The Islander is a free weekly community newspaper serving Anna Maria Island. There is no charge for our standard obituary, including survivors, services, photo and other lifetime information for present and former residents of Anna Maria Island and people with affiliations on Anna Maria Island.
It’s an honor for us to provide this service to our readers…
Bonner Joy, Publisher. news@islander.org
James ‘Bryan’ Carlson
James “Bryan” Carlson died Nov. 15.
He was born Jan. 4, 1959.
At the heart of everything he did was love, and nowhere was that more evident than in the home he shared with his husband Mark Bouziane. Together they were legendary hosts, the kind who made you feel welcome the second you crossed the threshold.
If friendship was an art, they were master craftsmen.
Music was woven into Bryan’s soul — his quick wit matched only by the quickness of his fingers on a keyboard. His musical talent blossomed into other artistic pursuits, and a newfound love of watercolor and depictions of nature brought him comfort.
He also was a force of nature when it came to landscaping.
He loved travel, ice cream, cooking classes, bread and butter, and “The Golden Girls.” He and Mark visited countries in Europe, Asia, South America, Central America and the Caribbean, embracing the diverse cultures and savoring the varied cuisines.
One of his greatest gifts was as a great listener. He offered wise counsel with humor and kindness, never judgment.
He gave support to countless lucky souls.
His signature greeting, “Hello, sunshine,” held a remarkable warmth that touched everyone he met.
Donations may be made to Feed More, feedmore.org, or Belmont Pantry, bcrsrva.org. Please, consider meeting a friend for coffee, visiting an art museum, enjoying a fine wine and a gourmet dinner, going dancing and telling naughty jokes.
A memorial service will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Westover Hills United Methodist Church, 1705 Westover Hills Blvd., Richmond, Virginia.
The family asks that people wear their brightest colors to honor a man who was always positive and grateful for the wonderful life he led.
Mr. Carlson is survived by his husband, Mark, formerly of Anna Maria Island; brothers Bill and wife Dona and Steven and wife Mary; Mark’s brothers Dave and wife Lynn and Al and wife Caryl, Mark’s sister-in-law Signa; and nieces and nephews from both sides of the family.
Gloria Hall Cropper
Gloria Hall Cropper, 96, of Anna Maria, died Nov. 12.
She moved to San Diego two years ago to be near her son and granddaughters.
She was born Dec. 13, 1928, to Joseph and Frances Ross, and grew up in Memphis, Tennessee, where she attended the Hutchinson School. She attended Chevy Chase Junior College in Washington, D.C.
She married Jack Hall and the couple spent their first five years of marriage in Greece while he was on a Fulbright Scholarship. They eventually moved to Coconut Grove, where Gloria raised their two sons, John and Tim, and took classes at the University of Miami in weaving, which was the beginning of her long and distinguished artistic career.
She taught weaving privately and at Grove House in Coconut Grove. She had work consigned by and displayed in Arvida, Eastern Airlines headquarters, the University of Miami and the White House. Her work is included in the Florida Craftsman’s permanent collection.
She moved to Anna Maria in 1987 and found her true home. She loved the island, the beach and for many years was instrumental in protecting endangered loggerhead turtle on the shore.
She was a founding member of the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island and a member of Island Gallery West, Florida Craftsmen, Manasota Weavers Guild and the Art League.
For many years, she was active in Tri-Cities Team Tennis at Walton Racquet Center, where she met her second husband, Wallace Cropper.
Memorial contributions may be made to Art Center Sarasota.
Mrs. Cropper is survived by her son Tim and wife Ellen Hall of San Diego; granddaughters Alyssa and wife Nina Hall of Los Angeles and Brynna and husband Jordan Anderson-Hall of San Diego; and great grandchild August.
Robert ‘Cork’ William Brown Jr.
Robert “Cork” William Brown, 77, died Nov. 19.
He was born May 8, 1948, in Manhattan on the site that would later become Rockefeller Center.
He was known as “Cork,” a nickname bestowed by his grandfather, who invented the cork pop gun, and the name stayed with him for life.
