Obituaries — July 5, 2022

Zachary Andrews

Zachary Andrews

KEYSTONE HEIGHTS Zachary Dale Andrews, 67, of Keystone Heights and Crescent City passed away Wednesday, June 15, 2022, under hospice care at North Florida Regional Medical Center.  He was born Dec. 2, 1954, in Carlsbad, New Mexico and lived most of his life in north Florida. He was raised in Anaheim, California, Starke, and Keystone Heights, and graduated from Keystone Heights High School in 1974 where he was in the marching band and played football. He earned a bachelor’s degree at Baptist College of Florida in Graceville and attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Ft. Worth, Texas.   He was most recently a member of Keystone United Methodist Church and enjoyed serving in local churches with music ministry and other areas when needed; he had a strong spiritual life and loved being involved and helping when he was able. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, James Albert and Sarah Shaner Wright, Lucian Wesley and Maude Roberts Andrews; his parents, Wesley Ronald Andrews and Jeanne Alberta Wright Wood; and stepfather, Clarence Wood. 

His survivors include three children: Brandon (Carrie) of Colorado, Vinita of Illinois, and Benjamin of North Carolina; two brothers, Jimmy (Cecelia) Andrews  of Keystone Heights and Rev. Barry Andrews of Jacksonville; and stepsister, Becky Wood Raymond.  Also left behind are nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. 

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, July 12, at 10 a.m. in the Keystone United Methodist Church with Pastor Melanie Fierbaugh and Rev. Barry Andrews officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Keystone United Methodist Church.  

Arrangements are by Jones-Gallagher Funeral Home, 340 E. Walker Drive, Keystone Heights,  32656. 352-473-3176. www.jonesgallagherfh.com

PAID OBITUARY

 

 

 

 

Vera Clayton

 

 

Vera Clayton

Vera Crews Clayton, 78, passed away Monday, June 27, 2022. She was born in Lawtey and resided in Hilliard. She was a member of Franklin Street Baptist Church, and the Order of the Eastern Star. She had 50 years’ perfect attendance for Sunday school and was Sunday school director for many years. She was a lifelong Florida Gator fan. She was a clerk, having worked for the public school system. July 5, 2022 would have been her 55th wedding anniversary.

Survivors include her loving husband of 55 years, Thomas B. Clayton Sr.; one son, Thomas B. (Beth) Clayton Jr.; and two grandchildren, Madison (Dylan) Williams and Garret (Taylor Kelley) Clayton.

Funeral services were held Friday, July 1, at Franklin Street Baptist Church with Dr. Terry R. Gore officiating. Interment followed in Evergreen Cemetery.

Arrangements were under the direction of George H. Hewell and Son Funeral Home, 4747 Main St., Jacksonville, 32206. 904-355-9545.

PAID OBITUARY

 

 

 

 

Ramon Dix

 

 

Ramon Dix

LAKE BUTLER Ramon T. Dix, 92, of Lake Butler, passed away peacefully on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City. He was born Sept. 26, 1929, in Bradenton. After spending his early years in central Florida, he relocated to his farm in Union County.   He worked as a brick and block mason. As a Union worker, he built buildings such as North Florida Medical Center; as a husband, he built a beautiful home for him and his wife. After his retirement, he bought a combine and did combine work for hay and corn. Being the resourceful gentleman he was, he would enlist the help of his wife to drive the truck to load the harvest. He enjoyed working on his land and tinkering with his machines. He was also a member of Oneca Methodist Church in Bradenton. However, for the past 15 years, he has been active at Sardis Baptist Church in Worthington Springs. He was preceded in death by his son, Edward Dix.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Lavonda Dix of Lake Butler; his stepchildren, Ed Ripplinger of Starke and Sherry (Randy) Wilson of Dallas, Texas; daughter-in-law, Millie Dix; grandchildren, Mike (Dawn) Ripplinger, John Ripplinger, Heather (Paul) Norris, and Jay (Debbie) Wilson; and seven great-grandchildren.

A service to honor his life was held Tuesday, July 5, at Sardis Baptist Church. He was laid to rest immediately following the service at Dekle Cemetery. Pastor Paul O’Steen officiated the services.

Arrangements were under the care and direction of Archer-Milton Funeral Home, Lake Butler. 386-496-2008  www.archerfuneralhome.com 

 

 

 

 

James Dougherty Jr.

James Dougherty Jr.

