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The following information is abstracted from obituaries reprinted in the newsletter of the Genealogy Club of Osceola County and from current newspapers. Many of these obituaries were originally obtained from the collection of the Osceola County Historical Society and Pioneer Center Museum, 750 North Bass Rd., Kissimmee, where many more obituaries can be found.
Subjects of the obituaries were in some way connected with the history or development of this area. The list is in no way intended to be a complete compilation of all possible articles.
Information given is: Name of deceased, publication date of obituary, source (if available), names of parents, spouses, children and place of interment. The original text may also include mention of more recent generations.
ABELL, May
9 May 1963 St. Cloud News
Husband, Dr. Burt Abell, deceased
Daughter, Mrs. Richard Watkins
Son, Dr. D.S. Abell
Mt Peace Cemetery
BARBER, Ernest O.
28 January 1965 St. Cloud News
Mother, Mrs. Viola Madison
Sons, Ernest E., Robert G., and Dan Earl Barber
Daughters, Mrs. Thelma Cook, Mrs. Ann Kisamore, Mrs. Dorothy McGraw
Sisters, Mrs. Belle Partin and Mrs. Dorothy Purdy
Brother, Paul Barber
Mt. Peace Cemetery
BARKER, Dr. James A. "Jimmy"
1 May 1005 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, James and Bernice Keene Barker
Daughter, Jennifer Barker Beasley
Son, James Scott Barker
Rose Hill Cemetery
BASS, Ada S.
(died) 19 September 1971
Husband, Ackies Bass, deceased
Son, Capt. Tobe A. Bass
Daughters, Mrs. Pearl Godwin and Mrs. William Crum
Rose Hill Cemetery
BASS, Joe L.
26 April 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Wade Hampton and Frances Bass
Wife, Betty Lois
Sons, Joe H., David W., Michael E. Bass
Daughter, Chyrle L. Munson
Sisters, Helen Rogers and Edna Galloway
Osceola Memory Gardens
BOVIS, John Adrian
26 March 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, John and Maime (Tomesello) Bovis
Wife, Lorena (Hansel) Bovis, deceased
Sons, John Milton and James A. Bovis
Brother Eric C. Bovis
Rose Hill Cemetery
BRONSON, JoBerta
25 October 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Joseph Hugh and Sadie Lee (Lanier) Gallagher
Daughter, JoBerta Carr, Betty Lou Kimball (deceased)
Sister, Daisy Pearson
Rose Hill Cemetery
BUMBY, Helen Lee
16 January 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Arthur Jackson and Mamie (Johnson) Lee
Husband, Thomas "Tom" Bumby, deceased
Son, Thomas Lee Bumby, deceased
Daughter, Faye Elaine Bumby Woodruff
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
CADMAN, William H.R. II
15 September 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Descendant of the Cadman family, 1880's Narcoossee settlers
Wife, Ann Cadman
Children, Suzanne, Jennifer and John
Highland Memory Gardens, Apopka FL
CHAPMAN, James Clifford "Chappy"
30 January 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Albert Clinton and Burta (Stewart) Chapman
Son and daughter-in-law Jimmy and Leslie Chapman
Daughter and son-in-law Aileen C. and Jeff Burnette
Sister, Hildegarde Delgado
Rose Hill Cemetery
COLLINS, Agnes C. "Tissie"
10 February 2005 Osceola News-Gazette
Parents, Walter and Elizabeth (Bronson) Lanier
Husband Ike Collins, deceased
Daughters, Virginia McDowell, Betty Bryant, Murlene Lundy
Sons, Donald, Tommy and Freddy Collins
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
HARVEY, Charles Denver
9 March 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Member of Kenansville-Whittier pioneer family
Wife, Lois Harvey, deceased
Daughter, Phyllis Eubanks, deceased
Sons, Steve and Danny Harvey
Kenansville Cemetery
HILL, Jessie Williams
Died 28 May 1927
Widow of Fred W. Hill
Came to Narcoossee in 1889 from England with Mrs. E.Nelson Fell
Children; Fred W. Hill of New York, Mrs. Madeline Hill Buckley of Denver,
Colorado, Victor M. Hill of Narcoossee.
