Obituaries

William "Bud" Albert Roberts

William "Bud" Albert Roberts

Lakeland - Mr. William "Bud" Albert Roberts passed away July 28, 2007 at the age 64.

Mr. Roberts was born in Lakeland on May 24, 1943 to William and Georgia Roberts. He was employed by Saddle Creek Corporation, and was a member of Gapway Baptist Church. Mr. Roberts enjoyed hunting, fishing, and volunteering his time at East Lakeland Little League.

He is survived by his wife, Carolyn; sons, Duane Roberts and fiancée Julie Ward, Donnie Roberts; sisters, Lillian, Earline, Jane and Frances; grandsons, Christopher, Duane Jr., and Dallas Roberts; brother-in-laws, Wayne and wife Shirley Ritter, Buddy Jerrell, James Burton; sister-in-laws, Helen Jerrell and Leona Blackwelder.

Visitation will be Mon. from 6-8 pm at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. Services will be conducted Tues. at 10 am at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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James Ellis Hill, Sr.

JAMES ELLIS HILL, SR., 87

Truck Driver

LAKELAND - James Ellis Hill, Sr., age 87, of Lakeland and life long resident of Polk County, died Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at Palm Terrace Hospice of heart failure.

He was born May 1, 1920 in Lockhart, AL to Carter F. and Ethel (Edge) Hill and moved to Polk County as an infant. James is a WWII Army veteran having served in the Battle of the Bulge. He was a trucker since the age of 15 and retired at the age of 80. James along with his lifelong friend, William Serdynski, co-founded Hill & Serdynski Truck Stop and is the former owner of Hill & Hill Trucking, J.E. Hill Trucking and DL Trucking companies. He is a member of Victory Church of Lakeland and was a bus driver for the church's senior ministry. James is also the founder of Haven House Girls Home and served as it's director from 1974 until 1980. He was united in marriage to Dorothy Lineberger on Oct. 4, 1947 who preceded him in death on March 18, 1966.

James is also preceded in death by his brothers, Clayton and Jr. Hill and sisters, Mary West, Carolyn Shepherd and Edna Williamson. On April 30, 2004, James married Mary McClure, who survives in Lakeland. He is also survived by his sons, Kenny (Judy) Hill, Bennett (Pam) Hill and Jimmy (Belinda) Hill all of Lakeland; daughters, Debi (Ron) Grooms of Hillsboro, OH and Sara (Ron) Lasseter of Lakeland; stepdaughters, Linda (Buddy) Reynolds of Titusville, FL and Jeanne (John) Bayars of Rochester, NH; brothers, Clifford Hill of Winter Haven and John Hill of Auburndale; sisters, Clara Watts of Winter Haven, Eloise Ethridge and Norma Young, both of Bartow; grandchildren, Shannon, Missy, Stephanie, Rodney, Kara, Kasey, Lynzie, Charles, Jeff and Elijah; a stepgranddaughter, Gina; great grandchildren, Kayla, Taylor, JW, Dalton, Chance, Avery, Sean, Dalton, Kelly, Gavyn and Landyn and stepgreat grandchildren, Clayton and Geneaya.

Friends will be received Thursday from 6-8pm at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel, Lakeland. Funeral services will be held 1:00pm on Friday at Victory Church, Lakeland. Interment will take place in Lakeland Memorial Gardens.

Julian Ellis VanSickle

JULIAN ELLIS VANSICKLE, 71

V. President VanSickle Ind.

LAKELAND - Julian Ellis VanSickle, 71, died Thursday, July 19 of respiratory failure. At his side were his wife, children and grandchildren.

Born in Franklin, Kentucky, Julian grew up in Rocky River, Ohio. He was Vice President of VanSickle Industries/Cleveland Wheels and Brakes until the company was sold and he relocated to Lakeland in 1977. He then spent the next ten years developing rental property off Drane Field Road near the Lakeland airport.

Julian was known nationwide for his interest in live steam engines as a hobby and throughout the years built numerous engines. He is a past president of the Ridge Live Steam Club and the Florida Live Steamers. He enjoyed sharing his knowledge with others interested in the hobby and encouraged others who were interested in building engines, both steam and diesel. He helped found the Ridge Live Steamers, which has a site in Dundee, Florida.

He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and is survived by his wife Sheila (Huffman Dailey) VanSickle and the following children: Lynn Turk (husband Rodney); John VanSickle (wife Charlotte); Donna Harris (husband Eldrich); Dianna Chizmas (husband Steve); Deanna Carrol (husband Michael); Dezra Cherry; stepson Ronald Huffman Dailey and sister Linda Smith (husband Dr. Tom) of Dallas, TX. He also had 17 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in the fall at the Ridge Live Steamers location in Dundee and in lieu of flowers donations can be made to the Ridge Live Steamers, 7750 N. Scenic Highway, Lake Wales, Fl 33898.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Ralph Kochan

RALPH KOCHAN, 86

CLEARWATER - Ralph Kochan, 86, passed away, Thursday, July 19 at Morton Plant Hospital after a long illness.

Mr. Kochan was formerly a longtime resident of Polk County. He was active in the Shriners and the Winter Haven Masonic Lodge and had served in the Coast Guard during WWII. He and his wife of 64 years, Iris Rose, had been members of Temple Emanuel of Lakeland and B'nai B'rith.

