Loretta Lease
Longtime Island resident Loretta Lease died Jan. 2. She was born May 12, 1924, in Philadelphia, and grew up in Chicago where she attended Sullivan High School.
She moved to Florida at age 20 to join her future husband Jim Lease, who was on a four-day leave while serving in the U.S. Marines during World War II. They were wed in 1944 and honeymooned at the John Ringling Hotel in Sarasota using WWII ration coupons for payment.
Loretta and Jim raised 11 children throughout Florida, and moved to Anna Maria Island in 1962, first settling in Bradenton Beach, then to the “Lease Hut,” as their home came to be known, on 75th Street in Holmes Beach.
Mrs. Lease was a longtime volunteer and advocate for Island children. She was one of the founders of the Manatee Area Youth Soccer Organization, for which she volunteered as a coach. She answered phones, taxied kids and volunteered at nearly every event held for many years at the Anna Maria Youth Center, later renamed the Anna Maria Island Community Center.
She was part of the group in the 1980s that included leaders, such as Louise Richards, Rick DiGiorgio, Brendan Green, Rose Quinn, Ken Trent and Billy Rice, that created and made the slogan, “A new center for me in 83,” a reality.
Whatever she was doing, it was for kids. In addition to her 11 children, Mrs. Lease was “mom” to many other Island youths. She always had a big pot of food warming on her stove for any of the local kids who invariably showed up for dinner many nights.
A celebration of life will be held from noon-4 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 22, at the Palma Sola Botanical Gardens, 9800 17th Ave. N.W. in Bradenton. Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice & Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238, or Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati OH 45250-0301
Mrs. Lease is survived by children Kathy Harris, Ken, Tom, Steve, Dan, Jimbo, Terry Williams, Ric, Matt and Jeff; and grandchildren Paige, Kyle, Chad, Jimmy, Tyson, Caroline, Clayton, and Dan and Samantha Williams.
Urban W. Marine
Urban W. Marine, 96, of Leesburg, died Jan. 2. He was born Jan. 3, 1915.
Mr. Marine is survived by his wife of 63 years, Lois; daughters Connie Weaver of Leesburg and Charlotte Ames of DeWitt, Mich.; son Stewart of Holmes Beach; four grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
Bette B. Williams
Bette B. Williams of Holmes Beach died Jan. 7.
She was born in Tampa abd moved to Bradenton in 1943, graduated Manatee High School in 1948, and married her high school sweetheart.
Mrs. Williams was an avid tennis player, and enjoyed cooking and fishing.
There will be visitation 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12, at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton. Memorial donations may be made to TideWell Hospice Inc., 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238. Online condolences may be made at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
Mrs. Williams is survived by her husband of 63 years, Harold “Lefty;”sons Alan and wife Kathie of Tampa and Myles of Columbia, S.C.; and granddaughter Brianna of Hoboken, N.J.