Five Grandchildren
Brothers and sisters: Augustus Williams of Narcoossee, Trevor Williams and Mrs.
May Price of Portland, Oregon, Penery Williams, Mrs Sarah Coulson and Mrs. Ada
Jones of Newport, England, and Robert Williams of Manchester, England.
Rose Hill Cemetery, Kissimmee
HUGHEY, James Albert
21 Feb 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents Charles Floyd and Maude Lorena (Skinner) Hughey
Wife, Lois (Simmons) Hughey
Sons, Kenneth C. (wife Deena) and William F. (Joan) Hughey
Rose Hill Cemetery
HYDE-CLEMONS, Anna Lee Bass
27 January 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents Everett and Bertha Lee (Sullivan) Bass
Everett Bass was the son of Sarah Padgett and Charles Bass, who was a
great-grandson of Needham Bass.
Bertha Lee Sullivan was the daughter of Henry Morgan and Frances Caroline
(Hancock) Sullivan, daughter of Durham Hancock.
Husbands, Joseph L. Hyde, deceased, and A.C. Clemons, deceased.
Brothers Roscoe and Stanley Bass, deceased
Sons Joseph L. Hyde, Jr., Keith E. Hyde, daughter-in-law Frances Wilson Hyde
Daughters Sara Hyde Segrest and Shirley Hyde Tipton
Osceola Memory Gardens
IVEY, Alfred William
(died) 8 December 1988
Parents William Wesley and Emma (Yates) Ivey
Wife, Myrtes (Whidden) Ivey
Sister, Belle Pysher [surname correction sent in by Anne Shaw]
Rose Hill Cemetery
JOHNSON, Clyde Odell
29 January 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Parents J.T. and Tavey (Suhl) Johnson
Wife, Marian (Albritton) Johnson
Son, Marvin Dale Johnson
Sister, Evie Hand
Brother, Horace Franklin Johnson, Jr.
Osceola Memory Gardens
KEMPFER, Harold
22 April 1923 (St. Cloud Tribune 26 April 1923, Page One)
Deputy Sheriff, killed in the line of duty
Wife, unnamed
Uncle, W.H. Kempfer
Burial in Beaver Springs PA
LAMB, William
The Gazette, 12 July 1940 page 4
Osceola County cattleman, died in Hardee County FL while working.
Member of Osceola County Board of County Commissioners
Fifty-five years old, survived by brothers Tom of Orlando, Malcolm of Shingle
Creek and John of Campbell Station
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
LARISON, Earl
15 January 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Born Clay County KY to Green and Dolly Larison
(built several St. Cloud buildings, owned Red's Fish Camp)
Wife Evelyn Larison
Son, Alan Earl Larison, deceased
Daughters, Teresa Hahn and Patricia Slaughter
Sisters, Juanita Pindras and Mary Ballinger
Osceola Memory Gardens
LEE, John M.
15 July 1918 (St. Cloud Tribune 18 July 1918, Page One)
Wife, Dora Outlaw Lee
Daughters, Mrs. Roy L. Starbyrd, Mrs. Walter Coble, Mrs. Malcom Waring, Mrs. Zeb
Parker, Miss Margarette Lee
Son, John M. Lee Jr.
Burial Rose Hill
MAKINSON, William B.
Died 25 September 1924
Longtime Kissimmee resident, 60 years of age.
Originally from Maryland.
Former Mayor of Kissimmee and county official,
Survived by (unnamed) widow, two sons and nine daughters
MAPES, Dana Austin
2 September 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Vic and Myrtle Florence Mapes
Grandfather was John Henry DeGraw, first commander (1909) of the St. Cloud
Chapter of the Grand Army of the Republic.
Sisters, Myrtle Hewett and Mary Brooks
Stepson, Doit Koppler
MINSHEW, Oscar "Roy"
28 March 2004 Orlando Sentinel, also in Osceola News-Gazette
Born in Alabama - longtime resident of Davenport
Parents, Nola and Nathan E. Minshew, deceased
Stepmother, Armetta Cutts Minshew ("Little Granny"), deceased
Wife, Helen (Mahany) Minshew
Children, Ronald Minshew, Barbara Travers, Frank Minshew, Charles Minshew, Mary
Minshew, Theresa Lonleski, Nathan Minshew, Virgil Minshew.
