This Week's Obituaries

TBT provides basic obituaries as a free service. To place a local obituary in our publication, simply email the listing to obituaries@thebradentontimes.com.

Robert A. Taylor, 71, Bradenton, died April 18, 2014. Born in Montgomery, Alabama he moved to Bradenton in 1996 from Atlanta, Georgia. A Veteran of the US Army during Vietnam, he was a Christian and an avid golfer.

Predeceased by parents, George R. and Mary (Harris) Taylor; survived by wife, Vicki of Bradenton, FL; sons, Todd Seidel of Ft. Wayne, IN, David (Jennifer) Heyn of Ft. Wayne, IN and Andrew (Theany) Heyn of Atlanta, GA; daughters, Kerri (Randall) Forsha of Nashville, TN and Andrea (David) Francis of Nashville, TN; sister, Jerry Ann Pennington of Sheffield, AL; 13 grandchildren.

Visitation 6:00-8:00PM Monday, April 21, 2014 with Services 10:00AM Tuesday April 22, 2014 at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209. Military Honors will be at1:00PM Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241.Memorial donations to the National Kidney Foundation 1040 Woodstock Road, Suite 119, Orlando, FL 32803. Condolences may be made to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.

James D. "Jimmy" Sexton, a WWII Veteran, age 91, went home to be with the Lord, peacefully on April 17, 2014. Jimmy was born on March 25, 1923 in Elk Valley, TN. He was a special man who loved his family and worked extremely hard to care for them. Jimmy will continue to watch over his family as one of Gods Angels and will be reunited with his recently deceased wife of 63 years, Libby.

After 30 years with General Motors Jimmy retired, only to discover retirement wasn't for him. He and his wife moved to Chatsworth, GA, where he could be seen daily on his John Deere tractor mowing any of the athletic fields in the local school district. He later retired again to Bradenton, FL to be near family. A devoted husband and father, Jimmy is preceded in death by wife, Elizabeth (Libby) Sexton; daughters, Sandy (Mike) Erwin and Patty (John) Madsen; grandchildren, Shelley (Mike) Roasa, Craig Madsen; great grandchildren, Nathan and Morgan Roasa as well as many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation at 10:00-10:30AM, Monday, April 21, 2014 with Services to follow at 11:00 AM at Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel, 604 43rd Street West, Bradenton, FL 34209. Committal Service with Military Honors 2:30PM, Monday, April 21, 2014 at Sarasota National Cemetery, 9810 State Road 72, Sarasota, FL 34241. Condolences to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.

 

Francis J. O'Connor, 88, of Sarasota, Florida went to be with the Lord on April 11, 2014. Born in Toledo, Ohio he moved to Manatee County in 1987 from Stamford, CT. He is survived by his loving wife of over 65 years, Ann (Odoski), originally from Cleveland, OH. Together they were blessed with nine children, four boys and five girls.

Fran was preceded in death by his eldest son, Thomas O'Connor of Louisville, KY and is survived by his three sons,  Joseph of Exton, PA (wife Jean), John of Orange, CT (wife Julia), and Martin of Barre, VT (wife Louise); and five daughters, Mary Chamberlin of Sun City Center, FL (husband Marc),  Kathleen Creedon of Cross River NY (husband Larry), Sara Russell of South Windsor, CT (husband Doug), Amy Berdusco of Bradenton, FL (husband Roger), and Jean Gallati of Fairfield, CT (husband Chris).

Fran also took great joy in his role of loving grandfather to 31 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Fran was a true family man who drew much satisfaction from his ''one, big, happy family.'' Fran was inquisitive by nature and strongly supported education. After completing high school, he enlisted in the Navy, serving during WWII. He also continued his education, studying mathematics and law, eventually becoming a member of the Ohio State Bar Association.

Fran worked his entire professional career for the Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, a national grocery store chain.  He was the Director of Budgets and Controls, when he retired in 1987. Fran loved the water.  He enjoyed swimming in pools, lakes and oceans.  He also enjoyed tennis and golf, especially in his retirement years at Palm Aire Country Club. He made lots of good friends there and at his church, Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, where he was a founding member of the Knights of Columbus.

A Celebration of Life Mass will be held on Tuesday, April 22, 2014 at 12:00 noon at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic Church, 833 Magellan Drive (9th Street East), Sarasota, FL, 34243.  Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West, Bradenton, FL 342047 are managing the arrangements.  Private condolences can be made online at www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.  In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Fran´s honor to your choice of charity that supports children.

