Florence Lucille Allred
July 17, 1927 – January 9, 2014
Surrounded by her loving family, Florence L. Allred of Sun City Center, Fla., formerly of Memphis, Tenn., passed away on Jan. 9, 2014.
Florence was born in Lancaster, Pa. to Ruth Reidenback-Bucks and Howard S. Bucks. Florence was the one middle child of five; she has three deceased brothers and one surviving sister, Janet Field (Leon) of Hartford, Conn.
Florence was a wonderful mother and friend who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She is survived by her loving daughter Judy Bell (Gerald) and loving son Dennis Ralph; grandchildren Mike (Susan) of Ft. Myers, Fla., Melinda (Jim) of Chester, Md., and Matt (Jodie) of Brandon, Fla.; and her great-grandchildren Matthew Curtis Bell Jr., Mallory Jean Bell, and Amelia Rose Bell, as well as many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Hospice House of Sun City Center, Fla. or United Community Church of Sun City Center, Fla. in her honor.
Beverly Ann Heil
Beverly Ann Heil, 83, formerly of Berea, Ohio, died January 10, 2014 in Sun City Center, Florida. She was born on September 8, 1930, in Pismo Beach, California, the daughter of Howard Pratt and Evelyn Boardman. She graduated from Chicopee High School in Chicopee, Massachusetts, attended Radcliffe College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and received a Master’s Degree in Administration and Supervision from Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio.
She was married to Harold Heil on October 7, 1951 in Belmont, Massachusetts. They were married for 62 years and enjoyed dancing and traveling through life together.
Mrs. Heil taught fifth grade for many years in the Berea, Ohio school system. She was a member of the educational professional organizations Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Delta Kappa. She retired from teaching in June 1990 and moved with her husband in January 1991 to Englewood, Florida. She was a very active member of the Englewood United Methodist Church and was on several committees, including Stewardship, Hospitality, Creative Workshop, Christmas Dinner, and the Staff-Parish Committee, which she chaired. She helped each year with the Craft Bazaar, the Rummage Sale, Door Greeting and Candle Lighting.
While living in Englewood, she served as president of the Eighteen Hole Ladies’ Golf Association at the Boca Royale Golf and Country Club, as well as serving on various committees while a member there.
Mrs. Heil enjoyed reading, golfing, traveling, visiting her children and grandchildren, exercise classes, attending plays and music shows, dancing, playing cards, watching movies, doing counted cross stitch, and watching pro golfers in action.
In 2002, she and her husband moved to Sun City Center where she was a member of the SCC United Methodist Church and enjoyed many years of golfing through her memberships in the Renaissance and Sandpiper Golf Clubs.
Mrs. Heil was predeceased by her father Howard and mother Evelyn. She is survived by husband Harold of Sun City Center; son Jeffrey Heil and wife Barbara of Westport, Connecticut; son James Heil and wife Lissu Pasila of Royal Palm Beach, Florida; daughter Dr. Elizabeth Heil of Oviedo, Florida; daughter Andrea Sand and husband Robert of Woodstock, Vermont; sister Anita Nichols of Waterbury Center, Vermont; five grandchildren: Justin and Marissa Heil, Olivia and Jonathan Heil, and Anna Sand; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Thursday, January 23, 2014 at 10 a.m. at the Sun City Center United Methodist Church. Burial will follow at Sarasota National Cemetery.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Sun City Center Funeral Home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX, 75231; https://donate.heart.org.
Brenda Joy Birn Knowles
Brenda Joy Birn Knowles, 66, of Apollo Beach, Florida, passed away at home on January 6, 2014 after a brief struggle with cancer.
A memorial service to celebrate her life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 18 at Ruskin United Methodist Church. After the service, friends and family will be welcomed to her daughter’s home.
Brenda was born in Eustis, Fla. on June 30, 1947. She graduated from Eustis High School, continued her education at Appalachian State University and the University of South Florida in Tampa. She then began her first career as a homemaker, raising three children. She was a devoted mother, sister and daughter, and gave everything she had to those she loved, and especially her children.
In 1988, Brenda began working at The Shopper Observer News in Ruskin and continued there until her death. She started working at The Observer part time as a classified clerk, eventually advancing to be Publisher and Editor. She enjoyed her work immensely and had a never-ending passion for creating a newspaper that was relevant to the community and focused on the positive. While she was Publisher, The Observer won several industry awards. She truly enjoyed being a part of the South Shore community and volunteered on several boards and committees.
Her love for her work was second only to her love for her family. She is survived by sisters Debbie Heath and Sandy (Roy) Hawkins; son Brian Scott (Shannon) Knowles; daughters Brandy (Mike) Evans and Chelsey (Mark) Giurbino; and ten grandchildren – Brooke, Avery, Allie, Brayden, Emerson, and Jace Knowles, Nick, Shelby and Mira Evans, and Madison Giurbino.
Brenda was preceded in death by her parents June and Warren Birn and brother-in-law Roy Heath.
Condolences can be made at www.zipperersfuneralhome.com.
In lieu of flowers, Brenda would prefer that you make a donation to LifePath Hospice, Memorial Gift, 12470 Telecom Dr., Ste. 400, Temple Terrace, FL 33637.