First wife, Glenice Jones Minshew, deceased
Son, James Minshew, deceased
Brothers, Benjamin Minshew, C.A. Cutts. Elbert and Gerald Cutts, deceased
Sisters, Mabel Perrin, Addie Maude Carroll, Carew Reynolds. Lorene Patterson and
Muriel Ballard, deceased
MOORE-WILLSON, Minnie
Orlando Sentinel 10 August 1937
Author of local history books, particularly regarding Seminole Indians,
"one of the best known women in Osceola County"
(no family information)
MURPHY, Ernest P. (Kayo)
3 January 2005 Orlando Sentinel, and several others
Longtime Osceola County sheriff, World War II hero
Parents, Aloysius and Florence Elizabeth (Roche) Murphy
Wife, Virginia (Bunting) Murphy
Sons, Ernest Patrick Murphy, Jr., deceased, and Michael Murphy
Daughters, Patricia Wells and Brenda Newman
Brother, Daniel Murphy
Sister, Frances Coleman
Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery
NELSON, Walter J.
27 March 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Walter and Davida (Lockhart) Nelson
Grandfather David Lockhart, was Orange County FL pioneer
Osceola Memory Gardens
OVERSTREET, Mrs. M.N.
St. Cloud Tribune 7 August 1924 page 1
Died in Haines City FL at the home of her daughter, Mrs. O.J. Cook.
Born in Osceola County, then Orange County, over seventy years ago.
Preceded in death by husband, M.N. Overstreet, in 1913.
Survivors: Hon. J.L. Overstreet, Mrs. J.W. Austin, Mrs. H.H. Bollister, Mrs.
O.J. Cook, H.R. Overstreet, E.L. Overstreet and G.M. Overstreet.
Rose Hill Cemetery, Kissimmee
PADGETT, Marietta
(died) 12 March 1936
Husband, John Padgett
Sons, Dan, Dewey, Grady and Johnny Padgett
Adopted son, Ferris Richards
Daughters, Mrs. Henry Evans and Mrs. Walter Dean
Stepdaughter, Mrs. Allie Hall
Brothers, Will, Elmer, Walter and John Tyson
Sisters, Lula Tyson, Mrs. A.M. Keen, Mrs. A.R. Tompkins and Mrs. H.C. Avant
Rose Hill Cemetery
PADGETT, Robert Ellis
Born in Okeechobee County
6 November 1969 (Osceola Historical Society collection)
Wife, Ernestine Padgett
Daughters, Mrs. Mabel Albritton, Mrs. Nona Bass, Mrs. Roberta Elder
Sons, Robert E. Padgett, Jr., Glen Padgett
Funeral held at Okeechobee First Baptist Church
PARTIN, Arthur E.
(died) 30 June 1972
Parents Lawrence E. and Carrie (McCutcheon) Partin
Wife, Pauline (Barclay) Partin
Son, Lester Partin
Daughter, Mrs. Steve Lee
Sisters, Mrs. Ola Barber, Mrs. Ernest Johns and Mrs. Wilbur Johns
Osceola Memory Gardens
PARTIN, Bertha Lee
(died) 29 August 1987
Parents, Walter Mann and Mary Nancy (Yates0 Bass
Husband, Henry O. Partin, deceased
Daughter, Kathryn Bronson
Sons, Edward L. "Geech", Henry H. "Doc", and Richard Earl Partin
Sister, Edna Williams
Rose Hill Cemetery
PARTIN, Henry Hyatt "Doc"
15 February 2005 Orlando Sentinel
17 February 2005 Osceola News-Gazette
Father, Henry O. Partin
Wife, Mildred "Petie"
Daughters, Martha Booth, Becky Kempfer
Sons, Doug and Henry H. Partin, Jr. "Hank"
Sister, Kathryn Bronson
Brother, Earl Partin
(Grissom Funeral Home)
PARTIN, Robert C. ("Uncle Bob")
Died 14 June 1927 in Center Park district.
Born 14 March 1840 in Tatnall County, GA
Survived by wife Catherine (Ballard)
daughters Mrs. Emmie Johns of Bartow, Mrs. Nora Weatherby and Mrs. Nellie
McCutcheon of Taft, Mrs. Sallie Smith of Kissimmee, Mrs. Ruby Partin and Mrs.
