Raymond Edward McGuire
Raymond Edward McGuire of Anna Maria Island died June 27. He was born Sept. 15, 1933, in Coventry, Rhode Island, to Joseph Cornelius and Vera Dunham King.
Raymond was a civil engineer and graduated from the University of Rhode Island.
He served as a lieutenant in the U.S. Army and later entered the Foreign Service at the request of the State Department, a career that took him to countries around the globe, including Egypt, South Africa and the Philippines.
He was a member of Bent Tree Country Club, an avid golfer and bridge player. Once retired, he devoted his energies and charitable contributions to Special Olympics and various veterans’ organizations.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Memorial donations may be made to Special Olympics, the American Cancer Society and Bradenton Hospice.
He is survived by wife NJ Logan; children Lori McClintock, Robert and Susan Vanlandingham; grandchildren Robin Ross, John Dahlke, Danielle Lind and Callie Nanfito; nephew John Rensing; and nieces, nephews and cousins.
Virgil Mora
Virgil Mora , 91, died June 17 at his home in Morresville, North Carolina.
Mr. Mora was born in Cortez and lived most of his life in Bradenton. He was the first son born to Albert and Estella Capo Mora.
He volunteered when World War II began in 1941 and served in the U.S. Navy. He was one of only four Cortez veterans surviving in 2016.
Upon returning home from the Navy, he fished for some years and then went to work for the Manatee County Utilities Department for two decades.
Plans are being made for a memorial service in September in Cortez.
Mr. Mora is survived by his wife, Peggy; sister Nola Jewell; nieces Anna, Diane and Linda; nephews Tracy, Scott, Joseph, Phyllip and Richard.
Margaret Ann ‘Marge’ Morash
Margaret Ann “Marge” Morash, 81, of Anna Maria, died July 5.
She was born Oct. 12, 1934, in New York City to the late Charles and Josephine (McCann) Youngberg. She moved to Manatee County in 1971 and was a resident of Anna Maria for more than 40 years. She was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church in Holmes Beach. She was a red wine enthusiast, and coined the phrase “Breakfast Wine.”
A Mass of Christian burial was to be celebrated July 11 at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. Interment was to follow at Skyway Memorial Gardens, Palmetto. Arrangements were by Shannon Funeral Home Westview of Bradenton. Condolences may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation.
She is survived by husband Richard “Dick” of Anna Maria; daughter Kathleen of Anna Maria; sons Kristofer of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Richard and Kevin of Bradenton; three grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and many extended family members and friends.
Doris ‘Maralee’ Relyea
Doris “Maralee” Relyea died June 28 in Sunnyvale, California.
She was born Dec. 13, 1925, in Preble County, Ohio, to David Orville and Gladys F. Grise. She was the fifth of six children.
She married William T. Relyea in 1948. They resided in Cleveland, Ohio; Michigan City, Indiana; Silver Spring, Maryland; Galion, Ohio; Tucson, Arizona; and Holmes Beach, during their 44-year marriage.
Mrs. Relyea lived independently in Holmes Beach for another 24 years after the death of her husband in 1992, enjoying the company of her sister, Janice Coate, who lived in Bradenton, and her many island friends.
A homemaker, she was known for her pies. She was an avid reader and walker and loved the beach. She volunteered throughout her life, most recently for the Island Library in Holmes Beach and Pinnacle Medical Center in Bradenton.
Memorials will be held in Florida and Ohio. Memorial donations may be made to the Island Library’s large-print fund and the Cancer Research Institute at cancerresearch.org.
She is survived by sister Janice; son Charles and wife Nanette; daughter Jane and husband Robert Welles; grandchildren Bryan and wife Holli, Jason and wife Jennifer, Jeffrey and Steve; four great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
William Edward ‘Billy’ Shelton Sr.
William Edward ‘Billy’ Shelton Sr. died July 6.
Mr. Shelton was born Nov. 1, 1948, in Haines City to Bessie Woods. He attended Manatee High School and grew up on Anna Maria Island. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and was a veteran of the Vietnam War.
He was married to wife Patricia for 46 years and they raised three children. He was a proud and devoted “papa” to his grandchildren. He enjoyed spending time with his family and resided at his Duette whenever he was able.
Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Thursday, July 14, and services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 15 at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd St. W., Bradenton. Committal service will be at 2 p.m., Monday, July 18, at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.
He is survived by siblings Charles Cochran of Virginia, David Scholfil of Bradenton; Donna Gregory of Mississippi, and Jackie Woods Jr. of Bradenton; children and grandchildren: Shannon Shelton Jones and husband Mojo and their son Mason of Myakka City, William Edward Jr. and wife Corinne and their daughter Emma Grace of Bradenton, Amy Shelton Wilson and husband Richard and their children their children Cohen Jefferson, Charlotte Naomi and Camden William Wayne of Defuniak Springs.