Dana K. Andrews
Dana K. Andrews, 53, died March 4. He was the fifth generation of his family born in Bradenton and formerly lived on Anna Maria Island.
Mr. Andrews attended Bradenton Christian School and graduated from Manatee High School. He was a lifetime member of Christ Episcopal Church of Bradenton.
Arrangements were by Griffith-Cline Funeral Home.
Mr. Andrews is survived by his mother, Rita B.; brother Jacob; and sister Debra Lynn Delvecchio.
John Reed Elfenbein
John Reed Elfenbein, 88, of Anna Maria, died at home March 7.
He was an artist, jazz musician and writer, who brought joy and laughter to many. A was a World War II veteran who served in the Merchant Marine. He was active in civil and labor rights, he was a member of CORE and a shop steward for his teachers union.
Memorial donations may be made to Tidewell Hospice & Palliative Care, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238.
Mr. Elfenbein is survived by his wife of 59 years, Phyllis; children Lee, Jay and Debra; grandchildren Maddy and Gus; daughter-in-law Andree; brother Julian and wife Lennie; dear friends Gabe and Dorothy Simches; and brother-in-law Dr. Fred Cohen and wife Margery.
Dr. Blake Graham
Dr. Blake Graham, 85, of Canada and Holmes Beach, died March 5.
Dr. Graham was a retired veterinarian. He was a member of the Anna Maria Island Kiwanis Club and Key Royale Club.
He was honored by the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College for his research project on diseases transferrable from animals to man. He published “Sow’s Ear — Silk Purse: Anecdotes From the Life of a Veterinarian.”
No service is planned.
Dr. Graham is survived by wife Joan; daughter Dr. Janet Graham and her husband, Michael Tarjan; and granddaughter Caroline Tarjan.
Jean Shirley (Powers) Carlson
Jean Shirley (Powers) Carlson, 87, of Cadillac, Mich., died March 8. She was born Oct. 6, 1924, and married Darwin Carlson Nov. 8, 1945.
She graduated Cadillac High School in 1941 and studied at the Ray-Vogue School of Art in Chicago. From there, she attended Stephens College in Columbia, Mo., where she majored in art and was elected to the National Honorary Fraternity of Art, Tau Sigma Tau.
Mrs. Carlson was an accomplished artist and career woman, happy cooking large family meals, creating colorful watercolors and oil paintings, walking the beaches of Anna Maria Island, and golfing with her friends.
She won numerous art awards and exhibited in New York City and Grand Island, Neb., where she painted a mural for the city’s municipal building. She was a member of the Anna Maria Island Artists’ Guild, where she exhibited and sold her work for many years.
She was a founding member of the Cadillac Area Artist’s Association. She was a member since 1950 of the First Presbyterian Church of Cadillac.
She enjoyed a long career at the Cadillac Wexford Public Library where she cataloged books for the Mid-Michigan Library League. She also worked as a reporter for the Cadillac News and the Grand Rapids Press.
A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at the First Presbyterian Church of Cadillac.
Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Cadillac. Condolences may be made online at www.petersonfh.com.
Mrs. Carlson is survived by her husband of 66 years, Darwin; children Craig and wife Sabrina of Cape Coral, Fla.; Martha and husband Hermann Suhs of Cadillac; and Sue of Anna Maria Island; sister Betty and husband Robert Kendall of Jackson, Mich.; and many nieces, nephews, grandchildren and friends.
Betty Valley Mills
Betty Valley Mills, 85, died March 2. She was born May 24, 1926, in Detroit, Mich. She grew up in Detroit, and graduated from the University of Michigan where she received a bachelor of arts with a degree in English. She moved to Florida in 1970 and resided in Holmes Beach.
Mrs. Mills was a member of Roser Memorial Community Church and a volunteer for the Roser Memorial Guild. She was a past member of the Bradenton Yacht Club and was an avid bridge player.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 14, at Shannon Funeral Home Westview Chapel, 5610 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton. Memorial donations may be made to either the American Cancer Society or Sunny Bower Assisted Living Facility. Condolences may be made online at www.shannonfuneralhomes.com.
Mrs. Mills is survived by her children, Linda and husband Louis Cooper of New Richmond, Wis., Charles and wife Gale Valley of Sarasota, Edward and wife Jane Valley of Bradenton, and Kathleen Valley of Bradenton; granddaughter Jennifer and husband Bruce Gilmour; great-granddaughter Kiana Gilmour; nieces and nephews Chris Bos of Holland, Mich., Mark Carlson of Sedona, Ariz., Kelly Norris and Jack W. Carlson, both of Marathon, Fla.; step-children Nancy and husband Dan Crabbe of Locust, N.J., Sally and husband Monty Robson of Bonita Springs, Fla., Robert and Sue Karn III of St. Louis, Mo., and Suzanne Simonds of Kamuela, Hawaii; and many step grandchildren and step great-grandchildren.
Frank Szakacs Jr.
Frank Szakacs Jr., 86, Holmes Beach, died March 6. He was born in Passaic, N.J., and moved to Holmes Beach in 1976 from Franklin Lakes, N.J.
Mr. Scakacs was a retired lieutenant for the Port Authority in New York and New Jersey, and was a volunteer fire chief in Washington Township, N.J.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach, and the American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24, Bradenton.
A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 14, at St. Bernard Catholic Church, 248 S. Harbor Drive, Holmes Beach. A burial with military honors will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 15, at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota.
Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory, 43rd Street Chapel, Bradenton is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be made online at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com. Memorial donations may be made to American Legion Kirby Stewart Post 24, 2000 75th St. W., Bradenton.
Mr. Scakacs is survived by wife Alice; sons Alan J. of Holmes Beach, and Robert Francis and wife Michelle of Mahwah, N.J.; daughter Linda and husband John Agnello of Marco Island; six grandchildren; and one great-grandson.