John DeCoursey Jr.
John DeCoursey Jr. of Gainesville died Feb. 25 at his home after a long illness. He was 78.
Mr. DeCoursey was a retired truck driver. He also served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Born in Trenton, he moved from Alachua to Gainesville 50 years ago.
Mr. DeCoursey was a member of the St. Matthews Baptist Church in Alachua.
Survivors include a son, Nathaniel DeCoursey of Gainesville; a daughter, Cassie DeCoursey of St. Petersburg; five brothers, Matthew DeCoursey of Alachua, Fred DeCoursey, Walter DeCoursey and Joe DeCoursey, all of Gainesville, and Joel DeCoursey of Pompano; six sisters, Mozelle Stafford, Parthiner DeCoursey, Maudina Smith, Caretha Armour, Louise Cohen and Palice DeCoursey, all of Gainesville.
Kathy Marie Durden Gaff
CROSS CITY - Kathy Marie Durden Gaff of Cross City died Wednesday at her home after a long illness. She was 45.
Mrs. Gaff was an assistant finance officer for Dixie County's clerk of court. Born in Macon, Ga., she moved from Macon to Cross City 40 years ago.
Mrs. Gaff was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star in Bossier City, La., the First United Methodist Church of Cross City, was a delegate for the annual Methodist Conference and was past secretary of the United Methodist Women, Gainesville District.
Survivors include her husband, Mike Gaff of Cross City; a daughter, Farrah Sirmons of Lake City; two stepdaughters, Jessica Gaff and Mandy Gaff, both of Cross City; a stepson, Josh Gaff of Cross City; her father and stepmother, Tommy and Doris Durden of Steinhatchee; a sister, Marion Hurst of Cross City; a brother, Gerald Durden of Marathon; and one granddaughter.
Mary Kathleen Lee
Mary Kathleen Lee of Gainesville died Wednesday Shands at AGH after a long illness. She was 93.
Mrs. Lee was a homemaker.
Born in Berry, Ala., she moved to Gainesville 50 years ago.
Mrs. Lee was a member of the First Baptist Church, where she was the head of the Primary Sunday School Department for 29 years.
Survivors include two daughters, Joy L. Hayward of Ocala and Angie L. Sawyer of Cedar Key; three sons, Aubrey K. Lee Jr. of Ocala, Robert B. Lee of Gainesville and James H. Lee of Naples; a sister, Lois Kimbrell of Gainesville; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Clair Edward Harth
KEYSTONE HEIGHTS - Clair Edward Harth of Keystone Heights died Wednesday in Waldo after a long illness. He was 85.
Mr. Harth was a retired coal miner.
Born in Newtown, W.Va., he moved from Newtown to Keystone Heights 36 years ago.
Mr. Hearth was a member of the Melrose Masonic Lodge No. 89 and attended the Friendship Bible Church in Keystone Heights.
Survivors include his wife, Vivian J. Harth of Keystone Heights; two daughters, Kathleen Bergeron and Shirley Robertson, both of St. Augustine; a son, Bill Harth of Jacksonville Beach; a sister, Elizabeth Chafin of Newtown; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Geraldine E. Schackow
Geraldine E. Schackow of Gainesville died Wednesday at Hospice House of Gainesville. She was 78.
Mrs. Schackow was a homemaker and a charter member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota.
Born in Akron, Ohio, she lived in Sarasota for 45 years before moving to Gainesville last year.
Survivors include two sons, Sam Schackow of Sarasota and Mike Schackow of Gonzales, Texas; a daughter, Becky Bates of Gainesville; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice House in Gainesville.
Carolyn Robinson Hearell
Carolyn Robinson Hearell of Gainesville died Wednesday in Gainesville. She was 94.
Mrs. Hearell was a retired school teacher.
She was born in Levy County and moved from Miami to Gainesville 27 years ago.
Mrs. Hearell received a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in education from the University of Florida.