Col. James (Jim) F. Dougherty Jr., USAF (Retired), 80, died at the Lake City VA Medical Center on Thursday, June 16, 2022 and is remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather and mentor and as being one of a kind. He was born Jan. 31, 1942 in Bayonne, New Jersey to

James F. Sr. and Mayfred Dougherty. He graduated from Boston College in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in finance before joining the Air Force in 1964. While in the Air Force he went on to get his master’s degree in business administration from Troy State University. He is also a 1982 graduate of (ICAF) Industrial College of the Armed Forces. His career in the Air Force started out as a pilot (T-38’s) before moving into the financial management arena. The unprecedented projects he tackled in financial management at Air Force and Department of Defense level were a credit to his willingness to do the seemingly impossible in the interest of efficiency and streamlining processes to better account for hundreds of millions of dollars and support military pay improvements for the troops worldwide. He served in Vietnam and in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm from Aug. 2, 1990 until May 31, 1994. After retiring from the Air Force and setting up home in Gainesville, he went on to do financial management consulting work in the Washington, D.C. area for another 12 years before returning to the Gainesville area. He was active with the Boy Scouts growing up and his interests included cars and anything to do with car racing, model rockets, model trains, boat engines, reading and travel. His military awards and decorations include: the Defense Superior Service Medal; Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster; Bronze Star Medal; Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Commendation Medal; Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one oak leaf cluster; Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with two oak leaf clusters; National Defense Service Medal with one device; Vietnam Service Medal; Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon; Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon with two oak leaf clusters; Air Force Longevity, Service Award Ribbon with six oak leaf clusters; Air Force Training Ribbon; Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with device; Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. He was a member of the ASMC American Society of Military Comptrollers, Military Officers Association (MOAA) and The Retired Officers Association (TROA). He was preceded in death by his parents, James F. Sr. and Mayfred Dougherty; and his loving wife, Muriel (Del) Dougherty.

He is survived by his sister MaryAnn Dougherty of Lake Tahoe, Nevada; four sons, Wendell Courtney Dougherty of Gainesville, Joseph Christopher (Tiffany) Dougherty of Starke,  James William Patrick Dougherty (Christopher Belden) of Seattle, Washington, and Peter Wilson Dougherty of Gainesville; and five grandchildren, Ryan, McKenzie, Deklan, Josh and Ashlyn.

The Dougherty family would like to thank all their friends for their loving support and kindness. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org

“On the plains of hesitation lie the blackened bones of countless millions who at the dawn of victory lay down to rest, and in resting died.”  Adlai Stevenson

A memorial service was held  on Tuesday, July 5 at Williams Thomas Funeral Home Downtown, 404 N. Main St., Gainesville. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery at a later date.  Please visit his memorial page at www.williamsthomasfuneralhome.com.

PAID OBITUARY

 

Sandra Kuykendall

 

Sandra Kuykendall

Sandra Lee Kuykendall (“Sandie” or “Sandman”), 66, of Keystone Heights, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, June 29, 2022 at Roberts Haven Hospice Care in Palatka. She was born in Albany, New York on June 22, 1956 to Delores and Ben Fish. She graduated from Cabrillo High School in Lompoc, California in 1975, and St. John’s River Community College in 2009 with her AS degree in radiology. She worked as a radiology technician in the medical field for 40 years. She touched so many lives with her beautiful smile and her kindness. She enjoyed going to the beach with her girls, playing bingo and tending to her orchids. But, most of all, she loved spending time with her grandbabies. They meant the world to her. She was married for 48 years to her husband, Jim Kuykendall. They enjoyed riding the Harley together and listening to various bands on Friday night. They’ve shared so many wonderful memories throughout the years together. She was proceeded in death by her mother, Delores Adams; stepfather, Richard Adams; her father, Ben Fish; mother-in-law, Eva Mae Kuykendall; brother-in-law, Wayne Kuykendall; and a sister, Barb Fish.

She is survived by her husband, Jim Kuykendall; her daughters, Heather (Chris) Lavery and Melissa (Ian) Marney; granddaughters, Keirstin (John) Robbins,  and Kyleigh Lavery; grandsons, Justin Marney and Christopher Lavery Jr.; father-in-law, Leon Kuykendall; sisters-in-law, Joanne Davenport and Sherry (Doyle) Newsome;  brother, Ben Fish; stepsister, Berni Vachon; stepbrother, Benjamin Fish; and many cousins, nieces, nephews, and a slew of friends.

Memorial services will be held Saturday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at Coventry Oaks Farm, 104 Springside Shortcut Road, Palatka, 32177. A reception will follow at the AmVets Post #86 in Keystone Heights, on Brooklyn Bay Road.

PAID OBITUARY