Obituaries

Janice M. Clifford

JANICE M. CLIFFORD, 82

Winship's Drug Store

LAKELAND - Janice M. Clifford, 82, sadly passed away Monday, February 9, 2009 of heart failure.

She had spent the last 8 years living in Lakeland being active with the Foster Grandparents Program, Polk Theatre and she was the 2004 Dixieland Elementary volunteer of the year. She came to Lakeland from Lake Park, FL. where she was employed for 25 years with Winship's Drugs. While living in Lake Park, she was active with her community as a volunteer with the Lake Park Police Department C.O.P.S. program, school volunteer, League of Women Voters, and Dixie Christmas Parade.

Jan is survived by her son & daughter-in-law Jeff and Mary Ann Clifford of Lakeland; daughter Shelley Tarr of Atlanta, and five wonderful grandsons, Justin, Matthew, Gage, Evan and Collin. Also survived is her loving older sister, Shirley Smith and her family in Canton, Ohio.

She was dearly loved by her family, her friends and her community. She was an avid animal lover and treasured her beautiful cat, Bandit. She was an amazing person, she struggled as a young, divorced working mom with no car; and her perseverance inspired the best in everyone. It was an honor and blessing for anyone to have known her and been a part of her life.

A celebration of Jan's life will be Sat., Feb. 28th in Lake Park, Fl. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a local SPCA.

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

Donald S. Burick

DONALD S. BURICK, 74

Westinghouse Electric

LAKELAND - Donald S. Burick, 74, passed away at home on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, due to cancer.

Mr. Burick was born in Midland, PA, on April 22, 1934, and worked as an Assembler for Westinghouse Electric. He moved to Lakeland in l997, remaining active with the Knights of Columbus as well as volunteering with Red Cross and Watson Clinic. He was a member of St. Anthony's Catholic Church Parish.

Mr. Burick is survived by his wife, Agatha; sons: Donald Jr., Richard and Paul Burick; daughter, Lois Findlan; brothers: Andrew, Joe and Thomas Burick; sisters: Dorothy, Dolores and Rosemarie.

Visitation will be held Friday, February 27, from 6-8:00 p.m., at the Gentry-Morrison Northside Chapel. A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, February 28, 11:00 a.m., at St. Anthony's Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Good Shepherd Hospice or St. Anthony's Catholic Church.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel. 

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Madelyne Martha Fisher

MADELYNE MARTHA FISHER, 83

LAKELAND - Mrs. Madelyne Martha Fisher, 83 of Lakeland, died Sunday, February 22, 2009 at her home due to heart failure.

Madelyne was born October 9, 1925 in Grand Rapids, MI to Peter and Jeanette (Dekker) Korstanje and moved to Lakeland in 2001 from Ruskin.

She was united in marriage on May 17, 1948 to Donald L. Fisher who preceded her in death in 1999. Madelyne is survived by her sons, Bob (Nancy) Fisher of Lakeland and Rick (Sharon) Fisher of Seattle; a sister, Dorothy Metz of Arizona; sister-in-law, Martha Weber of Cincinnati and two grandchildren, Bo and Tory Fisher both of Lakeland.

Memorial services will be held 10am Thursday at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Homes, Dukes-Steen Chapel, Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to either the Lakeland Christian School soccer program or to All Saints Episcopal Church building program.

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

 

Deborah Francine Ross

  DEBORAH FRANCINE ROSS, 70

Volunteer Services
Coordinator

LAKELAND - Mrs. Deborah Francine Ross, 70, passed away Friday, Feb. 20, 2009 due to cancer.

She was born in Boston, MA and moved to this area in 1989. Mrs. Ross is retired from Polk County as a coordinator of volunteer services. She is a member of Temple Emanuel, Dixieland Lions Club, and Polk County Family Caregivers. Mrs. Ross was a volunteer at Lakeland Regional Medical Center and served on the committee for The Lakeland Ledger's Newspaper with a Heart.

She is survived by husband, Richard of Lakeland; sons: Arthur (Jamie) Ross of Atlanta, GA, Robert (Linda) Ross of Lakeland; grandchildren: Amanda Ross, Maegan Leavens, Mitchell Leavens, Jason Ross and Nathan Ross.

Funeral services will be conducted Monday, February 23rd, 11:00 am at Gentry-Morrison/Dukes-Steen Funeral Home Chapel, 1833 S. Florida Ave. Interment will follow at Temple Emanuel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Avenue, Auburndale, FL. 33823.

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

Louis Sweet

LOUIS SWEET, 82

LAKELAND - Louis Sweet, 82, died Feb. 19 due to heart failure.

Service 11am on Monday, 2/23/09, at Florida National Cemetery.

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

Floyd Shiver

FLOYD SHIVER, 75

LAKELAND - Mr. Floyd Lee Shiver, 75, died 2/19/09 of heart failure.

Graveside services will be Saturday (2/21/09) at 1 pm at Oak Hill Burial Park.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Helen M. Elisens

HELEN M. ELISENS, 92

Beautician

LAKELAND - Helen M. Elisens, 92, died Feb. 21, 2009 of natural causes at Good Shepherd Hospice, Palm Terrace.

Survived by her loving family.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Frank Dean McAllister, Jr.

FRANK DEAN MCALLISTER, JR., 81

LAKELAND - Frank McAllister, 81, died Feb. 16, 2009 of heart failure.

He is survived by sons, Mark, Dean, sister, Nancy Rogers, 2 grandchildren.

Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Jessica Brantley Mann

  JESSICA BRANTLEY MANN, 60

CPA

LAKELAND - Mrs. Jessica Brantley Mann, 60, passed away Feb. 18, 2009 of a brain hemorrhage.

Jessica was born in Clewiston, FL on Dec. 18, 1948. She was a CPA at Mann & Mann, and a member of First United Methodist Church.

Jessica is survived by her husband of 38 years, Jack Mann; daughters, Jennifer Jones and Judi New; grandchildren, Callie and Warren Jones, and Riley New; sister, Judy Inghram.

A memorial service will be conducted Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009 at 10 A.M. A reception will follow in the narthex of the church. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Zoe Ministries C/O First United Methodist Church, 72 Lake Morton Drive, Lakeland, FL 33801.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.

Richard J. Holzschuh

RICHARD J. HOLZSCHUH, 73

LAKELAND - Mr. Richard J. Holzschuh, 73, passed away Tuesday February 17, 2009 at the Lakeland Regional Medical Center due to complications of heart failure.

Mr. Holzschuh was born June 15, 1935 in Rochester, New York to Joseph and Mary Holzschuh.

Richard moved to Lakeland in 1996 from Ontario, New York. He was a past president and member of the Cypress Lakes Homeowner's Association, a member of the Cypress Lakes Computer Club and a member of the St. Anthony's Parish.

Mr. Holzschuh is survived by his wife of 35 years, Carol Holzschuh of Lakeland, FL; three sons, Jeffrey Holzschuh of Greenwich, CT, Chris Holzschuh of Penfield, NY, and Scot Holzschuh of Discovery Bay, CA; grandchildren, Sarah, Adam, Ross, Kristen, Parker and Hailey; step-grandchildren, Brent, Heidi and Jonathan.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 A.M. at St. Anthony's Catholic Church.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation, P.O. Box 95448, Lakeland, Fl 33804.

Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.