Heath Funeral Chapel

Lakeland - Dorothy Schoener Holmes, 80, passed away on Monday, May 16, 2022. She was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania on September 17, 1941, to the late Charles and Martha Schoener. A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 23, 2022, at 10:00 am at Florida Presbyterian Homes Chapel, 16 Lake Hunter Drive, Lakeland, Florida 33803. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heathfuneralchapel.com.

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away on April 25, 2022. Jo Ann was born to Lawrence Henry and JoHanna Heggie Smith Siebers on November 20, 1935. JoAnn was raised in Tooele, UT and attended schools there through high school. She then attended Utah State University and graduated with a degree in Journalism. She met John David Rice there and they married shortly after graduation. She began her writing career at the Salt Lake Tribune as an advice columnist under the pseudonym "Dear Debbie". John and Jo Ann graduated together from Utah State. John's U.S. Air Force career took them to Texas, California, Alaska, and Maryland. Jo Ann taught school on the Air...

Loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend passed away on April 25, 2022. Jo Ann was born to Lawrence Henry and JoHanna Heggie Smith Siebers on November 20, 1935. JoAnn was raised in Tooele, UT and attended schools there through high school. She then attended Utah State University and graduated with a degree in Journalism. She met John David Rice there and they married shortly after graduation. She began her writing career at the Salt Lake Tribune as an advice columnist under the pseudonym "Dear Debbie". John and Jo Ann graduated together from Utah State. John's U.S. Air Force career took them to Texas, California, Alaska, and Maryland. Jo Ann taught school on the Air...

Ruth "Alberta" (Studebaker) Russell, 101, passed away at Lakeland Regional Hospital in Lakeland, Florida on April 2, 2022. She was born on July 13, 1920, in Delaware County, Indiana to Walter & Grace Studebaker. She graduated from Royerton High School, Delaware Co in 1938. On June 10, 1978, she married Charles O Russell who preceded her in death on Jan 23, 2001. She had worked at H.L. Green Co in Muncie IN, Delaware Co Dept of Public Welfare, J.F. Brewer Accounting and retired in 1981 as Office Manager for The Lions Club Delaware County Fair, Inc., Muncie, IN. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lakeland, FL. Where she was a past member of the Cathedral Choir and...

Phyllis Stephens Luke passed away peacefully on March 1, 2022. She was born on March 1, 1938, in Hollywood, Florida, to Eloise and Carrol Stephens. The family moved to Ft. Meade, Florida, while she was very young. She grew up there and attended, and graduated from, Ft. Meade High School. She was active in the Ft. Meade Baptist Church and participated in mission trips to Ohio and North Carolina. After high school, she entered Florida State University where she graduated in 1960 with a major in-home economics. In August 1960, Phyllis began a teaching career as a home economics teacher at Belle Glade High School. There she met Therrell Luke, a teacher, and coach, at the high school. ...

Herman Guy Smith, Jr., of Lakeland, FL, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, February 12, 2022. He was 80 years old. Guy was born May 22, 1941, in Gulf Hammock, FL to Herman Sr. and Irene Smith. He graduated top of his class from Chiefland High School in 1958 at the age of 16. As an active young man, he played football, basketball, baseball and loved fishing with his father throughout the abundant Florida fishing holes near his childhood home. He attended Florida State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in Criminology and Corrections. After college, he began work as a juvenile counselor in Tampa, FL, where he met and married Linda Creighton Smith in 1963. ...

Jackie Thrift Cotellis, age 69, passed away on Monday, January 31, 2022, in Lakeland after a long battle with multiple sclerosis. Jackie was born on June 18, 1952, in Jacksonville, Florida. She graduated from Terry Park High School in Jacksonville in 1970 and attended Jacksonville University. She worked at Prudential Insurance, Florida National Bank, and Penn Mutual Insurance in Jacksonville. Jackie met her future husband, George Cotellis in August 1970 at a disco/restaurant called "Some Place Else" located on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. They married on April 15, 1972. Jackie and her husband and their two children moved to Lakeland in 1987 where she was a housewife and mother....

