Obituaries – 11-26-2014

John Atkinson

John Atkinson, 96, of Holmes Beach, died Nov. 24.

He was born Nov. 3, 1918.

A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Nov 28, at the Key Royale Club clubhouse, 700 Key Royale Drive, Holmes Beach. Arrangements were by Shannon Funeral Home Westview Chapel, Bradenton.

 

Ralph Earl Brownobit-Ralph-Brown

Ralph Earl “Brownie” Brown died Nov. 18 at the age of 90.

Mr. Brown resided in of Leesburg and Franklin, North Carolina. He died in Tavares.

Mr. Brown was born in St. Petersburg.

He was a World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy and Air Force. He worked as a painter, firefighter, lock tender and with the Forest Service. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion and Moose Lodge and enjoyed painting and many other pursuits.

His time was devoted to friends and family, and to Anna Maria Island, where his son has owned a home for about 15 years.

Services for Mr. Brown were in Leesburg Nov. 24. Interment was at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell, with military honors provided by the U.S. Navy.

Condolences may be made at www.beyersfuneralhome.com. Memorial donations may be made to Cornerstone Hospice Foundation, 2445 Lane Park Road, Tavares FL 32778.

Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Betty, of Leesburg; sons Randolph and wife Nancy of Tampa, and Milton and wife Alison of Charlotte, North Carolina; daughters Sandra and husband Eugene Jordan of Newton, North Carolina, and Linda and husband David Scott of Hannibal, New York; 20 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and two great great-grandchildren.

 

Verna Evelyn Snow

Verna Evelyn Snow, 88, of Bradenton and formerly of Anna Maria Island died Aug. 25. She was born March 8, 1926, in Copper County, Michigan.

Verna and husband Bill Snow moved to Anna Maria Island in 1992.

Mrs. Snow was a respected early-American antique collector and dealer. One of her proudest accomplishments was having her 1854 northern Michigan farmhouse featured in Country Living magazine.

Her other passions included designing and planting her many gardens, painting Florida wildlife and the northern landscapes of Canada and Michigan.

A service will be held at 2:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, the Roser Chapel, 512 Pine Ave., Anna Maria. She will be interred at Sarasota National Cemetery, Sarasota.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wildlife Education & Rehabilitation Center, P.O. Box 1449, Anna Maria FL 34216, or online at www.wildlifeinc.org.

Mrs. Snow is survived by her husband of 70 Years, William; daughters Debra Dykema of Traverse City, Michigan, Valerie of Anna Maria Island; son William P. and wife Pam of Gaylord, Michigan; special Florida daughter Barbara Zdravecky of Anna Maria; grandchildren Kevin and wife Kelly Fossum, Matthew Dykema, Elizabeth and husband Nick Jablonski, Brandie and husband Hank Corden, Corrie and husband Troy Nault, Kylie and Taylor; great-grandchildren and many friends.

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