Jan. 3, 2004

<p><B> Eugene S. Brantley</B></p><p> <li>Eugene S. Brantley of Grandin died Thursday at Shands at Starke. He was 85.</p><p> Mr. Brantley was born in Jacksonville and lived most of his life in Grandin. He was a retired printer for Clay Electric.</p><p> He was a 1937 graduate of Melrose High School and a veteran of World War II, having served in North Africa and the European theater.</p><p> He was co-founder and former president of Florahome-Grandin Volunteer Fire Department and a member of Putnam County School Board Advisory Council. He also helped organize Putnam County's firefighters' association, and served as president of Interlachen High School Board Boosters.</p><p> He was an ordained deacon and member of Gadara Baptist Church, and a former member of Eliam Baptist Church in Melrose.</p><p> He was preceded in death by a son, Charles Brantley.</p><p> Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Charleyene Brantley of Grandin; a daughter, Christine R. Tomlinson of Melrose; sons E. Reed Brantley of Grandin, David Brantley of Midland, Texas, Zan Brantley of Murphy, N.C., and Johnny Brantley of Interlachen; 10 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Moring Funeral Home in Melrose.</p><p><B> Alean Hammonds Brown</B></p><p> <li>Alean Hammonds Brown of Williston died Dec. 26 at Nature Coast Hospital after an extended illness. She was 85.</p><p> Mrs. Brown was born in Williston and attended Levy County schools.</p><p> She retired from the Orange County School Board as a janitor.</p><p> Mrs. Brown was a member of the Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church.</p><p> Survivors include sisters Ola Mae Hicks of Williston and Clara Lee Grant of Miami; brothers Sam Hammonds of Williston, Theodore Hammonds of Miami and Benjamin Hammonds of Williston.</p><p> Arrangements by Carnegie Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Jack Carmichael</B></p><p> <li>Jack Carmichael of Keystone Heights died Thursday at his home. He was 78.</p><p> Mr. Carmichael was born in Orlando and moved to Keystone Heights from Jacksonville in 1983. He was retired from the heavy-construction equipment parts and sales business. </p><p> He was a member of Keystone Heights United Methodist Church.</p><p> Survivors include his wife, Reeda Carmichael of Keystone Heights; a daughter, Terry Sumner of Blooming Rock, N.C.; a son, Tim Carmichael of Keystone Heights; a brother, Ralph Carmichael of Eaton Park; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Moring Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Johnny Carver</B></p><p> <li>Johnny Carver of Johnson died Wednesday in Gainesville. He was 66. </p><p> Mr. Carver was born in Douglas, Ga., and was a retired barber and general contractor.</p><p> He was a Mason, a member of Shriners, and a longtime member of the Carpenters Union. </p><p> Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Patricia Carver of Johnson, a son, Shawn Carver of Johnson; a daughter, Holly Henderson of Fernandina Beach; brothers Bobby Carver of Hilliard and Raymond Carver of Callahan; sisters Janie Nelson, Evelyn Guynn, Catherine Carver and Connie Carver, all of Hilliard, and Bonnie Cooper of Folkston, Ga.; and two grandchildren.</p><p><B> Robert Lamont Chick</B></p><p> <li>Robert Lamont Chick of Gainesville died Tuesday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 70.</p><p> Mr. Chick was born in Malden, Mass., and moved to Gainesville from Annadale, Va., in 1972. He was a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and assistant professor of military science at the University of Florida.</p><p> He served as an Army officer from 1956 to 1976, including overseas assignments in Korea, Germany and Vietnam, and later taught for three years at UF. He was also a former owner of a commercial photography studio and presentation slide production company.</p><p> He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church.</p><p> Survivors include his companion, Judy Varady of Gainesville; daughters Linda Chick Schriver of Jacksonville and Elizabeth Chick of Orlando; a sister, Barbara Stewart of Summerville, S.C.; and three grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.</p><p> <B> Walter Murray Edwards</B></p><p> <li>Walter Murray Edwards of Gainesville died Wednesday at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 81.</p><p> Dr. Edwards was born in Jacksonville and moved to Gainesville from Wilmington, Del., in 1997. He was a retired research chemist.</p><p> He received a bachelor's degree and master's degree from the University of Georgia and a Ph.D. from Ohio State University. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.</p><p> He was retired from E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. in Wilmington, where he worked as a research chemist and was responsible for a number of patents held by the company.</p><p> He was an Eagle Scout, a member of Phi Beta Kappa, served as a scout leader for 18 years, and was active in neighborhood associations. He was a Protestant. He enjoyed sailing, camping and skiing.</p><p> He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Walker Edwards, and a daughter, Lynn Edwards.</p><p> Survivors include his companion, Carolyn Holman of Gainesville; a son, Stuart Edwards of Washington, D.C.; a daughter, Lea Green of Washington, D.C.; and five grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Forest Meadows Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Linton E. Floyd III</B></p><p> <li>Linton E. "Gene" Floyd III of Gainesville died Wednesday at Palm Garden of Gainesville after an extended illness. He was 80.</p><p> Mr. Floyd was born in Pensacola and moved to Gainesville from Manilus, N.Y., in 1964. He was a retired industrial systems engineer.