. He retired to New Hampshire and also was a winter resident of Beverly Hills.
He graduated from Quincy High School in 1939. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Mr. Carlson was a supervisor for New England Telephone for 39 years and retired in 1985.
He was a Mason and a member of the Rural Lodge in Quincy, Mass., and Citrus County Scandinavian-American Club in Beverly Hills.
He was an avid fly fisherman and loved playing horseshoes, gardening and traveling.
He was an associate member of Hope Lutheran Church in Dunnellon.
Survivors include wife of 59 years, Elsie (Johnson) Carlson of Quincy, Mass., and Beverly Hills; son, Bruce H. Carlson of Quincy, Mass.; two daughters, Carol E. Smith of Winchendon, Mass., and Linda M. Burns of Scituate, Mass.; five grandchildren; and one great-granddaughter.
Hamel, Wickens & Troupe Funeral Home, Quincy Center, Mass.