James Allen Cooper, 79, of Lakeland, passed away on Saturday, January 22, 2022. He was born in Greencastle, Indiana on July 6, 1942, to the late Leonard and Marilene Cooper. James graduated from Greencastle High School on May 24, 1961, and served in the United States Army during Vietnam. He worked as a Sales Representative for most of his career. James is preceded in death by his brother, Bill Cooper and nephew, Buster Cooper. He is survived by his nieces, Theresa "Terri" McDonald, Kimberly Cooper, nephew, Ed Cooper and many other loving family members and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to VISTE, Volunteers in Service to the Elderly, 1232 E. Magnolia Street, Lakeland, FL...

Carl Buddy Fairchild, 76, of Polk City, FL, and originally Charleston, WV, passed away peacefully with his son and daughter(-in-law) by his side on December 10, 2021. He graduated from Charleston High School in 1963, and Transylvania University in 1967. He is survived by Scott and Amy Fairchild, and grandchildren Marcus, Carl, and Trinity. In accordance with his long-held wishes, there will be a celebration of life service in Polk City, FL, on March 27, 2022. He will be dearly missed. Please consider a donation to Cornerstone Hospice (FL) in his name. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.HeathFuneralChapel.com.

Lakeland - Muriel Wasmuth Berry passed away peacefully on September 25, 2021. She was born in 1935 in Davenport, New York. She moved to Lakeland, Florida from Troy, New York in 1955. She worked as a secretary in the medical and engineering/construction field. Muriel enjoyed retirement with her pets and voraciously loved reading. She loved taking vacations to Georgia and driving the back roads. Muriel selflessly poured her heart and soul into the love and care of her children. She was preceded in death by her husband, Vernon Berry, Sr; her mother and father; and two brothers. She is survived by her children; Vernon Berry, Jr. (Lori), Heather Berry, and Brian Berry (Sherry); brother,...

Gretchen Ann Radcliffe, 73, passed peacefully on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 in Lakeland, FL Born April 15, 1948 in Reading, PA to Charles and Miriam Altenderfer, she lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida as a devoted wife of forty-nine years to Charles W Radcliffe and a loving mother to Heather, Brent, and Garrett. Gretchen loved volunteering in life through her countless hours with PTA, Campfire, Boy Scouts, and her children's schools. In her spare time she also enjoyed music and singing, puzzles, sea shells, studying food and wine, following the giraffes and baby tigers at Animal Adventure Park, and especially cooking extraordinary food for friends and family. Gretchen was preceded...

Gretchen Ann Radcliffe, 73, passed peacefully on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 in Lakeland, FL Born April 15, 1948 in Reading, PA to Charles and Miriam Altenderfer, she lived in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Florida as a devoted wife of forty-nine years to Charles W Radcliffe and a loving mother to Heather, Brent, and Garrett. Gretchen loved volunteering in life through her countless hours with PTA, Campfire, Boy Scouts, and her children's schools. In her spare time she also enjoyed music and singing, puzzles, sea shells, studying food and wine, following the giraffes and baby tigers at Animal Adventure Park, and especially cooking extraordinary food for friends and family. Gretchen was preceded...

William Maurice Hackett was born March 10, 1929, in Duluth, Minnesota and passed away on August 28, 2021, in Lakeland, FL. He spent many years in and loved the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. He proudly served in the US Air Force and fought in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He was a devout Catholic and a proud member of St. Anthony Catholic Church of Lakeland, Florida. He fell in love with and married Faye De Guise and gained two sons in the bargain. Both sons survived him: Tim (Tammy) De Guise of Bland, Virginia, and Brian (Beth) De Guise of Bloomfield Township, Michigan. His family was very important to him, and he is survived by many loving nieces and nephews. Many people knew and...

Michael George Gilleece, born 2/11/1977 in Utica, NY, was called home by God on 8/12/2021 at age 44. The son of Christine Lounsbury Gilleece and John Paul Gilleece. Michael was born with a very rare condition called Carpenter's Syndrome and triumphed over many surgical procedures throughout his life and surpassed all expectations, even earning his associates degree in accounting. Throughout his life he always maintained an upbeat attitude and always had a smile. He will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Predeceased by his father John Paul Gilleece, paternal and maternal grandparents, Uncles George Lounsbury and Clavenee "Dobie" Gilleece, Sisters Claire Gilleece and Melissa, Aunt and...

