Joan Rowe Ellis, Rogers P. Fisher, Irene Pless Gough, Reba Doris Keene, Alton “Al” L. Kirkland Jr., James Madison Prince II, Doris Ailene Randall, Love Joy Sands, Carl A. Schumacher, Lucy America Sellers, John W. Seminoff and Jerry Underwood
Joan Rowe Ellis
Joan Rowe Ellis, 81 of Plant City, died Dec. 19, 2012, with her daughters, Liz and Suzanne Ellis, at her side.
Mrs. Ellis was born on July 25, 1931, in Rome, Ga., and moved to Plant City at age 14. She graduated from Plant City High School in 1949. In 2000, Joan moved to Carrollwood to be close to her surviving daughters.
In addition to running a busy household and working for 25 years at her late husband’s dental practice, Mrs. Ellis was active in the Women’s Investment Group and a participant in a women’s bridge club for more than 30 years.
Mrs. Ellis was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. John B. Ellis, and her son, Stephen A. Ellis.
She is survived by her sister Barbara Blanton, and an extended loving family.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to make a donation in Mrs. Ellis’ name to LifePath Hospice Care or St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Rogers P. Fisher
Rogers P. Fisher, 77, of Plant City, died Dec. 23, 2012.
Mr. Fisher was born Jan. 12, 1935, to the late Holloway Knight and Leoma Fisher.
He was a furnace operator for Owens-Corning Fiberglas, from where he retired after 40 years of service.
He is survived by his children, Benjamin P. (Mary) Fisher, Mary Fisher, Gloria Fisher, Leomia Darling and Rose M. Fisher; brother, James Fisher; sisters, Rena Bell McDaniel, Lottie Bell Fisher and Melvina Peggy (Junior) Gimblet; grandchildren, Crystal, Marissa, Junior, Khadijah, Danielle, Aliciana, Marcus, Marissa, Christian, Kaeyla and Janeen; and one great-grandchild.
Irene Pless Gough
Irene Pless Gough, 90, died Dec. 24, 2012, at home.
She was born in Antioch.
Mrs. Gough was preceded in death in 2007 by her husband of 68 years, Robert Gough.
Survivors include two sons, Robert B. Gough Jr. (Patricia) and David B. Gough; one daughter, Barbara Burger (Maurice); six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 16 great-great-grandchildren; and two great-great-great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.
Reba Doris Keene
Reba Doris Keene, 98, died Dec. 24, 2012, at the Hospice Center near Chattanooga, Tenn.
She was born near Adele, Ga., and moved to Florida when she was about 2 years old. She lived in Plant City in the Springhead community until 2007, when she moved to Ooltewah, Tenn.
She was an active member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Mrs. Keene had been an honored member of the Plant City Art Club and also served as a Pink Lady at the South Florida Baptist Hospital for many years.
Mrs. Keene was predeceased in 2006 by her husband of 74 years, Nathan Keene.
She is survived by two daughters, Shirley Loyd (Howard) and Lois Sullivan (Marvin), of Melbourne and Collegedale, Tenn.; and one son, Melvin Keene (Grace), of Ooltewah, Tenn; 11 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and 15 great-great-grandchildren.
Online condolences may be offered at wellsmemorial.com.
Alton “Al” L. Kirkland Jr.
Alton “Al” L. Kirkland Jr., 53, died Jan. 7, from heart failure.
He was born Jan. 25, 1959.
Survivors include his wife, Petra Kirkland; mother, Dorothy Myers; stepfather, K. Charles Myers; brother, Mark S. Kirkland; stepsisters, Deborah J. Mason and Lynda L. Mattson; nephews, Jherico and Hunter; and niece, Isabel.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 11, at Kersey Funeral Home, 208 E. Lake Stella Drive, Auburndale. Funeral service will be at 11 a.m., also at Kersey.
James Madison Prince II
James Madison Prince II, 59, of Plant City, died Dec. 25, 2012.
He was born May 8, 1953, in Hendersonville, N.C.
Mr. Prince had worked for years at the Fairlea Dairy Farm.
He is survived by his children, James M. Prince III, Michael V. Prince and Wynita Lee Chambers; mother, Martha Tew; sisters, Ann Marie Hoxit, Yolanda Sutliff and Mary Ellen Ford; eight grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his father, James M. Prince Sr.; and siblings, Robert L. Prince and Glenda Hoxit.
Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.
Doris Ailene Randall
Doris Ailene Randall, 81, of Dover, died Dec. 21, 2012.
Born Feb. 5, 1931, in Dover to the late Ola Butler and the late Irma Carr Butler.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Randall Sr.; and two sisters, Helen Smith and Betty Surrency.
