Linda Sue Miller, age 63, of LaBelle, born December 7, 1953 and passed away April 17, 2017. She was born to the late Merlyn and Dolores McMillan in Pontiac, IL. She had siblings Sandra Brittain, Masha Oliff, John McMillan and the late Warren McMillan. She moved to Fort Lauderdale as a young girl where she met her husband, Edward L. Miller and they were married June 27, 1970. They moved to LaBelle in 1980.
They had children Jeremiah, Cereese, Jamie and Tristan. Her family continued to grow with the addition of Jeremiah's wife, Tracy and grandchildren Blayne and Brett. The family was blessed again when Jamie married husband Caleb. More additions to the family are expected in the fall with more grandchildren from daughters, Tristan and Jamie. A great grandchild is expected to the family in October. She lived her life to the fullest and will be dearly missed.
Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - LaBelle.
Hilda Mae (Tillie) Patton, age 93, passed away Monday, April 17, 2017 in LaBelle, Florida. Tillie was born September 11, 1923, In Pahokee, Florida to the pioneer family of the late Gadson and Martha (Lanier) Curry. Tillie was a lifelong resident of LaBelle.
Survivors include her daughters: Vicki Patton Burke and Rhonda (Patrick) Langford of LaBelle. grandchildren: Scott (Susan) Wegscheid, Wendy (Wesley) O'Ferrell, Jada (Matthew) Fleming and Lori (Vince) Perkins, great grandchildren: Jacob (Rebecca) Parrish, Michael (Kimberly) Parrish, Christopher and Nicholas Wegscheid, Tyler, Abbie, and Macy O'Ferrell, Luke, Lance and Baylee Fleming, Jackson, Brody and Cameryn Perkins and great great grandchildren: Gavin, Christian, Emilee, Croix, Isabella and Owen Parrish.
Tillie was preceded in death by her husband: Jack M. Patton, parents: Gadson and Martha Lanier Curry, sisters: Vernell Curry and Betha Lee Johnson, brother: Odell Curry, grandson: David Wegscheid and great-grandson: Christian Wegscheid.
Funeral services will be as follows: visitation with family at Akin Davis Funeral Home in LaBelle on Wednesday April 19, 2017 from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be at Akin Davis Funeral Home on Friday April 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Jay Goforth officiating. Interment will follow at Fort Denaud Cemetery, LaBelle, FL immediately following service.
In lieu of flowers, of flowers, the family requests that you make a donation to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of Tillie Patton to help conquer this disease.
James David Whidden, age 69, of LaBelle, passed away April 17, 2017 in Fort Myers.
David was born December 24, 1947 in Moore Haven to Calvin and Charlotte Clayton Whidden. He married Linda G. Herne; she survives. He enjoyed fishing, shooting, reading and spending time with his family. He served his country in the United States Marine Corps. He was a member and attended Healing Waters Church of LaBelle. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother who will be greatly missed by his entire family and close friends.
He also leaves behind his children; Matthew Whidden and his wife Miranda, Jason Whidden, and Jacob Whidden and his wife Susan, grandchildren; Cort Whidden and Ashton Powers, brothers; Jeff Wiggins, Jack Wiggins, Brett Whidden, sisters; Paige McCutcheon, Holly Whiddon, Gail Henderson and Virginia Arnold.
A memorial celebration of David's life will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Ortona Cemetery Pavilion. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to be given to Doc Keen Scholarship at Moore Haven High School or the Amy Lundy Scholarship at First Bank of Clewiston.
Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - LaBelle.
Catherine Dianne Edwards, age 66, of LaBelle, went to be with the Lord April 16, 2017.
She was born Jan. 5, 1951 in Fort Myers, FL, to the late Harry Lee Mottaz, Sr. and the late Catherine E. (Lippincott) Mottaz.
She is survived by her loving husband: Hosea Phillip Edwards, son: Eric (Bekki) Edwards,two daughters: Desiree (Jobby) Blevins and Kasey (James) Nipper, grandchildren: Adam Edwards, Tiffani Phillips, Renae Edwards, Timothy Edwards, Zechariah Edwards, Matthew Edwards, brother: Harry L. Mottaz, Jr. (Harriet) and many other family members and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, April 20, 2017 at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church of Alva with Pastors/Clergy Robert Roper, Jim Lanier, Grant Gomez and Phillip Edwards officiating. Visitation will be Thursday 30 minutes prior to service at First Baptist Church of Alva. Interment will be in Alva Cemetery. Arrangements by Akin-Davis Funeral Home - LaBelle.
James Vee Lofton Sr., age 76, passed away April 16, 2017, at the Lehigh Acres Hope Hospice facility.
Born December 24, 1940, in Fort Myers Lee Memorial Hospital, Jimmy Vee is the son of the late James Vivian Lofton and the late Ida Corine Forrey Lofton Kirby.
A five generation LaBelle native, a lifetime resident of Hendry County Jimmy Vee and his dad surveyed along most of the sectional boundary lines located within Hendry, Lee and Collier Counties over many years, including extensive boundary surveys on Marco Island, oil well fields located in Felda, and in the Everglades.
Before becoming sick, Jimmy Vee, also known as Pa, was an avid Hunter and fisherman and could be found in the early days of his youth raising and training bird dogs, hunting quail, dove, turkey and fishing on Lake Okeechobee, Pine Island or in the 10,000 Island with little Vee, and his close network of friends over the years and his little hunting and fishing partner, Max Thomas. The rest of the time Pa could be found in the woods, relaxing, hunting, and telling lots of old time woods and fishing stories with the best of friends and family members reminiscing the good-ole days solving most the world's problems around the camp fire.
After graduating from LaBelle High School, Class of 1959. Jimmy, joined the U.S. Army 97th Engineering Battalion (Construction), where he further broadened his surveying knowledge. After serving his country, he returned home from France in 1963 and honorably discharged in 1965. He continued to work as a land surveyor employed with Johnson Engineering founded in 1946 and starting a young family in Hendry County. In 2002, he retired from Johnson Engineering Inc. with 40 years of land surveying services.
Jimmy is preceded in death by his father James Vivian Lofton, mother Ida Corine Forrey Lofton Kirby and step father Henry Robert Kirby. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Martha Jo Moody Lofton; only child son, James Vee Lofton Jr. (Laura) and three grandchildren: Maura Lindsay, Madelyon Rae, and Max Thomas Lofton. He is survived by his brother Wayne Allen Lofton (Suzanne), his sister Martha Jayne Lofton Gourley. Jimmy Vee leaves behind many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A celebration of Jimmy's life will be held Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church of LaBelle, 330 North Main Street, LaBelle Florida with Rev. Frank Deerey and Pastor Preston Long officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family has designated Lehigh Acres Hope Hospice of Lee County, 1201 Wings Way, Lehigh Acres, FL 33936, or First Baptist Church of LaBelle, 330 North Main Street, LaBelle Florida 33935 in memory of James Vee Lofton Sr.