Obituaries

May 19, 2023

Mrs. Patricia Synstead "Pat" Phillips, age 75, passed away Friday, May 19, 2023, at 1:45am at Haven Hospice in Lake City, Fl following an extended illness. She was born September 20, 1947, in Marinette, WI, to the late Carl and Dorothy Synstead. She is preceded in death by her parents and her brother Wayne Synstead, sister, Janice Gingras, and brother-in-law,...

May 17, 2023

In loving memory of Ida May Jewell who at 92 years old passed away peacefully at her residence May 17, 2023, surrounded by her loving family.

Preceding her in death is her husband of 62 years, Bob Jewell; her father John T. Edwards; her mother Edith M. Edwards; and her brother John T. Edwards, II.

She is survived by her...

May 14, 2023

Clyde Clinton Griffis, Jr. passed away on May 14, 2023, at the age of 85 in Starke, FL. He was born on November 4, 1937, in Lawtey, FL to his parents Clyde Sr. and Sybil Rosier Griffis and spent most of his childhood there. Clyde attended Bradford County High School and graduated in 1955. Afterward, he joined the US Air...

May 14, 2023

Elzie Allison Shadd, a loving husband to JoAnn Shadd, father of five, and a grandfather to six grandchildren passed away at his family home on May 14th, 2023 in his hometown of Raiford, FL. He was 78 years old.   Allison and was born on February 18th, 1945 to Elvin Shadd and Edna Varnes Shadd. He was a hard worker...

May 13, 2023

Margaret Louise Campbell, age 74, passed away peacefully on May 13th, 2023 in San Antonio, TX. She was born on May 23rd, 1948 in Jacksonville, FL to Lindsey Rowe Jr. and Willa Starling Rowe.Margaret worked as a rdietitian at North East Florida State Hospital until retirement. She was an exceptional professional who dedicated her life to helping others.Margaret loved the...

May 11, 2023

Betty Sue Matthews, age 89, of Bland passed away peacefully at her home on May 11, 2023. She was born August 12, 1933, in Starke, FL to the late Joel and Sarah Sapp Alvarez. Betty was a beautiful person inside and out. She always dressed impeccably and loved to accessorize. She had the biggest heart and most beautiful smile. She...

May 11, 2023

On May 11, 2023, Betty Grace Crawford passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by her loving family.

Betty Grace was born December 7, 1923, in Bartow, FL to Mattie Mae and Bradley Taylor. She moved to Union County in 1936 where she met the love of her life, St. Claire "Red" Crawford.  The two were married July 26,...

May 9, 2023

May 6, 2023

Robert L Yanchuk, of Lake Butler, Florida, and Commack, New York, joined his beloved wife Tina, in heaven, on May 6, 2023. He was 69.  

Born to Jennett Godfrey and Maurice George Yanchuk on January 2, 1954, Bob was a devoted husband, son, father, grandfather, great grandfather and brother.  His love of cars, trucks, and any other thing with...

May 3, 2023

Mrs. Glennis Sirmon Jones passed away peacefully May 3, 2023, at Suwannee Valley Care Center in Lake City at the tender age of 93. Mrs. Jones was born April 3, 1930, to the late Glenn and Mary Alice Parker Sirmon in McKenzie, Alabama. Her childhood was spent in Bonifay, FL. In 1951, she married William “W.K.” Jones and they spent...

Apr 28, 2023

Eula Mae Fortune, 69, of Lake Butler, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on April 28, 2023. Eula was born June 13, 1953, to James and Cora May Bruce Ryder and has been a resident of Union County her entire life. Eula spent her whole life caring for others. She worked as a home health care...

Apr 18, 2023

Emanuel, “Billy”/“The Greek”, Klondes, age 78, passed away on April 18, 2023, at UF Health Shands Gainesville. Born November 15, 1944, to Mike and Hazel Johns Klondes, Billy has been a lifelong resident of Starke. He was a self-employed business man. Billy enjoyed watching movies, telling stories, and had a fasination for airplanes. More than anything Billy loved spending time...

Apr 13, 2023

Jim Purvis Cason, age 84, of Lake Butler, passed away on April 13, 2023, in Gainesville, FL. Purvis was born on April 26, 1938, in Lake Butler, to Gurney “S” Cason and Merle (Whitehead) Cason- Brown. He was a lifelong resident of Lake Butler and a 1956 graduate of Union County High School. After graduation, Purvis enlisted in the United...

Apr 12, 2023

Weldon R. Starling, age 82, passed away at Orange Park Medical Center on April 12, 2023. Born August 8, 1940, in Starke, he has been a lifelong resident of Bradford County. He worked for his father’s plastering company for many years. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing, old cars and spending time with his family. Mr. Starling is preceded...

Apr 12, 2023

Mr. Wayne Hayes, age 90, passed away peacefully at E.T. York Care Center in Gainesville on April 12, 2023. Wayne was born in Brooker, FL to the late Philip and Edna Strickland Hayes on May 10, 1932. He grew up in Gainesville and after graduation joined the U.S. Army. After a tour of duty in Korea during the Korean War,...

Apr 9, 2023

Wayne S. “Shorty” Roberts, age 91, of Lake Butler met Jesus face to face Easter morning, April 9, 2023. He was born August 31, 1931, in Charlotte Harbor, FL. He spent his childhood and early adulthood in Charlotte Harbor, moved to California for many years, but has called Lake Butler home for the past 50 years. Wayne loved Union County....

Apr 9, 2023

David Todd, age 90, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2023, at Haven Hospice Lake City. David was born in Lake Butler on May 2, 1932, to the late Isaiah and Nita Raulerson Todd and has been a lifelong resident. He worked for over 50 years as a local and long-distance truck driver. He also had a produce stand where...

Apr 7, 2023

Alvin Alton Griffis, 84, a lifelong resident of Raiford, Florida, was born in an old log farmhouse on January 20, 1939 and departed this life on April 07, 2023.  He has left a legacy of Christian faith, family life, community service and involvement, mentoring, and hard work.  Mr. Griffis was a committed, dedicated man, giving his all to anything he...

Apr 6, 2023

Martha Phillips Carroll Riherd Carter died Thursday after a long illness. She was 90.

Martha was born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina. She left Charleston to attend the University of Florida, where she met and married a young man named Paul Riherd. They lived in Lake Butler for 37 years, where in addition to raising five lovely children, she...

Mar 31, 2023

Dr. Harold Frederic Green went home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 31, 2023, at the age of 90. Harold was born July 22, 1932, in Jacksonville to the late Jacob and Jennie Green. After high school, he joined the United States Air Force and proudly served for 4 years. Harold spent the majority of his life...