Loron Mercer
Loron Mercer, 79, of Sun City Center, Fla., and formerly of Leawood, Kansas, passed away December 28, 2013.
Loron was born February 16, 1934, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a son of Orville and Mabel (Campie) Mercer. He lived in Illinois, California and Kansas before moving to Florida 19 years ago. Loron was united in marriage to Nancy M. Citrano on June 12, 1954, in Berwyn, Ill. He was an entrepreneur who owned a variety of businesses, including ACME Pattern and Model Works and Adventure PlaySystems, as well as the family-owned Fisherman’s Inn.
Loron was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Nancy; children David, Thomas, Susan and Deborah, and their three spouses (Tammy, Martin and Dina); nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; Nancy’s mother Jeannie Citrano; loving sisters Jean Flens (Ray) of Brandon, Fla. and Kristi Mercer of Champagne, Ill.
He was truly one of a kind; save the last dance until we meet again.
Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2014 at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 1015 East Del Webb Boulevard in Sun City Center.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the SCC Emergency Squad, 720 Ray Watson Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573 or LifePath Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Dr., Ruskin, FL 33573. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.
Albert Sidney Newton, Jr.
Albert Sidney (Sid) Newton, Jr. of Sun City Center, Florida, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 10, at LifePath Hospice, Sun City Center. He had recently celebrated his 80th birthday with his family.
Sid was born January 1, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee to Albert Sidney Newton and Lillian Margaret Milner. His father died when Sid was a young boy, but his mother, a public school principal, ensured Sid excelled in school, mastered the trumpet, became an Eagle Boy Scout, and enjoyed many outdoor camps and adventures in Arkansas and Tennessee. An accomplished teenage trumpet player, he appeared on Ted Mack’s “The Original Amateur Hour.” He attended the University of Mississippi as an ROTC cadet, during which time he met the love of his life, Jean Love Guyton. Following graduation from Ole Miss, Sid was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, in which he pursued his dream to fly fighter jets. Shortly after college, Sid and Jean were married at the Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee on October 4, 1957. For their first ten years of marriage, while Sid served as a fighter pilot in the USAF, they lived in Okinawa, Japan and Texas. Among his accomplishments as a pilot, Sid won the coveted “Top Gun” fighter pilot of the Pacific in 1959. In 1965, Sid left military service and became a commercial airline pilot with Trans World Airlines (TWA). From 1965 to 1989, Sid, Jean, and their three daughters (Lisa, Carol, and Kathy) enjoyed friends and life at their Weatherby Lake home, north of Kansas City, Missouri. After 24 years of distinguished service, Sid retired as an airline captain and moved to Florida. In retirement Sid and Jean called Kissimmee, Estero, and then Sun City Center home, and also enjoyed summers in Land Harbor, Linville, N.C.
Sid’s life was dedicated to faith, family, and friends. An inquisitive disciple of Jesus, Sid regularly participated in Bible study and worship throughout his life. He was a faithful member of churches in Kansas City and Newland, North Carolina, as well as Trinity Baptist Church in Sun City Center, Florida. Sid was a faithful American patriot, proud of his military service during tense years of the Cold War era. He was also a faithful and loving son, husband, father, and grandfather. As a proud family man, Sid was eager to tell stories about his mother and wife, including the night he first saw Jean and fell madly in love. He would also eagerly share stories about his three daughters, their husbands, and especially his five grandchildren.
In 2007, Sid and Jean celebrated 50 years of marriage in a surprise party with family and friends in Land Harbor, North Carolina. Sid also remained a committed friend throughout his life, and enjoyed lifelong friendships with many in Kansas City, North Carolina, and Florida. Sid’s friends will undoubtedly remember his quick wit, humor, story-telling, and personal kindness. His personal interests included outdoor sports, fishing, walking, fitness, and volunteering. Volunteer community organizations he was eager to support included the County Sheriff’s Office of Platte County, Missouri, and Young Life.
Sid leaves a legacy of faith, love, and patriotism with those who were blessed to call him husband, dad, grandpa, and friend, including his wife Jean Guyton Newton of Sun City Center, Fla.; daughter Lisa and Steve Davis and granddaughter Michaela of Dallas, Tex.; daughter Carol and Bruce Glover and granddaughters Claire and Jessica of San Antonio, Texas; and daughter Kathy and Greg Seckington and grandchildren Emily and Ben of San Diego, Calif.
A memorial celebration of Sid’s faith and life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 at Aston Gardens Clubhouse, 1311 Aston Gardens Court, Sun City Center, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Trinity Baptist Church, 702 Del Webb Blvd W, Sun City Center, FL 33573; or Life Path Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Dr, Ruskin, FL 33573.
Marilyn J. Sekol
Marilyn J. Sekol, 80, of Sun City Center, Fla. passed away December 31, 2013.
She retired as a customer service clerk from Sears Retail Appliance Repair Center and was a member of the United Methodist Church of Sun City Center.
Survivors include Michael, her husband of 59 years; daughter Karen L. (Jon) Hill; sons Mark J. (Lisa) Sekol and Darren S. (Tracie) Sekol; and seven grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at Sun City Center United Methodist Church, 1210 W. Del Webb Blvd. in Sun City Center.
Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.
