Thomas H. Brannigan
Tom Brannigan died unexpectedly in his home at Sun City Center, Fla. on Wednesday, November 20, 2013. He is finally reunited with his beloved wife and dancing partner, Misae, who died in December 2009.
He is survived by his son Michael Brannigan and his wife Brook of Niskayuna, N.Y.; twin daughters Marie Robertson and her husband Rick of Columbia, Missouri, and Margaret Dethrow and her husband Jerry of Columbia, Missouri; son Thomas Brannigan of Hinsdale, N.H.; grandchildren Dan and Matt Dethrow and Marisa Robertson; sister Kathleen Michael and her husband Marshall of Newport, R.I.; brother-in-law Fujiya Kimura and sister-in-law Shizuka Koie of Fukuoka, Japan; and extended family.
Born in Newport, R.I. on May 25, 1928, Tom attended school at St. Augustins School and De La Salle Academy in Newport, R.I. before joining the U.S. Army in 1945. He was a veteran of WWII and Korea, where he earned two Bronze Stars and achieved a rank of Master Sergeant. He was honorably discharged from the Army in October 1952. After this, he worked at the Naval Base in Newport, R.I. in the Housing Department as a Supervisory Housing Project Manager until his retirement in 1985.
Tom was a member of the Ancient Order of Hibernians for almost 69 years, holding many state and local offices in Rhode Island and in Florida, where he helped to organize a new chapter of the A.O.H. in Sun City Center in 1999. He was a parishioner at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City Center.
Tom was known by many for his good deeds, kindness, sense of humor, and devotion to his family and friends. A father, brother and a friend to many, Tom will be missed by all who knew him. He and his beloved wife Misae will be buried together forever at Newport Memorial Park in the “Garden of Honor” in Middletown, R.I. The family would like to thank Maureen Kane for her work with Tom that allowed him to continue to live at home on his own terms.
Services will be announced at a later date.
Charles Dwight Curtiss, Jr.
Charles Dwight Curtiss Jr., 91, of Sun City Center, died on Friday, November 15, 2013, after a short illness. Mr. Curtiss was born on October 23, 1922 in Washington D.C. After attending LeHigh College he enlisted in the United States Navy and underwent further officer training at MIT. He served during WWII in Hawaii where he met the love of his life, Mary Virginia Salisbury, who was serving in the Women’s Air Defense. They married on July 22, 1945, and spent 68 precious years together. They had two children, Deborah Ann May of Chillocothe, Mo. and Charles Dwight Curtiss III of Champaign, Ill.
After the war Chuck completed his education at the Harvard School of Business and became an engineer at the Proctor and Gamble plant in Quincy, Massachucetts. He subsequently moved to the Cincinatti, Ohio location until his retirement in 1962 as the Head of Labor Relations for the Subsidiary Companies.
Following his retirement in 1983, he and Mary moved to Sun City Center where they built a home off the golf course and enjoyed many rounds of golf over the years. He and Mary served on the Security Patrol there for years. He remained active volunteering as a math tutor in local schools and serving on various civic boards and committees as well as at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. After moving to Aston Gardens In 2004, he continued his service by working on the Aston Gardens’ Employee Appreciation Fund.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Charles Dwight Curtiss Sr. and Dorthea (Davis) Curtiss, sister Martha (Muffy) Trate, son-in-law William May, and granddaughter Elisabeth (Curtiss) Carter.
He leaves behind beloved wife Mary (Salisbury) Curtiss; treasured children Deborah May and Charles Dwight Curtiss III, (Diana); grandchildren Anita (May) Pritchett (Will), Eric May (Kim), Taran (May) Anagnos (George), Caleb D. Curtiss, Canaan D. Curtiss, and Charity Curtiss, great-grandchildren Lucas and Keira Pritchett; Zachary, Ethan, Xavier and Tyler May.
Chuck was an avid reader keeping the librarians at Sun City Center and Aston Gardens on alert for the books he enjoyed. Perhaps his greatest pleasures were summers spent at Nonquitt, Massachusetts, on Buzzards Bay, where he had gone since childhood; swimming, golfing and most of all visits from children, grandchildren and extended family in New England.