Mr. Kochan is survived by his wife; daughters, Jane Kochan and Joan Kochan, son and daughter-in-law, Dennis and Janeen Kochan, grand-daughter Kimberly Tassone; and sister Florence Fingerhut.

A family service was held on Friday, July 20. Donations can be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children and Hadassah Medical Center in lieu of flowers.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

John "Jack" Hartney

John "Jack" Hartney

MULBERRY - Mr. John "Jack" Hartney, age 80, passed away July 17, 2007 of pneumonia.

Mr. Hartney was born in Buffalo, NY on Jan. 31, 1927, to Francis and Florence Hartney. He was a graduate of Hobart College in New York, and a Navy Veteran of World War II. Mr. Hartney later worked for Kerr McGee as the director of sales. He was a member of the Elks Lodge, Imperial Lakes Country Club, and Resurrection Catholic Church. He was a devoted husband and family man.

Mr. Hartney is survived by his wife of 60 years, Loraine; sons, Kevin and Jeffrey; daughters, Carol and Susan; brothers, Robert and Frank; 12 grandchildren; and 2 great grandchildren.

Visitation will be Sunday from 3 to 5 pm at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. A memorial mass will be conducted on Tues. at Resurrection Catholic Church at 10 am, followed by a graveside service at Florida National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to American Heart Association, P.O. Box 21475, St. Petersburg, FL 33742.

Thomas M. Lowery, III

THOMAS M. LOWERY, III, 83

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - Thomas M. Lowery, III, 83, died of heart failure 7/16/07.

Service 10:30 am Saturday, July 21, 2007 at Oak Hill Burial Park. Visitation will be  9:45-10:15am. at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Alice Hathcock Duckworth

ALICE HATHCOCK DUCKWORTH, 68

PLANT CITY - Mrs. Alice Hathcock Duckworth, age 68, died on July 18, 2007 of complications from cancer.

She was born on September 4, 1938 in Opp, AL. She is survived by her husband, Eddie Duckworth, Plant City, FL, sons, Kenneth Sprouse and wife, Dena, Valrico, FL, Michael Sprouse and wife Stacey of Polk City, FL., daughter, Debra Veasey and husband Nick Henderson of Winter Haven; brothers, Rickey Veasey, Plant City, FL and Rex Veasey Wewahitchca, FL, sisters, Hazel Hussey, Banks, AL, Ann Hosteller, Seffner, FL., Barbara Hittell, Plant City & Judy Newman Plant City, 5 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.

Memorial services will be Saturday July 21 at 4:00pm at Gentry-Morrison Southside. In lieu of Flowers donations to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

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Beatrice S. Crown

BEATRICE S. CROWN, 69

LAKELAND - Beatrice S. Crown, 69, died of heart failure 7/18/07.

Survived by husband, Leon; son, Percy; daughter, Wendy; 4 grandchildren.

Arrangements by  Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes Steen Chapel.

Brittany Nichole Doreen Stickney

BRITTANY NICHOLE DOREEN STICKNEY, 18

LAKELAND - Brittany Nichole Doreen Stickney, age 18, died Monday, July 16, 2007 due to injuries from an automobile accident.

She was born August 19, 1988 in Bartow and attended First Baptist Church at the Mall.
She is survived by daughter, Karly Odalys Trejo, Lakeland, mother, Sharon Robson, Lakeland, father, David W. Stickney, Springfield, Mo., brothers, Stevon Robson, Lakeland, Robert Bebee, Auburndale, David Stickney, Dover, sister, Cindy Bebee, Lakeland, grandparents, Beverly and Floyd Bebee, Lakeland, grandmother, Hazel Crunk, grandfather, Bill (Wanda) Stickney, step grandmother, Frances Robson, Lakeland.

A funeral service will be held Friday, July 20, 2007 at 10:00 AM at Grove Park Christian Church. The visitation will be held prior to the service from 9-10 AM at the church.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison at Serenity Gardens.

Bess L. Jones

BESS L. JONES, 75

LAKELAND - Bess L. Jones, 75 of Lakeland, died Tuesda y, July 17, 2007 at Good Shepherd Hospice, Auburndale of congestive heart failure.

She was born February 22, 1932 in McKeesport, PA to Stacy and Ina (Rodgers) Fletcher and moved to Lakeland in 1961.  Bess was united in marriage in 1970 to Charles "Farmer" Jones who preceded her in death on February 20, 1986. She is survived by her sons, Donnie (Lisa) Topper, Jr. and Stacy (Joan) Topper, both of Lakeland; daughters, Dana (Richard, Jr.) Massey and Colleen (Scott) Wade, both of Lakeland; a brother, Stacy Fletcher of Denver, PA; sisters, Emma Zimmer of Melbourne, FL, Nedra Bassler of Lakeland and Ina Mulbair of Ocala; thirteen grandchildren and three great grandchildren also survive.

Bess attended the United Methodist Temple; was an avid traveler, but most of all her world was her love and devotion to her family.

Friends will be received on Friday from 6-8pm at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Duke-Steen Chapel where funeral services will be held 1pm on Saturday. Private interment will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to Good Shepherd Hospice, Auburndale.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Dukes-Steen Chapel.