Janice M. Davidson, 86, Vero Beach
Janice M. Davidson, 86, of Vero Beach, passed away on Wednesday March 4, 2020. She was born Sept. 4, 1933, in Detroit, Mich., to the late Arthur Clemett and Ann Reid Clemett.
Janice graduated from Michigan State with a Bachelor of Arts in early education.
After retiring to Vero Beach, she volunteered at McKee Botanical Gardens and spent time enjoying other hobbies such as antiquing, walking with the ladies group at Riverside park,and spending time with her children and grandchildren.
In addition to her parents, Janice was preceded in death by her husband, John Davidson in 2018.
She is survived by her daughters, Carol (Jon) Swagger, of Vero Beach, and Cathy (Todd) Nash, of Naperville, Ill.; and grandchildren, Michelle (Karl) Ring, Catherine Swagger, James Swagger, Alexis Nash and Garrett Nash.
Interment will take place at Crestlawn Cemetery at a private date and time.
In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made in honor of Janice to the ASPCA at www.aspca.org or the charity of your choice.
Norma J. O’Connor, 93, Vero Beach
Norma J. O’Connor, 93, of Vero Beach, passed away March 5, 2020, at her home, surrounded by loving family.
Norma enjoyed her many years of work as a News Director at WTVX Channel 34, when it was still a CBS affiliate in Ft. Pierce. She was later News Director for WGYL-WTTB. She retired from Archie’s Studio in 1996.
She was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church of Vero Beach.
Norma was a charter member of Vero Beach Ambulance Squad in 1966, Daughters of the American Revolution, Kles (Elks) Club, and Antique Study Club of Vero Beach.
She is survived by sons, John A. O’Connor, Paul E. (Connie) O’Connor and Kevin S. O’Connor; daughters, Kathy (Dave) Parker, Mary J. O’Connor (Carl); five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She was predeceased by her beloved husband, John E. O’Connor, in 1998; and daughter, Virginia M. Jackson, in 2013.
A gathering of friends and family will be held 1-2 p.m. on Thursday, March 12.
A Memorial Service will immediately follow at 2:00 p.m. at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory.
Leslie David Opper, 51, Vero Beach
Leslie David Opper, born on June 17, 1968, in Elmira, N.Y., passed unexpectedly into the loving arms of our Lord and Savior on March 2, 2020. Leslie lived in the Vero Beach area since 1980.
He is survived by a daughter, Lauren Opper, of Palm Bay, Fla.; father, Lloyd Opper Sr. (Andrea), of Vero Beach; mother, Paula Opper Rogers (Edward), of Vero Beach; twin brother, Lloyd Opper Jr., of Charlotte, N. Ca.; brother, Lawrence Opper (Sally), of Raleigh, N. Ca.; favorite sister, Laura Opper, of Vero Beach; fiancé, Deborah Walker, of Ft. Pierce, Fla.; several aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews and one grand niece.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 14, at Village Marina, 396 Torpey Rd, Fort Pierce, FL 34946.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to your favorite charity.
Barry E. Ramey, 69, Vero Beach
Barry E. Ramey, 69, Vero Beach, passed away on March 5, 2020. He was born in Huntingdon, Pa., on Feb. 2, 1951, to Eugene Ramey and Bernadine Blair Epstein, both deceased.
He graduated from Central High School for Boys in Philadelphia. He was active in track and field, played the clarinet and sang in the Philadelphia Boys’ Choir.
He was married to the late Gail Fryer for 20 years.
He worked at Walmart in Vero Beach for more than 10 years. Prior to moving to Vero Beach, he worked as a print shop operator in Pennsylvania.
Barry was a devoted son, father, grandfather, and brother. He was generous with his time, with his support, and with his money. If Barry had a hobby, it was caring for his family. He was proud of his daughters and loved sharing time with his granddaughter.
Barry was genuine; he said what he thought, and you always knew where you stood with him. Despite differences of opinion, he never held a grudge. He was the kind of guy that you could argue fiercely with and then go share a beer afterwards, the arguments having been put behind him.
In addition to his family, Barry was well-loved by his fellow employees at Walmart. They were his second family. He was known fondly as “the candy man,” for his habit of handing out mints to folks and wishing them a good day. He always had a smile for people; and when he asked how you were, he really wanted to know.
Barry will be missed, not only by his family but by everyone whose lives he touched. Perhaps knowing him and seeing how he treated people with kindness and fairness will encourage us to pass that on to others and to be kinder to people around us.
He is survived by his dad, Louis Epstein; his daughters, Dawn Beckford (Timoy) and Alison Ramey; his granddaughter, Jaylyn Hegedus, all of Miami; and his sister, Sharon Hann (Bob), of Rochester, N.Y.
A memorial service will be held at Cox-Gifford-Seawinds on March 13, with a gathering at 10 a.m., service following at 11 a.m.
