Obituaries

Raymond Wilcox

RAYMOND WILCOX, 61

Teacher

LAKELAND -Raymond Wilcox, 61, passed away 12/27/2008 due to respiratory failure.

Survived by loving family.

Memorial service will be held at a later date in Fitzgerald, GA.

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

Barbara A. Smith

BARBARA A. SMITH, 66

LAKELAND - Barbara A. Smith, 66 died Mon. 12/29/08 due to cancer.

Survived by loving family.

Memorial Services 11am Friday at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Dukes-Steen Chapel.

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

Gary O. Jackson

GARY O. JACKSON, 56

LAKELAND - Mr. Gary Jackson, 56, passed away 12/22/08 of heart failure.

A memorial service will be conducted Fri. 10 am at Gentry-Morrison Southside Chapel.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Howard C. Dittrich

  HOWARD C. DITTRICH, 86

T & D Metal Products

LAKELAND - Mr. Howard C. Dittrich, 86, of Lakeland passed away Saturday December 27, 2008 due to complications of heart failure.

Mr. Dittrich was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on February 7, 1946. He was a devote Catholic, being educated at Saint Thomas in Crystal Lake, Illinois.

He started T & D Metal Products in 1952 in Garden Prairie, Illinois and moved to Belvidere, IL and later to Watseka, IL where his son Roger continues to operate the business. Howard during his retirement traveled with his wife throughout the United States in an R.V. for 10 years before settling in Florida. Mr. Dittrich retired in 1986 and moved to Florida in 1990 from Watseka, Illinois. He was the first ever Civil Defense Director for Boone County, Illinois. He was a Lt. Governor with Kiwanis, member of the American Legion in Watseka, IL, and a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus.

Mr. Dittrich was preceded in death by his parents, Mary & Herbert Dittrich; sister, Angela McDonald; brother, Robert Dittrich; and a son, Ronald Dittrich. His survivors include his wife of 66 years, Marjorie Dittrich, daughter Paulette Jager; son, Roger (Dianna) Dittrich; daughter, Susan (Douglas) Silberhorn; daughter-in-law, Ilsa Dittrich; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice or the Santa Fe Catholic High School, both in Lakeland Florida.

A funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday December 31, 2008 at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph's Catholic Church. A memorial service will be held at the Estates at Carpenters later that afternoon. An interment and memorial service will take place in Northern Illinois at a later date.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

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Jean E. Blythe

JEAN E. BLYTHE, 80

LAKELAND - Ms. Jean Blythe, 80, passed away 12/29/08 of cancer.

Services will be conducted in Pittsburgh, PA.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Anne H. Saunders

ANNE H. SAUNDERS, 69

Registered Nurse

LAKELAND- Anne H. Sauders died Mon., Dec. 22 at LRMC of heart failure.

Visitation Friday (Dec. 26, 2008) from 6-8 pm and Saturday (Dec. 27, 2008) from 12-2pm with service at Gentry-Morrison Northside.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

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Michael Koegel

MICHAEL KOEGEL, 62

LAKELAND- Michael Koegel, died 12/23/08 of cancer.

He is survived by his loving family.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.

Jerry Michael (Mike) Logan

JERRY MICHAEL (MIKE) LOGAN, 66

Veteran

LAKELAND - Jerry Michael (Mike) Logan, 66, of Lakeland, Florida died Saturday, December 20, 2008 at Lakeland Regional Medical Center due to heart failure.
Mike was born September 26, 1942 in Laurel, Mississippi to Robert and Irma Logan. He moved to Lakeland, Florida in the mid 60's. He was a proud graduate of Ole Miss where he received a BS in business and an MBA. Mike was a veteran of the United States Air Force and after an honorable discharge he devoted his career to pharmaceutical sales. He worked in various positions for Parke-Davis, Warner Lambert and Pfizer Corporation. Mike distinguished himself with each position and held the title of South-East Regional Sales Manager when he retired from Pfizer.
Since his retirement, Mike devoted himself to a number of charities and political causes. He was proud to be a member of the Republican Party Executive Committee and Co-Chairman of the Watson Clinic Foundation Auxiliary. While serving as Friend of the Center for Cancer Care and Research, Mike helped to raise over $148,000 for this cause.

Mile was an accomplished golfer and member of Grassland Country Club, where he won numerous tournaments.

He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 39 years, Linda Sue Logan.

Visitation will be Friday, December 26, 2008 from 6:00 - 8:00pm at Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd, Lakeland. Funeral services will be Saturday, December 27, 2008, 11:00am in the funeral home chapel. Burial will follow at Oak Hill Burial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Watson Clinic Foundation Auxiliary (Friends of the Center for Cancer Care and Research). P.O. Box 6257, Lakeland, FL 33807. (In Memory of J. Michael Logan).

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Carey Earl Kelley

CAREY EARL KELLEY,82

Fruit Inspector

LAKELAND - Mr. Carey E. Kelley died 12/22/08 from heart failure.

Survivors; brother, Merwin Kelley; sister, Carolyn Harrison.

Arrangement by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel..

Gary O. Jackson

GARY O. JACKSON,56

Construction

LAKELAND - Mr. Gary O. Jackson, 56, passed away December 22, 2008 of heart failure.

Mr. Jackson was born on August 25, 1952 in Lakeland to the late Albert and Freida Jackson. Mr. Jackson's hobbies included carpentry and fishing.

Mr. Jackson is survived by his brother, Art (Jack) Jackson of Morriston, FL; sisters, Lavonne Williams of Lakeland and Janice Gilchrest of Lakeland; caring companion,
LaVerle Nichols.

A memorial service will be conducted Friday, January 2, 2009 at 10a.m. at Gentry-Morrison
Southside Chapel, 1727 Bartow Rd., Lakeland. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 11207 Blue Heron Blvd. N., St. Petersburg, FL 33716.

Arrangement by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.