Obituaries
Mynard E. Butts Jr.
Mynard E. Butts Jr., 87, of Crystal, Mich., and winter visitor to Holmes Beach, died Aug. 9.
Born in Elk Rapids, Mich., Mr. Butts retired as chief pharmacist of Kent County Social Services in 1978. He was a graduate of Sacred Heart Academy in Mount Pleasant, Mich., and Ferris State College in Big Rapids, Mich. He owned M.E. Butts Drugs in Mt. Pleasant, Mich. He was a member of St. Bernard Catholic Church, Holmes Beach, and was usher and Holy Name Society member there. He was a member of the Moose and Elk’s lodges.
Memorial services will be Aug. 20 in Alma, Mich.
He is survived by son Mynard "Bill" of Grand Rapids, Mich.; daughter Bonnie of Dana Point, Calif.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Agnes Didriksen
Agnes Didriksen, 89, of Palm Harbor and formerly Holmes Beach, died July 30.
Born in Chicago, Mrs. Didriksen moved to Holmes Beach from there in 1973. She was a homemaker. She was active in the Episcopal Church of the Annunciation in Holmes Beach and a volunteer in the development of the Island Branch Library.
Memorial services will be at 3 p.m. Aug. 27 at the church, 4408 Gulf Drive, Holmes Beach FL 34217. Memorial contributions may be made to the church.
She is survived by sons Charles of Dunedin, David of Acton, Mass., and Peter of Lombard, Ill.; and daughters Barbara Moore of Gainesville and Nancy Weinreich of Greendale, Wis.
Barbara Guthrie Holmes
Barbara Guthrie Holmes, 77, of Phoenix, Ariz., and formerly Cortez, died Aug. 8.
Born in Cortez, Mrs. Holmes was the granddaughter of Cortez pioneers Capt. Billy and Sallie Adams Fulford. Her parents, who predeceased her, were Jim and Grace Guthrie of Cortez. She grew up in Cortez, attending the Cortez Public School and Bradenton High School. She was owner and operator of a health care facility in Bradenton for many years and later worked as a private caregiver in Avon Park. She was a Christian, attending the Cortez Church of Christ for years.
Private services and internment were held in Phoenix. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cortez Village Historical Society, P.O. Box 663, Cortez FL 34215.
She is survived by sons Joey of Fort Lauderdale, Ray of Bonita Springs, Billy of Phoenix, and Ronnie of Texas; daughter Barbara of Phoenix; sister Geraldine of Tombstone, Ariz.; brothers J.O. Guthrie Jr. of Cortez, Maurice Guthrie of Lake Ariel, Pa., and Butch Scalzo of Ellenton; 11 grandchildren; five nieces and nephews; and many cousins.
Karen S. Knowlton
Karen S. Knowlton, 55, of Bradenton, died Aug. 9.
Mrs. Knowlton moved to the Bradenton area from Washington, D.C., in 1970. She was a registered nurse. She was a graduate of Florida State University. She was an Intensive Care Unit Charge nurse at Manatee Memorial Hospital and later at Blake Medical Center in the cancer unit. She was a member of Alpha Phi Sorority and a life member of DAV No. 99. She was Baptist.
A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 18, at M. Mansion Memorial Funeral Home, 1400 36th Ave. E., Ellenton. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238.
She is survived by husband Patrick; son Matthew F. "Matt" of Bradenton; daughters Kim and Patricia "Tish," both of Bradenton; mother Lillian Moucha of Holmes Beach; stepdaughters Trina Lester and Donna Lance; brothers Milo Moucha of Holmes Beach and Alan Moucha of New Jersey; sister Charlotte Krauch of Bradenton; father-in-law Lewis Knowlton; grandchildren Savanna Knowlton and Tommy Gambrell Jr. of Ruskin; and four step-grandchildren.
Judge Robert E. Willis
Judge Robert E. Willis, 95, of Bradenton, died Aug. 12.
Born in Cortez, Judge Willis was a lifelong resident of the area. He was a circuit judge in the 12th Judicial Circuit from 1961-72. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member and past officer of the Bradenton Kiwanis Club. He was a member and chairman of the Manatee County School Board in the 1950s. He was past president of the Florida School Board Association and National School Board Association in 1957.
Memorial services were Aug. 15. Memorial contributions may be made to Bradenton Hospice House in care of Hospice of Southwest Florida, 5955 Rand Blvd., Sarasota FL 34238. Brown and Sons Funeral Home, 43rd Street Chapel, was in charge of arrangements.
He is survived by wife Dorothy; daughters Barbara W. Center of Tampa, Pauline Clum and Mary Jo, both of Bradenton; son Robert of Holmes Beach; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. |