Dr. Wayne O. Smith, 93, Vero Beach
Dr. Wayne O. Smith, 93, of Vero Beach, passed away Friday, March 6, 2020, at VNA Hospice House. He was born to the late Charles and Margery on Nov. 15, 1926 in Elyria, Ohio.
He blessed the lives of so many people during his years spent as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, endodontist, Navy pilot, and dear friend.
An avid bike rider and pilot, he could be seen riding in the streets or flying in the skies.
Wayne practiced as an endodontist in a lucrative practice for 50 years, and for 30-plus years, he commuted via his Cessna (761QY) back-and-forth to his practices in Vero Beach and Palm Beach. He became known around town as “The Flying Doctor.”
He was a graduate of Princeton University and he often reminisced on the time when Albert Einstein taught one of his classes. He was a test pilot in the U.S. Navy and he served as a Lieutenant-Commander for many years, receiving several accolades.
During his time in the Navy, he completed his doctorate in endodontics at Case Western University in Ohio. While he served as a test pilot, he was honored to fly with the Blue Angels for several months.
During the Korean War, his plane engine failed and he spent three days in the Mediterranean Sea. Wayne co-founded the Old Tailhookers group and he greatly enjoyed the time spent with his ol’ buddies. He retired from his practice in endodontics in 2002 and he thrived during his summers vacationing in Nova Scotia, Canada, where he could often be found mowing, grilling, biking, or building.
He is survived by his wife, Lorrie, of 34 years; his children, Courtney (David), Bradford (Tracey), Whitney (David), Kent; and stepchildren, Tracey (Raymond), Darrin, Brad (Jope); 13 grandchildren, Chase (Selene), Shannon (Benjamin), Lauren, MacKenzie, Jordan, Ian, Forrester, Katie, Wells, Zachary, Allison, Jennifer “Gigi”, Alexandra; and three great-grandchildren, Niko, Julian, and Stella.
A Celebration of Life will be held on March 27 at Cox-Gifford-Seawinds, with visitation at 11 a.m. and service at Noon.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to VNA Hospice House.
Patricia Sowell, 87, Vero Beach
Patricia “Pat” Sowell, 87, of Vero Beach, passed away peacefully on March 7, 2020. She was born in Harlingen, Texas, to Jesse and Lucille (Lucy) Bozard on March 25, 1932.
She graduated from Orangeburg, S. Ca., High School and from the School of Nursing of the Medical College of South Carolina where she met, Broadus Sowell. They were married in Orangeburg and were blessed to have over 65 years together.
Pat worked as a nurse until their children were born when she became a full time homemaker and mother.
She learned to swim in her thirties and became a Red Cross certified swim instructor. Because of her love of children, she focused on helping children learn to swim.
In 1970, Broadus and Pat moved from Charleston, S. Ca., to Vero Beach where they became active at First Baptist Church.
Besides managing the home, keeping track of the children, and teaching swimming lessons, Pat served in a volunteer capacity at the Vero Beach First Baptist Church library for nearly 40 years.
Shortly after moving to Vero Beach she attended a talk about genealogy which sparked an interest that continued the rest of her life.
Pat was preceded in death by her parents; her brother, Jesse LeGrand Bozard; and infant son, David.
She is survived by her husband, Broadus Frederick Sowell; daughters, Anne Sowell (Brad Thomas), of Peachtree Corners, Ga., Louise LaDow (Bob), of Lone Tree, Colo., and Ruth Houk (Brad), of The Woodlands, Texas; and sons, Edwin, of Chevy Chase, Md., and Fallaw (Wanda), of Pittsburgh, Pa.; as well as 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren; in addition to many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Donations can be made to First Baptist Church, Vero Beach, or the charity of your choice.
Burial will be Wednesday, March 11, in Orangeburg, S. Ca., with a celebration of life to follow at a later date at First Baptist Church, Vero Beach.
Bruce Roland Werle, 81, Vero Beach
Bruce Roland Werle, 81, of Vero Beach, passed away March 5, 2020, at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach. He was born on Jan. 17, 1939, to the late Donald and Helen Werle, in New Haven, Ct. He moved to Meriden, Ct., before settling in Vero Beach.
Mr. Werle served in the United States Army and attended University of Virginia.
He retired after his 20 years of service as a Revenue Agent for the State of Connecticut.
Bruce was an avid golfer and member of Sandridge Men’s club and Rotary. He loved volunteering for Connecticut Hospice and was of Lutheran faith.
He was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather, and friend.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Barbara; daughters, Lori (Eric) Dieroff, and Debra (Michael) Flint; step-daughter, Mary Joy (Bruce) Ludemann; step-sons, Carl (Karen) Arens and David (Anne) Arens; grandchildren, Kimberly and Megan Dieroff; step-grandchildren, Carla, Danny, Kaleigh, Stefan, Alex, and Elizabeth; and his cherished furry friends, Sidney and Gucci.
He was predeceased by brother, Richard Werle; and his mother, Helen Benson.
A service will be held at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County, 6230 77th St, Vero Beach, FL 32967.