A generous man, Chuck gave to the charities dear to his heart. Donations in his name may be given to the Aston Gardens’ Employee Appreciation Fund and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church.
A memorial was held in his honor Saturday, November 16, 2013, at Aston Garden.
Barbara Jean Prevatt Sanchez
Barbara Jean Prevatt Sanchez, 77, of Kings Point in Sun City Center, passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones on November, 15, 2013.
Born on August 6, 1936 in Balm, Fla. to Clyde B. Prevatt and Bessie Sweat Prevatt, Barbara was a quick-witted rascal with a skill for drawing in friends and leaving them with a grin on their faces, sharing a wink. She gave us unconditional love and laughter. We miss her but we know her spirit is all around us, especially on those rainy days that include football.
She is survived by children William B. (Ben) Guthrie of Dallas, Karen Guthrie Rambin of Houston and Stephen C. Prevatt of Tampa; grandchildren Julia Guthrie Perez, Joe Rambin, Leven Rambin, Cori Brueggeman, Ward Brueggeman and Bella Beyer-Prevatt; and sister Sara Prevatt Dobbs.
Moving from her life-long home of South Tampa to Sun City Center in 2010, she truly enjoyed all her new friends who welcomed her in her crochet group and her ceramic group. She loved her golf cart independence and being close to her Balm and Wimauma roots and Sunday lunches at her Aunt Sharon’s and Uncle Everett’s.
A celebration of Barbara’s life was held with family on Sunday, Nov. 17 at the home of relatives, surrounded by the peace and beauty of Wimauma Lake.
The family thanks the Freedom Plaza West rehab facility and the Sun City Senior Living Community as well as LifePath hospice for their support, and for making Barbara feel like the something special that she was.
Donald P. Schings
Donald P. Schings, 69, of Sun City Center, Fla. passed away November 21, 2013 after a short illness. He was born in Detroit, Mich. on March 21, 1944 to Philip and Irene Schings.
Don is survived by Judy, his wife of 45 years, and loving family. He will be dearly missed. He served 6 years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including embassy duty in Russia and Ireland. He worked for the Federal Govt./Treasury Dept. for 30 years.
Despite being diagnosed with Spinal Bulbar Muscular Dystrophy (Kennedy’s Disease), Don kept very active. He served as Director on the SCC Community Assn. BOD for 6 years; was President/CEO of the Military Family Support Trust; on the SCC Chamber of Commerce Board; Wedgewood II Board; involved in numerous Hillsborough County committees, most recently the Aging Council; Board of South Shore Round Table; loved to play poker; member of Leathernecks, Knights of Columbus, Handicapped Club, National Assn. of Retired Federal Employees; and the SCC Security Patrol.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Attn: Summer Camp, 9600 Koger Blvd., St. Petersburg, FL 33702 or MFST, Attn: PAWS, 1010 American Eagle Blvd., Sun City Center FL 33573. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, at Prince of Peace Catholic Church in Sun City Center. Interment at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 SR 72. Arrangements by SCC Funeral Home.
(Clinton) Stewart Smith
(Clinton) Stewart Smith, 72, formerly of Ruskin, died November 12, 2013 at home in Piedmont, Ala. He was predeceased by his wife Joanne and son Michael (Kevin) Smith.
He leaves behind son (Marshall) Keith Smith; daughters Laurie A. Smith and Iris L. Smith, both of Piedmont, Ala.; three grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sisters Judy Buzzell of Port Orange, Fla. and Sharon L. Toole of Ruskin; and numerous nieces and nephews.
No services were held. Cremation Society.
Harold E. Zeiders
Harold E. Zeiders, 86, of Sun City Center, Fla. passed away November 24, 2013. He served in the United States Army during World War II. He graduated from Penn State University and retired as a mechanical engineer from Amp, Inc (Tyco). He was an avid golfer and a member of the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center.
Survivors include Helen, his wife of 57 years; son Doug Zeiders; daughter and son-in-law Leslie and Henry Zeiders-Knouse; four grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and sister Arlene McGowan.
A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, December 7, 2013 at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Newport, Pa.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Florida Chapter, Southwest Florida Office, 5100 West Kennedy Boulevard, Suite 195, Tampa, FL 33609.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.