Obituaries

Jun 27, 2019

Mr. William “Buddy” Ogden, Jr., age 60, of Lake Butler, Florida, passed away on June 27, at the Lake Butler Hospital. He was born on December 3, 1958, in Jacksonville, FL to William W. Ogden, Sr., and Jeraline NesSmith Ogden. After graduating high school, Buddy enlisted in the United States Navy. After his service, he began working for the Department...

Jun 26, 2019

Mr. Edwin “Ed” Lowell Jeffcoat, age 72, of Raiford, Florida, passed away peacefully on June 26, at his home, surrounded by the family he loved. Ed was born on November 4, 1946, in Andalusia, Alabama, to Alba and Imogene Jeffcoat. He graduated from Florida Atlantic University with a Bachelor’s degree and began working with the Florida Department of Corrections. His...

Jun 20, 2019

Mr. Eugene Nelson Gardner, age 69, of Worthington Springs, FL, passed away on June 20, at UF Health Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL. Gene was born on August 8, 1949, in Chesterfield, SC, to James Clifton Gardner, Sr., and Edith Howle Gardner. While in South Carolina, he worked at the Delta Mills water plant and was a member of Lower...

Jun 19, 2019

Ms. Mearlean Griffis, age 82, of Raiford, FL, passed away on June 19, 2019, at the Macclenny Nursing and Rehab Center in Macclenny, FL. Mearlean was born in Bradford County, FL, on May 18, 1937, to Edward and Georgia Thornton. After meeting her husband, Calvin Griffis, Jr., she moved to Raiford, FL, where she would spend the rest of her...

Jun 12, 2019

Mr. Willard Fredrick “Freddie” Gaskins, age 78, of Starke, FL, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2019, at his home, surrounded by family. Freddie was born on May 29, 1941, in Baker County, FL, to Willard C. Gaskins and Vinnie Roberts. He lived in Starke all his life and worked as a master mold maker for Anchor Hocking Glass Company...

Jun 7, 2019

Mr. Richard Donald Willingham, age 83, of Lake Butler, FL, passed away on June 7, 2019, at the Lake City Medical Center. He was born on June 11, 1935, in Knoxville, TN, to Melvin and Hazel (Cato) Willingham. They moved to Pinellas County, FL, where he would work as a tool and die mold maker. He took pride in his...

May 29, 2019

Charles Jackson Kent, age 78, of Lake Butler, FL, passed away at his residence on May 29, 2019. Mr. Kent was born on July 31, 1940 to the lake Hollis and Dorothy (Dean) Kent. He was raised in Miami, FL, and spent the majority of his life there. He worked as a mechanic for the Miami-Dade County. He moved to...

May 22, 2019

Ms. Linda Kay Parrish, age 77, of Lake Butler, FL passed away on May 22, 2019, at Windsor Manor Nursing Home in Starke, FL. Linda was born in Ocala, FL on February 7, 1942, to the late Bernard and Jewell Knight. Linda lived in Ocala until moving to Lake Butler in 1975. She started her career in nursing and worked...

May 21, 2019

Ms. Marla Gale Dukes, age 65, of Lake Butler, FL passed away on May 21, 2019, at her residence. Marla was born in New York, NY on August 23, 1953, to Darrell Courtland Dukes and Irene Gopfert. Marla was a traveler, adventurer and gifted artist.  Marla will be remembered by her family as a free spirit who lived her life...

May 20, 2019

Mr. Ernest Glenn “Bud” Tetstone, Sr., age 74, of Gainesville, FL passed away peacefully on May 20, 2019. Bud was born on March 18, 1945 in Brooker, FL, to the late Tony and Pearl Petty Tetstone. Bud is a lifelong resident of Gainesville and worked as a paint mixer for Harper Paint Company, Earl Russell Paint, MM Parrish Construction, Tacachale and...

May 16, 2019

Mr. Kensley Lee Smith, age 55, of Lake Butler, Florida, passed away on May 16, 2019, at home with his family by his side. Ken was born on March 1, 1964 in Covington, KY, to the late Kinsley Smith and Margaret Whittle Collins. When he was in the 4th grade, his family relocated to Union County and Ken would remain...

May 13, 2019

May 13, 2019

Darren Garnett Alexander, 54, of Tallahassee, Florida, transitioned May 13th surrounded by loving family   within the care of Haven Hospice in Lake City Florida.

Darren was born in Lake Butler, Florida, to the Late Prince Alexander and a nurturing mother Lucy Alexander in whom cared for him. He leaves to mourn His Mother Lucy Alexander; a devoted son Darren D...

May 9, 2019

Mr. Robert Gaubatz, age 84, of Lulu, Florida passed away peacefully with his daughter by his side on May 9, 2019, at Ayers Health and Rehab Center in Trenton, FL. Bob was born in Belleville, IL to the late Sylvester and Loretta Cermak Gaubatz. In 1953, he proudly joined the United States Army and served with the military police special...

May 2, 2019

Apr 30, 2019

Mr. James “Jimmy” Robert Dampier, age 83, of LaCrosse, FL, passed away at his home on April 30, 2019. He was born on August 16, 1935 in LaCrosse, FL, to the late Sparkman and Minnie (Holton) Dampier. He worked for 40 years for Florida Pest Control service until his retirement. He loved to hunt and fish and work on the...

Apr 27, 2019

John E. Wall, III, age 80, of Lake Butler passed away with his family by his side on April 27, 2019. He was born in Lake City on August 7, 1938 to John E. Wall, Jr. and Hazel Hoffman Wall.

He served four years in the U.S. Air Force and was in the insurance business in Lake City and Union...

Apr 23, 2019

Mr. Marvin Hodge, Jr., age 77, passed away on April 23, 2019 at Haven Hospice Roberts Care Center in Palatka, Florida. Mr. Hodge was born July 17, 1941 to the late Thomas Marvin Hodge and Rachel Tyson. He spent the early part of his life in Stewart, Florida, however, the last 21 years he resided in Palatka. Mr. Hodge worked...

Apr 22, 2019

Troy Franklin Waters, age 55, of Live Oak, Florida, passed away on April 22, 2019, at Shands of Live Oak. Troy was born May 31, 1963, in Plant City, Florida, to Wilbur Jackson and Vivian Welch Waters. He spent most of his life in Polk County, Florida until moving to Live Oak in 2012. Troy was a member of the...

Apr 21, 2019

LC Joseph Gunter “Joe” was born on October 24, 1951 to Willis Gunter and Lucille Posey Gunter Hardenbrooke. He went home to be with the Lord on April 21 after a brief illness. 

Joe is preceded in death by a daughter Janet, his parents, a brother Ronnie Gunter, sister Mamie Lou Cowart, and his father-in-law and mother-in-law Lorenza and Bobbie...