Judith Ann Ayotte
Judith Ann (Heather) Ayotte passed away on March 31, 2014. She was born April 9, 1938, in Racine, Wis.
After raising their three children in Racine, and Ewen, Mich., Judy and her husband James (Jim) moved from Iron Mountain, Mich., to Sun City Center in 2002. She enjoyed crafting, gardening and bird-watching. She adored spending time playing cards with her friends. Judy doted on her pet cat Sneaks. She spent many hours volunteering for her local community, most recently at the Sun City Center Emergency Squad.
Judy was preceded in death by James, her loving husband of 55 years; her parents Andrew and Margaret Heather; and brother Lauren.
Judy is survived by sister Ruth (Tony) of Racine; brother James of Scottsdale, Ariz.; daughter Tracy (Greg) of Ocoee Fla.; sons James (Tammy) of Belleair Bluffs, Fla., and Benjamin (Laura) of Colorado Springs, Colo.; grandsons Jacob (Amy), Christopher (Kari), Jed (Brittany), Blaine, Carter, Griffin and Hayden; great-granddaughters Quinn, Kinley and Tinsley; and greatgrandsons Nicholas and Kyle. She will be greatly missed by family and friends. A private family memorial is planned.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Sun City Center Emergency Squad, 720 Ray Watson Drive, Sun City Center, FL 33573.
Yvette (Dutilly) Gagnon
Yvette D. Gagnon died March 29, 2014, in Sun City Center, Fla., after a long illness. Born September 10, 1917, in Springfield, Mass., Yvette was the fourth born of six sisters. A childhood illness left her with a serious hearing loss in both ears that persisted throughout her life. With a combination of personal effort, family support and improvements in technology, she learned to cope with her hearing deficit and lived a long and varied life.
Yvette married Henry C. Gagnon in 1940. They were married for 65 years, until Henry’s death in 2006. Yvette traveled throughout this country and to Japan to be with her husband during his military duty in World War II and Korea. She focused her attention on being a homemaker, raising her family and supporting her husband’s career that culminated with his appointment as Assistant Postmaster in Springfield, Mass. In their retirement, Yvette and Henry moved to Kings Point in Sun City Center, traveled widely and played a great deal of golf. It was said by many that “Yvette’s putter must have eyes!” because of her unerring putting accuracy.
Tended by LifePath Hospice personnel and her sons for the last days of her life, Yvette died quietly at the Homewood Residence Assisted Living Facility in Sun City Center. She is survived by sons Thomas (Janet) and Douglas (Denise); grandchildren Eric (Melissa), Robert (Eugina), Thomas (Sheila), Christopher (Chelsea) Gagnon and Catherine (Owen) Gagnon Osborn; and great-grandchildren Justin, Nathan, Anna, Jake, Ryleigh, Carter, Foster Gagnon and Charlotte Osborn.
Services will be held at Arlington National Cemetery at a date to be determined.
Marjorie Hershberger
Marjorie Jean Hershberger, 85, of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away on March 31, 2014. She was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Scottish immigrants, Arthur and Jane (Adams) Steele. She was preceded in death by Ronald Wayne, her husband of 50 years, and her brother Arthur Steele.
Survivors include son William Edward Hershberger (Sherry); daughters Ronelle Stone (Thomas ) and Sandra Young (Kenneth); granddaughters Renee Marie Hershberger, Jennifer Sue McEnany (Thomas), Heather Jean Sciartelli (Nicholas), Bonnie Louise Griffis (David) and Kendra Ann Young; and great-grandchildren Kristin, Nicholas, Luke, Finn, Ryan and Leiryn.
A Celebration of Marge’s life was held at Aston Gardens at Sun City Center on April 5. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Faces of Courage (Breast Cancer Support Organization), 10006 Cross Creek Blvd. #519, Tampa FL 33647 or the American Heart Association.
She will join her husband at the Florida National Cemetery at Bushnell.
Levon Mixon Watson
Levon Watson, longtime employee of The Observer News and M&M Printing, passed away April 6, 2014, in Bradenton. She was born November 7, 1933.
She was preceded in death by husband Armand Watson, one daughter; and her parents, Clarence and Bessie Mixon.
Levon was well known for her piano skills. She began playing at Maranatha Church of God, Ruskin, in 1986 and continued until 2013.
She is survived by sister-in-law Iris Mixon; seven nieces and nephews; 12 great-nieces and great-nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 12, at Maranatha Church of God, Ruskin. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 a.m., funeral service at 11 a.m. and interment following at Ruskin Memorial Park.
Funeral arrangements were made by National Cremation and Burial Society.
Kenneth Glen White
Kenneth Glen White, 57, passed away in Connecticut on March 21, with his family by his side. He is survived by parents Glen and Lesly White of Diamondhead, Miss.; brother and sister-in-law Bill and Kim White, and nephew Thomas Campbell of Stafford Springs, Conn.; daughters Katie White of Glastonbury, Conn., and Kerri White of New Britain, Conn.; and grandchildren Venecia Rose Thomas and Isabella Grace Thomas of Windsor, Conn.; and many other friends and relatives.
Ken was a longtime resident of Vernon and Hebron, Conn., before retiring as an executive from Pfizer Inc. Ken’s most recent home was in Sun City Center, Fla., where he enjoyed the constant sunshine, warm weather and was a dedicated dispatcher for Team Five with the Sun City Center Emergency Squad. He was a very talented musician and a wonderful father to his children. Ken will be truly missed by all. There will be no calling hours and a private burial service will be held for close friends and family.