Henry French
STARKE – Henry “Peter French” French, 85, of Starke, passed away on Tuesday, July 19, 2022 in the ET York Haven Hospice Center in Gainesville. He was born on Dec. 26, 1936 in Monticello and later moved to Starke, where he attended the local schools and graduated high school. He was a member of St Paul Missionary Baptist Church and the Masonic Lodge. He was employed with CMC Steel in Starke as a Crane Operator.
He leaves precious memories to three stepsons; four stepdaughters; a sister, Betty French; and a host of nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts, cousins and sorrowing friends.
Memorial services will be held at 12 p.m. on Saturday, July 30, at the Carl D. Haile Memorial Chapel/Haile Funeral Home Inc., 802 Oak St., Starke, 904-964-7905 with Rev. Alvin Green, eulogist.
All attendees are asked to please wear a face mask and practice social distancing measures.
PAID OBITUARY
Harold Hughes
Harold Edward “Bud” Hughes Sr., 93, of Hawthorne and formerly Keystone Heights passed away Saturday, July 23, 2022, in Palm Bay. He was born March 3, 1929, to Charles E. and Florence (Harbough) Hughes Sr. He served as corporal in the United States Army; serving two tours during the Korean Conflict. He then served on the Eau Gallie police force for t10 years while also starting his own building business in 1965. In 2002, he and his wife moved to Keystone Heights from Live Oak. He read his Bible daily and was involved with Paran Baptist Church and Windsor Baptist Church for many years. He loved doing the Jitterbug dance and being active with the Keystone Kops Parade Unit; “You won’t see his white legs in the parade anymore getting his pants pulled off.” He joined the Harbor City Blue Masonic Lodge #318 in 1963 where he was also a 32nd-Degree Scottish Rite and in 1984 he joined the Keystone Heights Morocco Shriners. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Maebell (Whitehead) Hughes; siblings, Charles Hughes Jr. and Rosella Latooth.
He leaves behind three children, Cindy (Ed) Matheson of Palm Bay, Cherie (Mark) Vergason of Sanford, and Eddy (Tanya) Hughes of Hawthorne; two stepsons, Danny (Theressa) Boston of Hawthorne and Dennis Boston (Sandy Logan) of Pickens, South Carolina; along with five half-brothers and sisters. He was lovingly called “Pops” by 12 grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and one great-great- grandson.
The family will receive friends beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 30, at Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home Chapel. Funeral services will begin at 11 a.m. with Rev. Charles Litzell and Rev. Rick Cicio officiating. Interment will follow at the Keystone Heights Cemetery. Immediately following the internment will be a Celebration of Life at the Keystone Heights Shrine Club. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to either the Shriners Children’s Burn Hospital, 1 Children’s Plaza, 2W, Dayton, OH 45404 or Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital, 12502 USF Pine Drive, Tampa, FL 33612.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Dive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Delores Perryman
Delores “Dot” Osceola Hill Perryman, of Lake Butler, passed away peacefully on Sunday, July 17, 2022, at Haven Hospice, Gainesville. She was born to Lattice Blitch-Townsend and Pitt Townsend on April 10, 1928, in Olustee. After losing both of her parents by the young age of 4, she was raised by her aunt and uncle, Gladys Townsend-Rogers and Eugene Rogers, of Lake Butler. She was a Union County High School graduate and, soon after graduation, she moved to Jacksonville to work at Sealtest Dairy, where she made many fond memories and lifelong friendships. She was visiting with her sister, Lorene, in Tampa, where she would meet and marry her first husband, Russell Conwell Hill. She and Russell had two children, Jeanne Kay and Steven. Russell passed away at a relatively young age. Once their children were raised, she began working at University Community Hospital in Tampa. The time came when she needed to return to Lake Butler to care for her Uncle Eugene. To her surprise, he was playing matchmaker (something he was well known for) and introduced her to what would be her second husband, Lester Franklin Perryman, who she was married to for 31 years, until his passing in 2018. Over the years, she and Lester created a home full of love for their blended family. Shewas a longtime member of the Church of Christ in Lake Butler. As a natural storyteller, she was full of experiences and was the best at sharing them in her own unique way. She was very humble and had so much strength and character that was the result of her difficult upbringing. Not only did she lose her parents at a young age, she was raised in the era of the Great Depression, which required her to grow up learning hard work by doing anything from wrangling cows at the young age of 8, to working in the fields for long hours each day. One of her favorite sayings was, “People always talk about how good the old days were, but you can keep them good, old days!” She was affectionately known as “Grams” to her grandchildren and great- grandchildren, who will all miss her dearly. She was preceded in death by her biological parents; Lattice and Pitt Townsend; adoptive parents, Gladys and Eugene Rogers; first husband, Russell Hill; second husband, Lester Perryman; and sisters, Lorene, Catherine and Iris.
