BEATRICE ALVAREZ, 91
LAKELAND - Beatrice Alvarez passed away on Tuesday, 6/28/11 of complications of dementia.
Survived by 2 brothers, John and Charles (Linda) Alvarez.
Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.
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B. Franklin Webster, III
B. FRANKLIN WEBSTER, III, 96
LAKELAND - Mr. B. Franklin Webster, III age 96, passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 26, 2011 at home due to heart failure.
Frank was born on February 20, 1915 in Colorado Springs, CO to Benjamin F. and Elva Webster. Frank retired from the Poughkeepsie Journal, NY in 1971 and moved to Rio Rancho, NM. In 2001 he and his loving wife of 70 years moved to Lakeland. Frank was a kind, generous, loving husband and father and a friend to everyone he met.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Peggy Fredericks and is survived by his wife Evelyn; two daughters, Karen Tabor and Linda Hayes, both of Lakeland; 2 grandsons; 3 granddaughters and 8 great grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made in Frank's honor to the Ballut Abyad Crippled Children's Tran-sportation Fund or the Shriners Hospitals for Children in Tampa. Interment will be in the family plot in Evergreen Cemetery in Colorado Springs, CO.
Arrangements have been made through Gentry-Morrison Dukes Steen Chapel in Lakeland, Florida.
Ken A. Zerth
KEN ZERTH, 42
Softwood Mulch Products
LAKELAND - Mr. Kenneth Allan Zerth, 42, passed away while playing softball on Thursday, June 23, 2011 due to heart failure.
Ken was born on December 7, 1968 to Richard and Barbara Zerth in Chicago, IL. He moved to Lakeland in 2006 from Chicago. He was a truck driver for Softwood Mulch Products. Ken was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church, co-founder of the St. Anthony School Drama Club, and the Softball Team.
Ken is survived by his wife of 19 years, Melissa A. Zerth; son, Austin Zerth; daughters, Aman-da, Amber, Anna, Autumn and Allaina Zerth; parents, Richard and Barbara Zerth; maternal grandparents, Dennis and Lorrie Wlodarczyk; bro-ther, Kevin (Rebecca) Zerth; sister, Kimberly (Todd) Bumsted; nieces and nephews, Kandis, Justin, Kevin, Johnnie and Jayson Zerth, Trevor, Clayton, Tegan and Tylar Bumsted; and Godfather to Nicholas Bulthuis, (U.S. Marine Corps) and Ashlee Zingarelli.
A visitation will be held today, June 28, 2011 from 4 to 8 PM at Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel. A funeral Mass will be on Wednesday at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony Catholic Church.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.
Carroll D. Smyers
CARROLL D. SMYERS, 96
U.S. Treasury Dept.
LAKELAND - Mr. Carroll D. Smyers passed away on Saturday June 25, 2011 due to natural causes.
He was born in Omaha, NE and moved to this area from Houston, TX in 1986. Carroll was a U.S. Marine Corp veteran of WWII. He graduated from Creighton University Law School, and practiced before the United States Customs Court and Federal Court, including the U.S. Supreme Court. Carroll also served as Assistant Deputy Commissioner, Customs Service, U.S. Dept. of Treasury in Washington DC. Before retirement, Carroll served as the Regional Counsel for the Customs Service in Houston, TX.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Marion G. Smyers. Survivors include his son, Steve Smyers and his wife, Sherrin of Lakeland, daughter, Diane Baldwin of Phoenix, AZ and two grandsons, Trent and Scott Smyers.
Interment with military honors will take place at Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, FL. Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison / Dukes-Steen Funeral Home.
Genny Mitchell-Gallerani
GENNY MITCHELL-GALLERANI, 83
Manheim Auto Auctions
ZEPHYRHILLS - Genny Mitchell-Gallerani, 83, formerly of Lakeland, passed away in Zephyrhills on June 22, due to complications from cancer.
