Clara Hazel Diffey, 94, Vero Beach
Clara Hazel Diffey, 94, of Vero Beach, died June 30, 2019, at the Indian River Hospital, Vero Beach. Hazel was born in Tennessee. She was a resident of Vero Beach for many years, after living much of her life in Granite City, Ill.
Hazel spent her career in retail.
Hazel was a member of the Vero Beach Church of Christ and had served as an Elders wife in the Granite City Church of Christ.
Hazel enjoyed church, shopping, outings to her favorite restaurants, but first and foremost, spending time in conversation with beloved family and friends.
Throughout her life, she truly LOVED making delicious wonderful meals for all to enjoy.
She is survived by her daughter, Reida (spouse, Gene) Lewis; grandchildren, John and Dawn Calcagno, and Todd and Holly Lewis; great-grandchildren, Ashley, Calley, Bayley, John (Jr.), Jake Calcagno, Andrea and Josh Mix, Jared and Lee Callihan; great-great-grandchildren, Paxton, Jude, and Jack Mix; as well as several nieces and nephews and many wonderful friends.
The Family requests that expressions of sympathy take the form of donations to: The Buggy Bunch, P.O. Box 1154, Vero Beach, FL 32961.
Memorial services will be held at Noon, July 20, at the Vero Beach Church of Christ, 3340 20th St. Vero Beach, FL 32960.
Margaret Kelleher, 97, Vero Beach
Margaret “Peg” Kelleher, 97, of Vero Beach, passed away at VNA Hospice on Tuesday, July 2, 2019. Peg was born in Utica, N.Y., and lived in New Hartford, N.Y., until she move to Vero Beach in 1982.
She was a veteran of WWII, serving in the US Marine Corps 1943-1945.
She was predeceased by her husband, Daniel John Kelleher, whom she married in 1952.
She is survived by her son, Daniel J. Kelleher (spouse, Jeanne), of Delmar, N.Y.; and her daughter, Renie Calkin (spouse, Steve), of Vero Beach; four grandchildren, Michael Calkin (spouse, Nicole), Kelly Calkin, Daniel F. Kelleher (fiance, Kaila), and Andrew Kelleher (spouse, Morgan); as well as one great-grandson, Connor Michael Calkin.
Peg’s wishes were to have her Mass and interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Hawthorne, N.Y., private.
Dr. Charles Raymond Lunceford, 83, Vero Beach
Dr. Charles Raymond “Ray” Lunceford, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, June 29, 2019, at the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital from heart complications. Ray was born on April 15, 1936, in Mississippi and grew up in Johnson City, Tenn.
He excelled in music, earning a college scholarship to attend Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. He was drafted after dropping out of college for a semester to work and then served two years in the US Army at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colo. While there, he met the love of his life, Elsie Ann Smith. They married and then returned to Bowling Green, Ky., so Ray could finish his Bachelor’s Degree in Music Education.
Ray began his band directing career at Alachua Santa Fe High School in 1960 outside of Gainesville, Fla. He earned a Master’s Degree in Music Education from the University of Florida and served as the Graduate Assistant to the UF Pride of the Sunshine Gator Marching Band.
In the summer of 1966 he moved his family to Vero Beach, Florida, to serve as Director of Bands at Vero Beach High School. Ray grew the band from 45 members to over 230 in just four years before leaving for Howell Watkins Junior High School in Palm Beach Gardens in 1970.
In the fall of 1971, he began working at Indian River Community College, now Indian River State College. In his 22 years at IRCC, Ray served as the first full time instrumental music director, earned his Doctorate degree from Florida Atlantic University while working full time and moved into administration serving as the Dean of Arts and Sciences, Provost of the Vero Beach Mueller Campus and Vice President of Academic Affairs until his retirement in 1993.
He was honored to be the first Vice President Emeritus of Indian River Community College.
Ray was an avid competitor and excellent tennis player, golfer, and poker player. He won numerous tennis single and doubles titles locally and was state ranked for his age until he had to quit playing due to his health.
He learned to play golf and was club champion at Indian Pines Golf Club three times in Ft. Pierce and then club champion twice at Dodger Pines Country Club in Vero Beach. He had four holes-in-one during his golfing career.
He enjoyed playing recreational poker, chess, and table games with his grandsons to develop their strategic advantage and critical thinking skills through competition.
He is survived by his son, Charles R. “Casey” Lunceford II (wife, Brenda) of Vero Beach; daughter, Keely Ann (husband, Stephen) Raff, of Portland, Ore.; two grandsons, both fine young men who are his proud legacy, Garrett Raff, of Portland, and Lance Lunceford, of Vero Beach.
Ray was happily married for 51 years to Elsie Ann Smith Lunceford, who preceded him in death in 2014.
A Memorial Service will be held Friday, July 5, at 1 p.m. at The Richardson Center at Indian River State College Mueller Campus in Vero Beach, 6155 College Lane, Vero Beach.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Indian River State College Foundation, Dr. Charles R. Lunceford Memorial Fund, 3209 Virginia Avenue, Ft. Pierce, FL 34951or go online at: www.irscfoundation.org and click on the donate page.
Raymond B. McIntyre, 81, Vero Beach
Raymond B. McIntyre, 81, of Vero Beach, passed away July 1, 2019.
A gathering of friends and family will be held 2-4 p.m. Friday, July 5, at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory.
Services entrusted to Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home.
