Doug Ford
Doug Ford, 85, of Plant City, Fla., born in Pontiac, Mich. on Aug. 21, 1936, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 9, 2021.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Muriel Lisbeth Cairnie Cook
Muriel Lisbeth Cairnie (Ross) Cook, 80, of Plant City, Fla., died in a car accident on Nov. 4, 2021. Muriel was born in Boston on July 15, 1941. She grew up in Quincy, Mass., before moving to the UK with her family in her teen years. It was there that Muriel met her future husband, Ian, an engineer who was working on the Cruachan hydroelectric power station. She was sufficiently impressed and they married at the Cathedral in Oban, Scotland, on April 2, 1964. They lived in Lincolnshire, UK, until the early 1990’s, after which they moved back to the US, and settled in Plant City.
Muriel was a talented artist, most certainly inheriting her artistic genes from her Scottish relatives. She dedicated herself to her watercolor paintings, her needlework, cross-stitch, knitting, and crocheting, creating beauty with much precision. She graciously shared her love of crafts and her creations with friends and family. Muriel was a member of the Art Guild in Plant City, serving as treasurer, and she worked at the local Strawberry Festival for many years. She was also a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church. Muriel was fascinated by genealogy and she dedicated herself to researching her Scottish roots. Her efforts were rewarded when she received a letter from a very elderly John McCorquodale, from Lismore, who helped her piece together the puzzle of her ancestry. Over the years Muriel became close with many cousins, aunts, and uncles whose parents had come to Boston from Scotland in the early 1900’s, with many family members eventually settling in Ohio and Wisconsin.
The Cairnies from Edinburgh, Scotland, truly represented the American dream—working class people, applying their skills and work ethic to become successful. More recently, Muriel was excited to discover she had relatives on her father’s side in Louisiana and enjoyed visiting and getting to know them. Muriel displayed a clever wit and had a wicked sense of humor. She was a keen observer of people and of life. She knew how to make those around her feel at ease and engage. She had a kind heart and generous spirit. Throughout her life, Muriel was devoted to animals.
May the story of the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ be true, so that Muriel will be reunited with her much loved and adored doggies, specifically Bobbie, Binkie, Scooter, Tammy, Peachy, Laci and Rosie.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ian Cook. She is survived by extended family in Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Vermont, South Carolina, Louisiana, and the United Kingdom. Muriel’s wishes were to be cremated, with her remains to be interred at the Wollaston Cemetery in Quincy, Mass., alongside her husband’s.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Nov. 30, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Project Access Resource Center at Walden Lake Apartments, 1400 Plantation Blvd in Plant City, Fla.
Donations in honor of Muriel can be made to one of her favorite charities: Best Friends Animal Society, Inc, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kanab, UT 84741; The Retirement Home for Horses, Inc., 20307 NW CR 235A, Alachua, FL 32615; Critter Adoption and Rescue Effort, Inc., 1528 27th Street SE, Ruskin, FL 33570.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com
As Antoine de Saint-Exupery wrote in The Little Prince, “In one of the stars I shall be living. In one of them I shall be laughing. And so it will be as if all the stars were laughing when you look at the sky at night.”
James Otis Norris
James Otis Norris, 101, born in Troy, Ala., on Oct. 16, 1920, entered into eternal rest on Nov. 11.
Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.
Joseph Travis Pelt Jr
Joseph Travis Pelt Jr., 60, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on November 13, 2021. He was the son of Joseph and Conchita Esponoza Pelt, mother is still surviving. Other survivors include his significant other, Terry Hannah, brother, Donald Pelt. Services will be held privately.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.
Carlos Torres
Carlos Torres, age 88, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Nov. 14, 2021. The family will receive friends Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Haught Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Nov. 19 at 11 a.m. at St. Clement Catholic Church.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.haught.care.
Margaret Dalice Smart
Plant City is where Margaret was born, graduated high school and peacefully passed away in her sleep on July 29, 2021. In her life-walk with Jesus Christ, she was affiliated with and served many churches and ministries such as Christ Gospel Church, Kenneth Copeland, Frederick Price, Myles Monroe, Morris Cerullo, Marilyn Hickey, and many more. She was devoted to the Lord and always believed her steps were ordered and guided by The Spirit. She was a faithful servant to the Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue of Tampa, with Rabbi Steve Weiler giving her Eulogy. She was gifted with Wisdom and known for her true integrity. She was very outspoken about life, politics, church, and family. She was a proud member of the Republican Party. She attended meetings, set up campaign offices, and worked polls. She attended several inaugurations and was awarded a private viewing of the White House.
She volunteered at several organizations. she was known to attend events at the LB Brown House Museum, Civil War reenactments and The Buffalo Soldiers Fl. Inc. (who served as Pallbearers). She felt God had blessed her with her Bumblebee Express Delivery Company for her to bless others. She let others know she felt like she was, “The
Fabulous Free Woman of Color.”
She leaves behind a son Dwayne, a daughter Caresa, a Godson David, a Goddaughter Sharon, along with
two grandchildren, six Godgrandchildren, a brother, three sisters, a sister-in-law and many more. There are many friends who she left with memories that make us thankful to God for having our paths cross.