Obituary
Charlotte ‘Chi’ Root Armstrong
Charlotte “Chi” Root Armstrong, 90, of Bradenton and formerly of Holmes Beach, died Sept. 8 at Freedom Village. She was born in Cambridge, Mass., and came to Holmes Beach in 1978 from Villanova, Pa.
Mrs. Armstrong was a 1939 graduate of Mt. Holyoke College, South Hadley, Mass., and obtained her master’s degree in biology from Harvard in Cambridge, Mass. She taught science at the Knox School of Cooperstown, N.Y., and then joined the U.S. Navy. She was commissioned as a lieutenant, and served from 1944-46 in Norfolk, Va., and San Diego.
She married Robert Armstrong on Oct. 11, 1946, in San Francisco. She was active in many community activities, including Boy and Girl Scouts, parent-teacher associations, and as a Sunday school teacher.
After moving to Holmes Beach, she was a member of Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria and served on many church committees.
A memorial Service will be held at 3p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Freedom Village Auditorium, 6501 17th Ave. W., Bradenton. The Rev. Gary A. Batey of Roser Church will officiate. Burial will be at Vine Hills Cemetery in Plymouth, Mass. Toale Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to the Freedom Village Scholarship Program, 6406 21st Ave W, Bradenton FL 34209.
Survivors include a daughter, Katherine A. Lind of Belmont, Mass.; son Robert A. Armstrong Jr. of Conway, Mass.; and 10 grandchildren.
Robert Grady Head
Dr. Robert Grady Head, 92, of Anna Maria, died Sept. 30.
The services for Dr. Head will be private.
Survivors include daughters Roxane Dinkin of Bradenton and Lisa Rodica of St. Petersburg; sons Robert G. III of Lewisburg, W.V.; David R. of St. Petersburg, Fla.; Stephen G. of Tallahassee, Fla.; and three grandchildren.
Nancy A. Keaton
Nancy A. Keaton, 84, died Oct. 4. She was born in Lexington, Ky., and moved to Bradenton in 1958.
Mrs. Keaton attended the University of Kentucky and Fugasi Business College in Lexington. She was a civil service employee for the U.S. Navy, Air Force and Veterans Administration. She worked as a church secretary for Grace Baptist Church in Danville, Ky. She was an administrative assistant at Corning Glassworks in Danville. She also was a bookkeeper at Manatee High School in Bradenton.
She owned a ceramics business, specializing in porcelain dolls. She was a charter member of Northwest Baptist Church, and also served at Island Baptist Church and West Bradenton Baptist Church. She was a member and past president of Epsilon Beta Chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha Sorority.
Visitation will be held at 10 a.m. and services at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 8, at Brown and Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton. Donations may be made to Northwest Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 14817, Bradenton FL 34280, or Tidewell Hospice & Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238. Online condolences may be made at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com. Brown & Sons, 43rd Street Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include two daughters, Karen S. of St. Petersburg, and Betsy and husband Steve Powers of Bradenton; grandsons Justin W., Todd and Stephen Powers; sister Winola Montgomery of Lexington, Ky.; and many nieces and nephews.
Fred Keitel
Fred Keitel of Bradenton Beach died Sept. 29.
Mr. Keitel served in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater. during World War II.
Services were Oct. 3 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Cincinnati, Ohio. Strawser Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made at www.strawserfuneralhome.com.
Mr. Keitel is survived by daughter Lori and husband Dave Mullane of California; sons Mark and wife Sue Keitel of Loveland, Ohio, and Gary and wife Nancy Keitel of Indiana; and grandchildren Alicia, Jessi, Cori and Joel.
 Russell F. Moffett
Russell F. Moffett, 97, of Harrison Township, formerly of Flint, Mich., for 91 years and of Holmes Beach and Bradenton, died Sept. 16 in Bradenton.
Mr. Moffett was born in Flint. He was a graduate of Flint Central High School and attended GMI and Flint Junior College. Mr. Moffett married Thelma Burwell on March 23, 1934. He retired from the city of Flint after 20 years of service. He was a member of Court Street United Methodist Church, the Midwest Dachshund Club, Dachshund Club of America, the Genesee County Kennel Club and the Rotary Club. He was a member of the Manatee County Audubon Society.
Funeral services were held Swartz Creek, Mich. Memorials may be made to the Court Street United Methodist Church or to Manatee County Audubon Society at the Web site, www.manateeaudubon.org. Online tributes are welcome at www.sharpfuneralhomes.com. Sharp Funeral Homes of Linden, Mich., was in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include daughter Marilyn L. Matecun of Harrison Township and Holmes Beach; three grandchildren, E. Dennis Matecun Jr. of Hudson, Ohio, Glenn R. Matecun of Wixom, Mich.; and Diana Welsh Lineback of Port Richey, Fla.; eight great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Jim Shearon
Jim Shearon, 60, of Watkinsville, Ga., died Oct. 1.
Born and raised in Chicago, Ill., Mr. Shearon was part owner, operator and creative spirit behind Ashford Manor Bed and Breakfast in Watkinsville. He was a 17-year survivor of HIV/AIDS until suffering from a sudden series of health complications. He worked as a dresser for 30 years on Broadway, at the Metropolitan Opera, Minneapolis Guthrie Theatre and for pop-rock star Prince.
Born and raised in Chicago, he lead an enriching, creative life, dressing with his visionary costumes some of the world's top talents, from Barbra Streisand to Luciano Pavarotti. At the top of his profession, with a career that lasted 30 years, he worked on New York's Broadway, at the Metropolitan Opera, at Minneapolis Guthrie Theatre, and as dresser for pop-rock star Prince for 10 years. He also was active in fundraising for the University of Georgia veterinarian school.
A celebration of his life will be held in December. Memorial contributions may be made to the GRACE Fund in care of the University of Georgia Veterinary College, Office of Development, Athens GA 30602. Oconee Chapel Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by his mother, Louise; two brothers, Bill and partner Tjet Martin of Bradenton Beach and David and his life-partner Mario Castro of xxx; life partner Rodney Webster; and many nieces and nephews. |