LAKELAND - Marvin Lee McDaniel passed away at home on July 6, 2021. He was born August 7, 1936, in Washington County, VA, to Ernest and Abbie (Collier) McDaniel. He lived there for the first few years of his life, then moved to Sarasota, FL. Marvin graduated from Sarasota High School in 1954 and soon enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served in the Army until 1964. He then returned to Sarasota and joined the Florida National Guard, where he continued to serve until 1981. He went to work for GTE and retired from there after 25 years of service in the Engineering Department. Following his retirement from GTE, he worked as a contractor both overseas and in the US in telephony. Marvin later...

Mary Ellen Moore Fielder departed earthly life for her next adventure on June 27, 2021, at the end of a long illness. She took her leave at home in Lakeland surrounded by family. Those remaining behind take great joy in the certainty that she is reveling in reunion with loved ones who have gone before. Mary Ellen was born in Parsons, Kansas to TJ and Valetta (Howard) Moore on March 25, 1935. She grew up in Parsons and graduated from Parsons Senior High School in 1953. She married her childhood sweetheart, O. H. Fielder, Jr. (Buddy) in Parsons on November 9, 1952. The Fielders raised their two children, Mike, and Paula, in Kansas, Missouri, Alabama, and Florida. Mary Ellen was the...

John E. Marchant 100, of Lakeland, Florida, passed away April 29, 2021. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 60 years Shirley Marchant. He was a son of the late William and Jessie King Marchant. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Virgil Marchant, and sister, Ruth Beatty. Mr. Marchant was a US Army Air Corps WWII Veteran having served in the South Pacific. He is survived by 2 sons, Jay Lowrey (Andra) Marchant, of Mulberry and Scott E. Marchant of Lakeland, daughter, Catherine Roberts of Merritt Island, 10 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren 3 great great grandchildren, sister, Janelle Orrico (Charles) of Springville, VA, 5 nieces and 2 nephews. Services will be conducted...

Lakeland - Renee Sonia Elder passed away Thursday, March 4, 2021. She was born in Boston to Kenneth Matthew and Gloria Fontes. Beloved wife to Tony - the Love of his life. She worked as a Certified Nurse Assistant, at Hawthorne Village of Brandon, Fl. Renee loved baking cakes and cookies for others; and was beautifully talented in so many of the arts. Renee is survived by her husband Tony and her children, Stephen Atwell, Lorenzo Atwell, and Sonia Atwell; and her many grandchildren; her father Kenneth Matthew, all of her brothers, sisters, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, uncles, and aunts - too numerous to list. Know that all of you were loved. Renee was...

Lakeland - Wayne Nelson Brumbley, 74, died on February 28, 2021. He was born on August 6, 1946 in Salisbury, Maryland. Wayne graduated from Wicomico Senior High School on June 1965 and enlisted in the Air Force on December 10, 1965. He served in the Vietnam War and was a proud veteran. He then worked as an installer for the telephone company. Wayne was known for his volunteer work for disabled American veterans. He loved his family and always made time for his daughter and grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his mother and father, Mildred Catherine and Romie Brumbley; brother, Donald Brumbley and sister, Margaret. He is survived by his daughter, Melissa Brumbley LaFerrara (Troy);...

Lakeland: Nellene M. Timpner, 92, of Lakeland, died on February 10, 2021. She was born on February 3, 1929 to Leon and Feleta Martin in Rockdale, Texas. Nellene was a homemaker, who loved to sew and cook. She also helped run the family business, South Lake Feed store in Clermont, for several years. Nellene was of the Baptist faith and was a loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and friend to all who knew her. She was preceded in death by her husband William Frenz Timpner, son, Mike Timpner and her son in law, Stuart Baldick, Jr. She is survived by her children, William Timpner, Jr. (Peggy), Wade Timpner (Becky), Linda Baldick, her daughter in law, Teri Timpner; her grandchildren,...

Lakeland - Henry Falcon passed away Monday, January 18, 2021. He migrated from Cuba on July 29, 1971, and later became a proud American U.S. Citizen. He was the son of Marcelo and Laura Falcon. He was the greatest husband to Ana Falcon and proud father of Jessica (Aaron) and Jackie (Greivin), and Papi to Briana, Tatiana, Blake, Jovany, and Bryce. They were his pride and joy. A man that this family believes has the biggest heart in the world, Henry is the world's best husband, father, grandfather, father-in-law, and friend, and even if he did not know you, he would impact anyone's life, especially if he was telling jokes. Henry was employed for 48 years with Winn-Dixie Stores, Inc., and...