She leaves behind her children, Jeanne Kay (Mike) Nelson of Tampa, Steven Hill of Lake Butler, Dennie Perryman of Keystone Heights, Rick (Kim) Perryman of Lake Butler, Robin (Kenneth) Clyatt of Lake Butler; a sister, Mona; as well as many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She will be missed tremendously. We take comfort in knowing that she’s whole again and free from all pain and suffering.
PAID OBITUARY
Casey Schmidt
Casey Hayes Schmidt, 40, of Keystone Heights passed away Monday, July 25, 2022, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville following a brief illness. She was born Nov. 1, 1981, in Jacksonville to Donald and Katherine “Kathy” (Linton) Hayes. She graduated with the class of 2000 from Keystone Heights High School and continued her education; earning a bachelor of science degree in criminal justice. She was employed with QCS in Gainesville as their office administrator for several years. She attended Freedom Baptist Church and is a Christian. She enjoyed fishing and painting, and was an avid Florida Gator sports enthusiast and Washington Redskins fan. She loved life to the fullest, but her family always came first. She was preceded in death by her father, Donald Hayes.
She leaves behind four precious children, Carl Murray of Jacksonville, Carlie Murray of Melrose, Braedon Schmidt of Williston, Brentley Schmidt of Keystone Heights; and her mother Katherine “Kathy” Hayes of Keystone Heights. Also left behind is her sister, Kelly (Matt) Maloney of Melrose; a half-sister, Brandy Davis of Jacksonville Beach; maternal grandmother, Alta Linton of Keystone Heights; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and extended family members and friends that will miss her dearly.
A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held Saturday July 30 at 12 p.m. at 3387 SE Eighth Ave., Melrose, 32666. Feel free to wear your orange and blue. In lieu of flowers, please make a memorial donation to the American Liver Foundation, P. O. Box 229, West Orange, NJ 07052.
Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights, 32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com
PAID OBITUARY
Annie Starling
Annie “Gennell” Starling, 85, of Lawtey, passed away on Monday, July 25, 2022 at her residence with her loving family by her side. She was born in Lawtey on Jan. 12, 1937, to the late Frank Marion and Gertrude Rosier Cruce. She was a lifelong resident of Lawtey and graduated from Bradford High School in 1954. On Feb. 13, 1954, she married the love of her life, V.L. Starling, and together they spent 56 wonderful years. She began her career at Big Dad’s Sewing Factory and enjoyed working there for many years. She was a very talented seamstress. She made her daughter’s clothing by hand and even made her daughter Priscilla the most beautiful wedding dress. She enjoyed gardening, reading, crocheting, and doing word searches. She was a member of Pine Level Baptist Church, where she enjoyed worshiping her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. More than anything, she loved her family, and will be missed by all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; brothers, Theodore Cruce, Eddie Cruce and Quincy Cruce; sisters Frankie Mae Pipkins, Bernice Duncan and Cathern Duncan; daughter-in-law, Bridgett Ann Starling; son-in-law, Mitchell Griffis Sr.; sister-in-law, Rosemary Cruce; brothers-in-law, Robert Carlton, Eugene Pipkins, Gene Duncan, Stanley Noegel, Tommy Linzy, Will Batten, and Emory Duncan; and granddaughter, Lanette Starling.
She is survived by her children, Joseph Starling Sr. of Starke, Priscilla (Rickey) Thomas of Lawtey, Vernon Leo Starling of Yulee and Sheila Griffis of Lawtey; brothers, Marvin Cruce, George (Linda) Cruce, Frank (Beth) Cruce Jr., Marcus (Cindy) Cruce; sisters, Eula Mae Carlton, Gertie Faye Noegel, Virginia Linzy, Gertrude “Plum” (Duane) Griffis, Lucinda Batten; grandchildren, Leo Starling, Diane (Joseph) Meredith, Chastidy (Mitchell Griffis Jr.) Starling, Joseph Starling Jr., Joni (Sam) Bryant, Billy (Kristin) Griffis, and Lance (Jessie) Griffis; great-grandchildren, Chase Starling, David and Morgan Syskind, Michael and Dillon Jones, Daryl Palmer, Cassie (Michael) Wilson, Heather (Shane) Starling, Madison Starling, Leah (Jon) Prevatt, Wyatt Griffis, Trent Bryant, Laney Griffis, Ethan and Riley Griffis.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 28, at Pine Level Baptist Church at 11 a.m. with Brother Leon Thomas, Rev. Marty Starling, and Pastor Roman Alvarez officiating. Interment will follow at Crosby Lake Cemetery. A visitation will be held an hour prior to the service at the church.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of V. Todd Ferreira Funeral Services and Archie Tanner Memorial Chapel, Starke, 904-964-5757. Visit www.ferreirafuneralservices.com to sign the family’s guest book.
PAID OBITUARY