He spent his early years in New York before moving with his family to East Lansing, Michigan, while in the third-grade. He remained a New York Yankees fan, later adding the Michigan State Spartans to his devotions. He attended East Lansing High School, where he played football on a team that won a state championship. He is honored in the State of Michigan Hall of Fame.
He and wife Judy were members of the East Lansing High School class of 1966, where he forged friendships that lasted a lifetime.
A born enthusiast of engines and speed, he owned 32 cars during high school — fixing, racing and often winning races with his cars at Spartan Speedway. He also owned a slingshot dragster, foreshadowing a lifelong passion for racing.
He attended medical school briefly at Michigan State University before being drafted into the U.S. Army and deploying to Vietnam. During his service, he earned six Bronze Stars, three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star — a highly decorated war hero.
Upon returning home, he started a family and was so very proud of his daughter Jennifer and son Ryan, and his four beautiful granddaughters.
He served the Lansing, Michigan, community as a firefighter and paramedic for 13 years. In recognition of his military service and honors, he will be laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery next spring. A memorial service will be held in East Lansing around that time.
Racing remained central to his life. From childhood go-karts to top-fuel dragsters and the Trans Am series, his love of motorsports never waned. After stepping away from racing competitively, he worked for NASCAR, securing sponsorships and collaborating with CEOs, celebrities and sports figures. He worked with Bobby Allison Motorsports before opening his own race-car marketing firm, representing major sponsors such as Pennzoil and Raybestos Brakes. He truly loved the racing world.
In retirement, Bob returned to another lifelong passion: art — a gift inherited from his father. He studied in Manhattan, San Francisco and at the Boca Raton School of Art for three years before opening his own gallery, Bob Brown Art, on Anna Maria Island.
He and Judy moved to Colorado after Florida, where he continued showing his art in Denver galleries.
His artwork drew some noted admirers, including Neil Young, Fergie and Chris Evert. Actress Minnie Driver had commissioned a piece just as symptoms of his illness began to appear.
He was eventually diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, caused by Agent Orange exposure during his Vietnam service. His condition progressed into Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. For the last four years, he lived in a veterans’ long-term care facility.
He cherished his family and friends deeply and considered himself profoundly blessed by the people in his life.
After his marriage to Judy, he had a very deep, respectful, and loving relationship with the members of her daughter’s families, Karlie and Lindsay’s husbands and children.
Memorial donations may be made to Wounded Warriors, where gifts will be matched 1:1.
Mr. Brown is survived by his beloved wife, Judy; brothers Hal and wife Olympia and Ed and wife Bernie; sister Chris McKearney; nephews and nieces Blake and wife Lindsay, Ben and wife Katherine, Brady, Abby and Travis McKearney and wife Darci; daughter Jennifer Pyle and husband Ron; grandchildren Ella, Tyler, Quinlan and Avery; son Ryan and wife Kristen; stepdaughters Karlie Kranz and husband Dave; grandchildren Logan, Lindsay Selig and husband Matt, Ari and Nolan.
Sue Ellen Hamilton
Sue Ellen Hamilton, 83, of Holmes Beach, died Oct. 2, just weeks shy of her 84th birthday.
She was born Oct. 28, 1941, in Piqua, Ohio, to Howard and Betty Sturgeon. She earned a registered nurse degree from Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
She was a vibrant presence in every community she touched. After settling in Holmes Beach, she became a volunteer at the Roser Memorial Community Church Thrift Shop and Food Pantry. She enjoyed playing mahjong with friends twice a week, a pastime that brought her joy and camaraderie.
She was known for her creativity and warmth. Her cooking and crafts were cherished by those who knew her, and she had a passion for collecting glass — a hobby so central to her identity that it was even mentioned on her answering machine. Her wit and humor left a lasting impression on everyone she met. Her presence will be deeply missed by family, friends and neighbors alike.
Mrs. Hamilton is survived by daughters Robin and Amanda; sister Sara and her husband Howard Donald; nephews Matthew Donald and Brian Donald; and cousins Jim Richeson and Greg Lee.