Duane E. Silver passed on at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, FL after cardiac surgery. He was born in Burnwood, PA to the late Pearl and Wellington Silver. He was a WW II Veteran, serving in the Anti Tank Division of the 20th Infantry. Later in life he became a telegrapher, and subsequently a train dispatcher for the D&H RR. He retired as Chief Train Dispatcher in 1989, and moved to Bradenton, FL. He enjoyed square dancing, became a square dance caller, and helped form two square dance clubs and a travel club.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Regina Silver, daughter, Debra Silver Cuvelier and her husband, Daryl Cuvelier, son, Eric J. Silver and his domestic partner, Tamara Green. Beloved grandfather of John P. Cuvelier and Robert S. Cuvelier and great-grandfather of three, he will be greatly missed. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who are very dear to him. He was predeceased by all of his siblings, including Richard and Alton Silver, Lillian Carpenter, and Jennie Gellatt.

Friends and relatives are invited to attend a Memorial Service 10:30AM Thursday, April 24, 2014 at Sarasota National Cemetery in Sarasota. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 43rd Street Chapel in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association. Condolences to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com

Norma Jean ''Jeannie'' Semrinec, 80, Bradenton, went home to the Lord April 5, 2014. Survivors: son, Henry Dixon & family. No Services. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel in charge. Condolences www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.

Lee Andrew Jackson 69, Palmetto, died April 15, 2014.  The family will receive friends from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, Friday, April 18 at Abundant Favor Mortuary, 916 13th St,  Bradenton. Service will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, April 19, at St. Andrews AME Church, 203 17th St. W, Palmetto.  Arrangements entrusted to Abundant Favor Mortuary, Bradenton.  941-747-2700

Virginia I. Goodhew, 90, of Bradenton, FL died unexpectedly Friday, April 11, 2014 at Manatee Memorial Hospital, Bradenton, FL. Virginia was born on September 18, 1923 in Winchester, IN to the late Raymond and Bertha Fogle. She attended school in Winchester, IN then later fell in love and married Charles Goodhew, September 1, 1945. Virginia and Charles lived in Winchester, where she worked many years at Anchor Hocking Glass. They then moved to Dunkirk, IN where she worked at Danners Dime Store and Rural Loan.  After moving to Connersville, IN in 1971, Virginia worked for 3D Department Store until retirement.  

In 1984, she and Charles moved to Brookville, IN, spending the winter months in FL for several years. They then made a permanent move to Manatee RV Park, Ruskin, FL until January, 2014, moving to Bradenton, FL. Virginia loved spending time with family and friends and spent many hours crocheting and knitting. She also loved playing bingo, baking and cooking favorite dishes for her family.  With a smile on her face, she really loved bragging about her kids and grandkids to anyone who would listen.  She will be so deeply missed by all who knew and loved her.

Survivors include her loving husband of 68 years, Charles; her daughter, Doris (Jim) Whiteman, Denver, CO; her son, James (Craig) Goodhew and his special friend, Kathy Jarrell, Hernando Beach, FL.  She is also survived by four grandchildren, Wendy Whiteman, Kari (Josh) Whittington, Denver, CO, Shane (Katie) Goodhew, Aurora, CO and Chad Goodhew, Bradenton, FL.  Virginia is also survived by two great-grandchildren, Addison and Jakob Whittington, Denver, CO. Also surviving is a brother, Donald (Rachel) Fogle, Muncie, IN, several nieces and nephews and a very special friend, Jack Rogers. In addition to her parents, Virginia was preceded in death by a brother, Raymond (Sonny) Fogle, Jr. (wife, Betty); four sisters, Helen (Harold) Williamson, Barbara (Bob) Wagner, Carol Jeanette (Joe) Reasoner, Beverly (Bob) Freeman and several nieces and nephews.

A Memorial Service will be held at 12:30 pm Saturday, Apr 19, 2014, at the First Christian Church, 1815 18th Ave W., Bradenton, FL 34205. Brown & Sons Funeral Homes & Crematory 26th Street Chapel, 5624 26th Street West, Bradenton, FL 34207 in charge of arrangements. Inurnment will be at a later date in Indiana.  Condolences to www.brownandsonsfuneral.com.