Survivors include six brothers, H.B. Robinson Jr. of High Springs, John B. Robinson of Mikesville, S. Ben Robinson of Dunnellon, Perry H. Robinson of Crystal River, Jack E. Robinson of Pensacola and Sam C. Robinson of North Carolina; and a sister, Mary R. Crenshaw of Cape Coral.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to the Alzheimer's Association of North Central Florida in Gainesville.
Geraldine E. Schackow
Geraldine E. Schackow of Gainesville died Wednesday at Hospice House of Gainesville. She was 78.
Mrs. Schackow was a homemaker and a charter member of the Faith Lutheran Church in Sarasota.
Born in Akron, Ohio, she lived in Sarasota for 45 years before moving to Gainesville last year.
Survivors include two sons, Sam Schackow of Sarasota and Mike Schackow of Gonzales, Texas; a daughter, Becky Bates of Gainesville; five grandchildren; and one great-grandson.
Expressions of sympathy may be made as donations to Hospice House in Gainesville.
Richard F. Leffew
CHIEFLAND - Richard F. Leffew of Chiefland died Wednesday at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. He was 72.
Mr. Leffew retired as a general manager of a heating and plumbing company. He also served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Born in Atlanta, he moved from St. Petersburg to Chiefland two years ago.
Mr. Leffew was a member of the Locust Grove Baptist Church of Smyrna, Ga., the Nelms Masonic Lodge in Smyrna and the Waterson and Sand Fly Hunting Club in Chiefland.
Survivors include his wife, Mary C. Leffew of Chiefland; a son, Robert O. Leffew of Chiefland; a daughter, Katharine L. McCord of Tallahassee; two sisters, Mary Ann Meek of Woodstock, Ga., and Grace L. Allen of Atlanta; and seven grandchildren.
Juanita C. Meeks
TRENTON - Juanita C. Meeks of Trenton died Wednesday at Ayers Health Care after a long illness. She was 73.
Mrs. Meeks was a former waitress at Shackleford Brothers, Holiday Inn and at the Wayside Restaurant.
Born in Dowling Park, she moved from Lake City to Trenton two years ago.
Mrs. Meeks was a charter member of the Eastside Baptist Church of Lake City.
Survivors include a son, Dallas R. Hancock of Crawfordville; two daughters, Donna M. Whitfield of Wewahitchka and Penny Luck of Lake Butler; five brothers, J.R. Meeks, Claude Meeks, Melvin Meeks, Rickie Meeks and Nolan Meeks, all of South Florida;dk cities five sisters, Virginia Cope of North Carolina, Salma Traywick of Alabama, Louise Mason and Lucille Smith, both of Cross City, and Melvie Meeks of Youngstown, Ohio; eight grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Evelyn Lorene Williams Robinson
TRENTON - Evelyn Lorene Williams Robinson of Trenton died Feb. 25 at North Florida Specialty Care Center in Gainesville after a long illness. She was 55.
Mrs. Robinson was a retired housekeeper for North Florida Specialty Care Center.
A lifelong resident of Trenton, Mrs. Robinson was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Horace Robinson.
Survivors include four daughters, Cynthia Williams, Tangela Williams and Wanda Mathis, all of Trenton, and Priscilla Yarrell of Cross City; her mother, Bertha Lee Jones Walton of Trenton; four brothers, Henry Walton and Kelly Walton, both of Tampa, Jackie Walton of Trenton and Jerome Perry of Gainesville; three sisters, Pauline Walton of Gainesville, Rebecca Walsh of Tampa and Henrietta Colebrooke of Daytona Beach; and 14 grandchildren.
Thelma Giles Tate
Thelma Giles Tate of Gainesville died Wednesday at her home. She was 89.
Mrs. Tate was a retired teacher and principal. Born in Big Stone Gap, Va., she moved from Petersburg, Va., to Gainesville 27 years ago. She was a former resident of Palm Garden of Gainesville.
Mrs. Tate was a member of the Northwest Baptist Church and the National Retired Teachers Association.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Tate.
Survivors include two daughters, Lynne Tate Short and Joan Tate Curling, both of Gainesville; a son, Ronald Howard Tate of Largo; a sister, Anna Ruth Wilson of Hollins, Va.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
