Area Deaths

Albert B. "Brad" Ground Jr., 85, of Brooksville, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice House, Cortez Boulevard, Brooksville. He was born in Highland Park, Mich., and moved to this area 18 years ago from Silver Spring, Md.
Mr. Ground retired from Campbell Sand Company, College Park, Md., as an operating engineer on heavy equipment and later worked in the restaurant industry for Seibel's Dairy, Burtonsville, Md. He was a member of the VFW, 3rd Degree Mason, and Hiram-Takoma Lodge No. 10, Washington, D.C. He was a World War II U.S. Navy veteran and a Christian by faith.
Survivors include five sons, James C., Edmund B., Bruce W., Garry A., and Richard H.; six grandsons; and many nieces and nephews.
Arrangements by Brewer & Sons Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, Commercial Way, Spring Hill Chapel.

Donnie Lee Slawson, 58, of Brooksville, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Hernando-Pasco Hospice Care Unit, Chatman Boulevard, Brooksville. He was born in Davenport, Iowa, and moved to this area 26 years ago from Davenport.
Mr. Slawson was a mechanic and worked for several companies including 11 years at Larkin Contracting, Tampa. He was a Christian by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Helene; two daughters, Brooke Slawson of Spring Hill and Sarah Slawson of Tampa; his mother, Bertha Jones of Davenport; a brother, Robert Slawson of Davenport; two sisters, Diane Slawson and Debbie Trout, both of Davenport; a granddaughter; and a grandson.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral Homes, Brooksville Chapel.

Thomas Miller, 77, of Brooksville, died Tuesday, Oct. 7, at his daughter's home in Brooksville. He was born in Newburgh, N.Y., and moved to this area 21 years ago from Kingston, N.Y.
Mr. Miller retired after 20 years from Governor Clinton Food Market, Kingston. He was a Korean War U.S. Air Force veteran, past member of the Lake Katrina, N.Y. American Legion Post and worked at the Youth Homes of Florida, having cared for 40 foster children over a five-year period. He was a Protestant by faith.
Survivors include his wife, Marion; four sons, Thomas A. Miller and Charles F. Miller, both of Tampa, Henry R. Miller of Brooksville and Brandon A. Miller of Houston, Texas; four daughters, Marian Plonsky of Norwell, Mass., and Susan D. Kleckner, Cathy L. Andrus and Kelly L. Miller, all of Brooksville; two brothers, Donald Miller of Brooksville and Fred Miller of Kingston; a sister, Dorothy Bonse of Lake Katrina; 18 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by Turner Funeral Homes, Brooksville Chapel.

Catherine "Mimi" Benjamin, 84, of Brooksville, died Thursday, Oct. 9.
Survivors include two daughters, Christine and Diane; a brother, Henry; six grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Arrangements by National Cremation Society, Hudson.