Survivors include sons, Ralph Jr. (Gloria) and Donnie (Debbie); daughter, Rae Ann Randall (Sharon); sister, Bonnie “Faye” Wetherington; and grandchildren, Carri, Scott, Donnie Jr., and Eric Randall, and Jose and Fermin Gaona.
Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.
Love Joy Sands
Love Joy Sands, 80 of Dover, died Dec. 16, 2012, at home.
Miss Joy was a pastor with her husband, Bill, for more than 30 years with Evangelists for Jesus Tabernacle and was known by many names — pastor, wife, mother and sister. But most of all, she was known to her heavenly father as redeemed.
Born Feb. 13, 1932, in Plant City, she was the daughter of the late Nelson Smith and the late Effie Brewer Smith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bill, in June 2012.
Survivors include sons, Ronald Lariscy, George, Gregory and Jeffrey Sands; daughters, Connie Reed and Cynthia Talarico; one brother, Frederick Smith; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Miss Joy’s memory to the Evangelists for Jesus Tabernacle children’s program.
Online condolences may be made at haughtfuneralhome.com.
Carl A. Schumacher
Carl A. Schumacher, 83, of Plant City, died Dec. 15, 2012, at home, surrounded by his loving family.
Mr. Schumacher was a U.S. Air Force veteran and worked and retired after 26 years at the Vehicle Maintenance Fleet for the U.S. Postal Service, in Lakeland.
He was the past owner of Schumacher Grocery Store and a founder of the annual East Hillsborough Law Enforcement Appreciation Ceremony.
Mr. Schumacher is survived by his wife of 65 years, Betty; children, Darryl (Mary) Schumacher, Carla (Dan) Hart, Eva (Wayne) Caraway and Gina (Gary) Blake; brothers, Larry, of Plant City, Leroy and Tom; and sisters, Alice Fawcett and Ruth Wood, all of Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Albert and Arabella Schumacher; and brothers, Joe, Ray, Edd, Paul and John Earl.
Memorials may be made in Mr. Schumacher’s memory to Lebanon Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.
Lucy America Sellers
Lucy America Sellers, 92, died on Dec. 16, 2012, in Plant City.
She was born Feb. 14, 1920, in Pelham, Ga., to Hiram and Emma (Gibson) Howell.
She married Samuel J. Sellers, deceased.
Mrs. Sellers was a homemaker.
She is survived by her four daughters, Mildred Lavern Price, of Dover, Hilda Sellers, Hazel Richardson, both of Plant City, and Thelma McCue, of Fountain; one brother, Dathon “Fuzzy” Howell; four grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and nine great-great grandchildren.
Online condolences may be made at wellsmemorial.com.
John W. Seminoff
John W. Seminoff, 81, of Plant City, died Dec. 7, 2012, at the Sun City Center Hospice House, Ruskin.
Mr. Seminoff was born Aug. 26, 1931. He loved music and was a drummer all his life. He performed with many different bands, most recently the Good News Singers. He was a board member of The Society for the Preservation of Early Country and Western Music. Mr. Seminoff also proudly served his country during the Korean conflict.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emile and Tessie (Kopycinski) Seminoff; brothers, Michael and Anthony Seminoff; and sisters, Mary Panish, Stephanie (Fran) Ramsay and Tillie (Tek) Daley.
He is survived by friend Bonnie Vogleman; children John A. Seminoff, Michael P. Seminoff and Tony B. Hofschneider, all of Lehigh Acres, and Daniel W. Seminoff and his wife, Marjorie, of Leominster, Mass.; Tekla H. Lafrennie and her husband, Joseph, of Winchendon, Mass.; and Tanya Hofschneider, of St. Petersburg; three nieces; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Jerry Underwood
Jerry Underwood, 80, died Dec. 11, 2012.
Mr. Underwood was born on June 15, 1932, in Willow, Okla., the only child of Clarence and Robbye Underwood.
Mr. Underwood grew up in the farm land of Oklahoma and graduated from the University of Houston. It was in Houston where he met his beloved wife, Merle. Jerry and Merle began a life together that spanned 58 years before Merle’s passing in 2011.
Mr. Underwood was a wonderful provider for his family with a successful executive sales career at Campbell’s Soup, Lawry’s Foods and finally as a principle with Dobson-Hicks, a food brokerage firm. Throughout his career, Jerry traveled to all 50 states and internationally, often accompanied by his wife.
The Underwoods resided in Texas and California before settling moving in 1977 to Tampa. Mr. Underwood retired in 1984 and moved to Plant City in 1992, where he enjoyed investing, playing golf and frequent visits from his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his son, Glenn Underwood, of Plant City; his daughters, Susan Schaffler, of Wheaton, Ill., and Lori Fraas, of Oviedo; and five grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Vitas Hospice or the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be offered at wellsmemorial.com.