</p><p> He was a graduate of the University of Florida, and held numerous patents for General Electric and in the fiber optics industry. </p><p> He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War, and served in the 13th and 82nd Airborne. He was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville, Florida Blue Key, Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Sons of the American Revolution and Sons of Confederate Veterans.</p><p> He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane Fuller Floyd.</p><p> Survivors include a daughter, Jane F. Bullen of Tallahassee; sons Dr. Linton E. Floyd IV of Beltsville, Md., and John W. Floyd of Hawthorne; and three grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Susan G. Hamilton</B></p><p> <li>Susan G. Hamilton of Winter Springs, and formerly of Gainesville, died Wednesday in Longwood. She was 98.</p><p> She was born in Bascom and moved to Winter Springs from Thonotosassa. She was a retired nurse.</p><p> She was a member of Winter Springs Seventh-day Adventist Church.</p><p> Survivors include a daughter, Agnes Martin of Winter Springs; one grandchild; one great-grandchild; and one great- great-grandchild.</p><p> Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Alma Marie Havelock</B></p><p> <li>Alma Marie Havelock of Archer died Friday in Park Meadows in Gainesville. She was 88.</p><p> Mrs. Havelock was born in Trenton and moved to Archer from New Smyrna Beach in 1979. She was a retired licensed practical nurse.</p><p> She was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II. She was a past member of Gainesville Garden Club Founders Circle, Rose Society and Archer Womens Club, and a nationally accredited flower show master judge.</p><p> She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Archer.</p><p> She was preceded in death by her husband, John J. Havelock.</p><p> Survivors include a brother, Dan Bailey of Archer; and a sister, Ann Boulware of Gainesville.</p><p> Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Norma Jean Honeycutt</B></p><p> <li>Norma Jean Honeycutt of Gainesville died Dec. 24 at Shands at the University of Florida. She was 48.</p><p> Mrs. Honeycutt was born in Gainesville and was a lifelong area resident.</p><p> Survivors include her husband, Ernest Wayne Honeycutt of Bronson; a son, Charles Len Prevatt of Newberry; daughters Melody Duncan and Shannon Libby, both of Gainesville; her mother, Rosetta Duncan of Newberry; brothers Wesley Yawn of Fort White, Wade Yawn of Bronson and Christopher Duncan of Newberry; sisters Shirley Goble, Kathy Byrd and Judy Holt, all of Newberry, and Virgie Ellison of Perry; and seven grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Knauff Funeral Home.</p><p><B> Ollie Belle Schwall</B></p><p> <li>Ollie Belle Schwall of Gainesville died Sunday at Sunrise Assisted Living in Atlanta. She was 100.</p><p> Miss Schwall was born in Sandersville, Ga., and moved to Gainesville from Havana, Fla., in 1972. She was a retired administrative assistant for the state of Florida.</p><p> She was a member of North Central Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday school for more than 20 years. She lived for several years at The Atrium retirement community in Gainesville until 2000.</p><p> She is survived by a sister, Ilean Woodard of Lewes, Del.; and several nieces and nephews.</p><p> Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.</p><p><B> George August Sebring</B></p><p> <li>George August Sebring of Old Town died Tuesday at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. He was 74.</p><p> Mr. Sebring was moved to Old Town from Emmaus, Pa., in 1995. He was a retired assembly-line worker for Mack Trucks.</p><p> He was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Chiefland.</p><p> Survivors include his wife, Anna "Susie" Sebring of Old Town; sons David Sebring, Alan Sebring and Michael Sebring, all of Emmaus; a daughter Carolyn Krock of Zionsville, Pa.; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.</p><p> Arrangements by Rick Gooding Funeral Home in Cross City.</p><p><B> Ruby Lee Sirmans</B></p><p> <li>Ruby Lee Sirmans of Gainesville died Dec. 23. She was 85.</p><p> Mrs. Sirmans was born in Jasper and moved to Gainesville from Coral Springs in 1992. She was a homemaker.</p><p> She was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and Gainesville Woman's Club.</p><p> Survivors include a son, James R. Sirmans Jr. of Gainesville; brothers Jewett Law of Gainesville, Drew Law of Lake City and Nick Law of Jasper; sisters Eunice McLeod and Melba Smith, both of Jasper, and Virdie Moon of Jacksonville; and three grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Williams-Thomas Funeral Home.</p><p> <B> Robert Van Diver</B></p><p> <li>Robert Van Diver of Deltona, and formerly of Gainesville, died Dec. 18 at Deltona Healthcare. He was 85.</p><p> Mr. Van Diver was born in Mercer County, Ky., and was a retired supervisor for Florida Power and Light. He was a Mason, and a member of Shriners Club and Order of the Eastern Star.</p><p> He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the Korean War.</p><p> Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Marie Van Diver of Deltona; daughters Bobbie Lee Holden of Gainesville and Elizabeth Hunt of Tampa; stepdaughters Linda McDonald of St. Petersburg and Cynthia Veras of Lakeland; stepsons Edward Chenoweth of Portland, Ore., and Larry Chenoweth of Deltona; a brother, Frank Mac Van Diver of Bradenton; a sister, Myrtle Belt of Bradenton; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.</p><p> Arrangements by Volusia Memorial Funeral Home in Ormond Beach.</p>