Millie Godwin of St. Cloud;
sons Homer H., Vernon, John C. and Dewey.
Brothers Gilmore Partin of Orange County and Steve C. Partin, his nearest
neighbor.
Rose Hill Cemetery, Kissimmee
PETERSON, William
Died 5 May 1927
Born in 1857, Kissimmee
One of eight brothers.
Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Mike Peterson
Narcoossee Cemetery
REAVES, Tom "Tommy"
11 February 2005 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Coy and Blanche Reaves
Wife, Shirley
Sister, Cora Murphy
Brother, Henry Reaves
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
SILAS, Lawrence
(died) 16 July 1974
Father, Tom Silas ( a former slave )
Adopted Daughter, Dorothy Allen
Early cattleman and large Kissimmee property owner
SPEIRS, Eugene Roy (Doctor)
16 February 2005 Orlando Sentinel and other
Born in Kansas, long time Osceola County physician
Wife, Beryl Jane (Johnson) Speirs, deceased
Daughters, Mary Jane Bishop, Nancy Bellows and Sharon Fraser
Sons, Eugene Speirs, Jr. and Robert Speirs
Osceola Memory Gardens Cemetery
STORY, Woodrow W.
1 October 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Wife, Martha B. Story
Son, Woodrow W. Jr.
Daughter-in-law, Lynn Stephens
Sisters, Juanita Cox and Sara Myrtice Taylor
Christmas Cemetery, Christmas FL
TYSON, Frances Theodosia
30 March 2004 Orlando Sentinel and other
Husband, Roscoe E. Tyson, deceased
Sons, Raymond P. Tyson, deceased, and William E. Tyson
Daughters, Elanor F. McGowan, Mary D. Winn and Katherine L. Tyson
Osceola Memory Gardens
TYSON, John (Wash)
(died) 8 December 1962
Parents, George Washington and Winifred (Hall) Tyson
Wife, Jerushia Ann Tyson
Daughters, Mrs. Gordon Bass, Mrs. Jack Turner, Mrs. Malcolm Prasek, Mrs. Gerald
Brooks, Mrs. J.M. Coffee, Mrs. Daniel B. Martin, Jr., and Mrs. J.L. Hayes
Sons, Elbert and Vance Tyson
Brother, Claude Tyson
Half-brothers, James C., Henry, William and Charles Tyson
Sister, Mrs. Annie Long
Half-sisters, Mrs. Mervin Burroughs and Mrs. Carl Luthge
Boggy Creek Cemetery
TYSON, Olive Beneter
29 April 1949 St. Cloud News
Daughters, Mrs. Ira Stokes, Mrs. Carl Luthge, Mrs. Lawrence Loverence Curtiss,
Mrs. Merwynn Burroughs
Sons, James, Henry, Charles and Cramer L. Tyson
Stepsons, A.C. and Wash Tyson
Stepdaughter, Mrs. Arnie Long
Sister, Mrs. Thomas Littles
Brothers, Berry, Ben, Marion, Keat, Hill and Henry A. Tindall
ULINE, Edith Mae
27 October 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Parents, Henry and Emily (Padgett) Howard
Daughters, Sylvia Marshall, Betty Bronson, Debra Macbeth and Glenda Wilson
Brother, James B. Howard
Rose Hill Cemetery
WHALEY, A.E. (Doc) D.V.M.
Parents, Alexander Edwin and Nancy T. Whaley
Wife, Patsy (Johnston) Whaley, deceased
Son, Larry Whaley
Daughter, Nancy Jewell
Sister, Breta Reagan
Brother, Cecil Whaley, Jr.
(Grissom Funeral Home)
YATES, Clayton Rudolph
(died) 15 December 1986
Parents, Joel and Nixie (Johnson) Yates
Wife, Belle Lanier
Daughter, Barbara Yates
Son, Murray Clayton Yates
Brother, Joe Yates
Pleasant Hill Cemetery
YEASEL, Harry E.
31 July 2004 Orlando Sentinel
Born in Ohio, St. Cloud Mayor 1948-50
Son, Frank Yeasel
(Fisk Funeral Home)