Obituaries

Feb 19, 2020

Mrs. Diana Marie Word, age 71, of Lake Butler, Florida, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2020, at the UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville. Diana was born on January 21, 1949 in Hillsdale, MI to the late Richard and Eula Robinson Lapham. Diana was a tremendous business leader and ran Secur-tel Security Systems for over 32 years. She was also a member...

Feb 16, 2020

Ms. Doris Elixson, 72, of Lake Butler, FL, passed away peacefully on February 16, 2020 at the North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville. She was born on December 11, 1947 in Dade City, FL to the late Albert and Geneva Dees Finley. Doris was a lifelong resident of Union County and at the age of 36, went back to school...

Feb 14, 2020

Linda P. Vencil passed away the evening of February 14th, 2020. Linda was born July 11th, 1948 in Jacksonville, Florida. Linda spent most of her life residing in Alachua, FL. She worked as a bookkeeper at Jacksonville Eye Center for 37 years, beginning her tenure in 1983. Here she fostered a close-knit work family where she was a blessing to...

Feb 13, 2020

Mrs. Julie Dawn Harden, known to many as "Jewls", age 52, passed away at her home on Thursday, February 13, 2020 in Providence, Florida. 

She was born to Dan Clark Cooper, Sr. and Dorothy Ann Avirett on December 9, 1967. Julie graduated from Baker County High School in 1985. She worked many years in corrections before pursuing her passion in...

Feb 4, 2020

Joshua “Jock” Diston, 37, of Providence “Pinch Gut”, FL, died at his home on February 4, 2020. He was born on March 18, 1982 in Gainesville, FL. He leaves behind a mother, Lisa L. DeSue; father, Danny E. Diston; step-father, Glen “Beaver” DeSue; four sons, Jaylon, Joshua, Daylyn, and Dayquan Diston; one God-daughter, Alyssa Ruise; one brother, Joseph “Joey” Diston;...

Feb 1, 2020

Mr. Almon H. “Buddy” Horton, Jr., age 69, of Lake City, FL, unexpectedly passed away at his home on February 1, 2020. He was born to Almon H. Horton Sr. and Thelma Marie (Frazier) Horton on June 27, 1950. Buddy grew up and graduated from Union County High School in 1970. He worked for Texgas before pursuing a career with...

Jan 31, 2020

Jan 27, 2020

Mr. Anthony Daryl Holland, age 48, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2020 at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Middleburg, FL.

Mother – Lillie Ruth Dasher of Lyons, Georgia, - deceased

Wife – Cynthia Elaine Holland

Children – Kiara Kwame Holland and Cynthavia Kanisha Holland both of Lake Butler, FL; Nadja Darae Holland of Gainesville, FL and Anthony Daryl Holland,...

Jan 27, 2020

Infant Kamrynn Lynnette Rhoden passed away on January 27, 2020 at her residence. Kamrynn is the daughter of Charles LeRoy Rhoden and Sandra Marie Harvey of Lake Butler. She is survived by her parents and bothers, Christen Coale and Charles Rhoden, Jr. Kamrynn was loved dearly by her family and she will forever be missed.

Jan 24, 2020

Mr. Mark Harrison Chapman “Chappy”, age 51, of Lake Butler, FL, passed away January 24, 2020. Mark was born on June 23, 1968, in Rutherfordton, NC to Edwin Chapman and Margaret Harrison. Out of high school, Mark enlisted in the United States Navy and he would serve 13 years as a Seabee. In 2000, Mark transferred to the United States...

Jan 23, 2020

Mr. Harold Glisson, age 87, passed away peacefully at his home in Starke, FL on January 23, 2020. Harold was born in Georgia to the late William Daniel and Vina Lou Spivey Glisson. Harold worked as an Environmental protection maintenance mechanic with the State of Florida until his retirement. Harold was a cowboy; roping, riding, training and raising cattle and...

Jan 22, 2020

On January 22, 2020, Beverly Green Welch passed away peacefully at her home after living with Alzheimer's for seventeen years.

Beverly was a lifetime resident of Bradford and Union counties. She was a life long member of New River Baptist Church where she served in many capacities. She retired from the University of Florida IFAS - Soil Testing Lab after...

Jan 20, 2020

Mr. Alfred Christy “A.C.” Box, age 76, of Lake Butler, FL, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2020, at the Good Samaritan Center in Live Oak, FL. He was born in White Springs, FL, on May 13, 1943, to the late Alfred and Natalie Christie Box. He grew up in Union County and moved to Columbia County in 1956. He...

Jan 19, 2020

Ms. Jessie Mae Kembro, 91, of Lake Butler, FL, passed away peacefully on January 19, 2020, in the comfort of her home surrounded by her family. She was born August 10, 1928, in Newberry. Florida. She grew up in Lake Butler and attended Union County High. She was employed by Georgia Pacific for 32 years until her retirement. Ms. Kembro enjoyed spending...

Dec 29, 2019

Nedra Williams Horton died on December 29, 2019 surrounded by her family after a brief illness. A lifelong resident of Union County, she was born on April 7th, 1958 to the late Henry Williams and Lahoma Waters Williams. She was a 1976 graduate of Union County High School and member of Sardis Baptist Church. She married her high school sweetheart James A. Horton the...

Dec 18, 2019

Jerry L. Harrell, age 73, of High Springs, FL passed away unexpectedly on December 18, 2019. Jerry was born on May 17, 1946, to the late James Howard and Muriel Fender Harrell. Jerry spent most of his life around the High Springs area.  In his early years, he worked/owned a plastering business and worked around the Gainesville area. Before retiring...

Dec 16, 2019

Raymond Victor Wolf, 53, of Lake Butler, died suddenly from a tragic car accident on Monday December 16th, 2019. A veteran of the United States Army, he proudly served his country in the 24th Infantry Division.

Ray was born on January 3rd, 1966 to Victor Wolf and Kathy Kim in Portland, Oregon. He was a huge Oregon Ducks fan. In...

Dec 5, 2019

Steve Allen Johns, Sr. 61, of Jacksonville, Fl., passed away on Thursday, December 5, 2019 at Memorial Hospital in Jacksonville, Fl., following an extended illness.

Born August 18, 1958, in Jacksonville, Fl., to the late George Washington Johns and Betty Jean Johns. Mr. Johns was a lifelong resident of Jacksonville, and he enjoyed; fishing, baseball, playing pool, and was an...

Dec 2, 2019

Mrs. Gretchen E. Coody, age 72, of Lake Butler, Florida, passed away on December 2, 2019, at North Florida Regional Hospital in Gainesville, FL. Gretchen was born in Oxnard, CA, on January 29, 1947, to the late George and Wilma Groneweg Merryman. After graduating from high school, Gretchen enlisted in the United States Air Force. She worked as a computer...

Nov 28, 2019

Mr. James Travis Abernathy, age 53, of Lake City, Florida, passed away on November 28, 2019, at his home. James was born on March 27, 1966 in Atalla, Alabama. He moved to Fort Walton Beach then eventually to Lake City. He loved spending time around the water and was always there to help others. He is preceded in death by...