Area Deaths

William F. Shaffer Jr., 86, of Weeki Wachee, died Thursday, May 15, at his home. He was born in Plainfield, N.J., and moved to this area 10 years ago from Hilton Head, S.C.
Mr. Shaffer was a retired executive vice president of finance for Oscar Mayer & Co., worked in finance for American Airlines, was head of Firestone International and Massey Ferguson, and was a World War II U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Constance; a son, Kip Shaffer of Hendersonville, Tenn.; and a daughter, Kathleen "Lil" Gibson of Weeki Wachee.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Albert J. Pataky, 81, of Spring Hill, died Saturday, May 17, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. He was born in New York, N.Y., and moved to this area 17 years ago from Coram, N.Y.
Mr. Pataky was a retired manager for BAE Systems, a World War II U.S. Army veteran, was involved and instrumental in the first manned space flight of Apollo 7 and attended St. Anthony Catholic Church.
Survivors include three sons, Jeff Pataky of Atlanta, Ga., Gregory Pataky of Evans Mills, N.Y., and Douglas Pataky; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Marilyn K. Sievert, 72, of Spring Hill, died Saturday, May 17, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. She was born in Chicago, Ill., and moved to this area eight years ago from Daytona Beach.
Mrs. Sievert was a retired deli food service person for Kmart. She was a member of the YMCA, Catholic Charities and St. Theresa Catholic Church.
Survivors include a son, Robert Sievert of New Lenox, Ill.; two daughters, Debbie Gibson of Spring Hill and Judy Snyder of Yorba Linda, Calif.; two brothers, Thomas Gaulager of Fredricksburg, Texas, and James Gaulager of Hazelcrest, Ill.; a sister, Sharon Bennett of Lake Forest, Calif.; and seven grandchildren.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Carl E. Landrith, 82, of Brooksville, died Friday, May 16, at Brooksville Regional Hospital. He was born in Logan County, Mich., and moved to this area 11 years ago from Michigan.
Mr. Landrith was a retired Baptist minister, having worked pioneering new churches and helping struggling churches. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Brooksville, founded Woodhaven Bible Church in 1953 in Woodhaven, Mich., was a Chaplain with Campsite Evangelism and was a past staff member from 2003-2005 of Spring Hill Bible Church.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma; a son, Curtis Landrith of Cass City, Mich.; a daughter, Connie E. Riddle of Naperville, Ill.; four stepchildren, Lorelie Spikes of Santiago, Chile, Wayne Harris of Hudson, Randall Harris of Spring Hill and Todd Harris of Brooksville; four brothers, Donald of Milford, Mich., Hobie of Sunnydale, Calif., Robert of Trenton, Mich., and Dale of Camden, Maine; seven grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; 13 stepgrandchildren; and four stepgreat-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Brooksville Chapel.

Opal C. Jones, 86, of Spring Hill, died Sunday, May 18, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. She was born in Vienna, Ill., and moved to this area 27 years ago from Elkhart, Ind.
Mrs. Jones was a computer operator and a Christian by faith.
Survivors include two sons, Ronald E. Jones and Dennis R. Jones; two brothers, Charles and Wendell; a sister, Evangeline; and three grandchildren.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Betty Jane Aikins, 84, of Brooksville, died Saturday, May 17, at Oak Hill Hospital. She was born in Mahaffey, Pa., and moved to this area 22 years ago from Clearfield, Pa.
Mrs. Aikins was a Methodist by faith.
Survivors include two sons, Donald Aikens of Brooksville and Dennis Aikens of High Springs; a brother, Donald Lines of Gulf Breeze; a sister, Lois Bennett of Curwensville, Pa.; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Merritt Funeral Home, Brooksville Chapel.

Ellen "Kay" Stafne, 54, of Minnesota, formerly of Brooksville, died Tuesday, May 13, at St. Mary's Medical Center/Hospice, Duluth, Minn. She was born in Brooksville.
Mrs. Stafne attended school in Florida and achieved her GED in Minnesota. a
Survivors include her husband, Gary; two sons, Ronnie Stafne of Brook Park, Minn., and Daniel Stafne of Sandstone, Minn.; a brother, Bruce Daniels of Brooksville; a sister, Connie Boyer of Brooksville; five grandchildren; and nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Methven Funeral Home, Sandstone, Minn.

Karen Elaine Breadon, 56, of Spring Hill, died Saturday, May 17, at Tampa General Hospital. She was born in Dubois, Pa., and moved to this area eight years ago from Leroy, N.Y.
Mrs. Breadon was a Beauticontrol distributor.
Survivors include her husband, William W.; a son, Gerald Breadon of Dublin, Ohio; a daughter, Shelli Breadon of Gainesville; five brothers, Bill Gregor of Pennsylvania, Donald of Hickory, N.C., Rich of North Carolina, Bob of Leroy and Frank of Greensborough, N.C.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral Homes, Spring Hill Chapel.

Fatima Cruz, 53, of Spring Hill, died Saturday, May 17, at Spring Hill Regional Hospital. She was born in the Philippines and resided in Spring Hill and Linden, N.J.
Mrs. Cruz was a medical technician and a member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church.
She is survived by her husband, Vasco R. Da-Cruz.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral & Cremation Center, U.S. 19 Chapel, Spring Hill.