Genny was a 13 year resident of Zephyrhills, moving there after living in Lakeland since 1955. She retired in 2009 after 20 years as a title clerk with Manheim Auto Auctions, in Tampa. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Zephyrhills, the Antique Auto Club of Central Florida, and Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Genny was preceded in death by her first husband Irvin in 1997, and is survived by her husband John Gallerani, a son Mitch Mitchell and his wife Christine, two daughters Mary Wheeler and Bill, and Penny Sutton; two stepdaughters Carol Graves and Karen Dee; 11 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.
Funeral services will take place on Saturday, June 25 at 11:00 am at the Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, 5245 US 98 N, with burial to follow in Lakeland Memorial Gardens. Friends are invited to call on Saturday beginning at 10:00 am.
The family has requested that donations be made to Gulfside Regional Hospice, 5760 Dean Dairy Rd., Zephyrhills, FL 33541.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Northside Chapel.
Richard Thomas McDonald
RICHARD THOMAS McDONALD, 45
LAKELAND - - Mr. Richard Thomas McDonald died Tuesday June 21, 2011 due to heart failure.
He was born on August 2, 1965 in Lakeland, FL. Richard graduated from Lakeland High School and the University of Florida. He was co-owner of Polk Pump and Irrigation, Floralawn Landscape and Premier Pest Control. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, scuba diving, teaching Bible classes, coaching soccer and gardening.
Richard is survived by his wife, Nicole Stout McDonald, sons, Caleb and Levi McDonald of Lakeland, parents, Tom-my and Jean McDonald of Lakeland, sisters, Alisa Strike (Jay) of Valrico, Melissa Roberts (Ben) of Lakeland, brother in law, Timothy Stout (Barb) of Alabama, sisters in law, Jody Fetz (Greg), Mindy Wilkins (Allen), Susie Peck (Derek), Angie Webb (Mark), Heather Averitt (Rob), Kristin Walker (Steve), Jennifer Bush (Korey), all of Lakeland, 28 nieces and nephews, 1 great-nephew and special friend, Grandy Streets.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, June 25th at 11:00am, at Family Worship Center, 1850 E. Main Street, Lakeland with visitation beginning at 9:30am. Interment will follow at Serenity Gardens, 3350 Mall Hill Drive, Lakeland. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Lakeland Christian School, In Memory of Rich McDonald, 1111 Forest Park Street, Lakeland, FL 33803.
Arrangements by Gentry Morrison Funeral Homes, Southside Chapel
Carl E. Mears, Sr.
CARL E. MEARS, Sr., 79
Phoschem
BARTOW - Mr. Carl E. Mears, Sr., 79, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2011 as the result of heart failure.
Mr. Mears was born in Pierce, Florida on Jan. 9, 1932 to the late George L. Mears and Lois Parrish Mears, and remained a lifelong resident of Polk County. He served in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman during the Korean Conflict and was the Co-Founder of Phoschem Supply Company in Mulberry. Mr. Mears was an avid sportsman and family man.
He is survived by his wife, Sylvia H. Mears; sons, Carl "Skip" (Glenda) Mears, Jr., George "Bud" (Leslie) Mears and Mark (Judy) Mears; brother Edgar Mears; grandchildren, Kristi (Jamie) Self, Lauren (Trey) Hall, Matthew Mears, Beau Mears, Kyle Mears, Carl "Trey" Mears, III, and Kacie Mears; great grandchildren, Shelby and Lane Hall, Emma, Ben and Carolina Self.
Graveside services will be conducted Friday at 10 am at Wildwood Cemetery. The family will welcome friends to the Mears residence following the graveside service for memories and refreshments. The family wishes to thank Comfort Keepers and Good Shepherd Hospice for their exceptional care. In Carl's honor, donations may be made to Good Shepherd Hospice, 105 Arneson Ave., Auburndale, FL 33823.
Arrangements by Gentry-Morrison Funeral Home, Southside Chapel.
