From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Katherine “Katie” Ann Wodtke, 55, Vero Beach
January 17, 1966 – December 04, 2021
Katherine “Katie” Ann Wodtke, age 55, passed away December 4, 2021 at Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital.
She was born in Vero Beach, Florida on January 17, 1966 and later moved to Euless, Texas where she resided for 30 years before her move back to Vero Beach.
Katie was a graduate of Vero Beach High School, Brevard College in Brevard, NC and attended the University of Alabama. She was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach.
Survivors include her mother, Elizabeth “Ebby” S. Thomas, numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
She was predeceased by her father, Joseph “Jody” Wodtke; paternal grandparents, William and Edna Wodtke; maternal grandparents, Gardner and Helen Stoker.
A Memorial Mass will be held at Noon on Monday, December 20, 2021 at St. Helen Catholic Church. Inurnment will follow at Crestlawn Cemetery, Vero Beach.
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory
Barbara Clare Chavis, 84, Vero Beach
December 25, 1936 – December 07, 2021
Barbara Clare Chavis, age 84, passed away peacefully at home in Vero Beach, Fl. on Tuesday, December 7th, 2021.
Barbara was born in Massillon, Ohio and raised in Taylor, Michigan before moving to Vero Beach, Fl. in 1991.
Barbara was a graduate of Lowrey High School in Dearborn, MI. While in high school, she was a majorette; she also played the piano and flute.
She was a committed mother and wife that also worked in her husband’s businesses. She enjoyed cooking, serving as a Den Mother for Cub Scouts, and riding her Harley Davidson.
Barbara was a devoted Catholic and was a member of St. Cyril of Taylor, MI.; St. Sebastian of Dearborn Heights, MI.; and St. Helens of Vero Beach, Fl. She insisted her children attended Catholic School for the quality of education in both school and in church.
She had a love for animals and enjoyed volunteering at the Humane Society of Vero Beach & Indian River County. Barbara was an avid boater, painter and reader. She also enjoyed doing needle point in her spare time.
Family was very important to Mrs. Chavis. She held a special place in her heart for each and every one of her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include her loving husband, Fred of 65 years; daughters, Karen D. Johnson (Jimmy); Sandra J. Dimech (Manuel), Kimberly A. Chavis; son, David James (Laura), daughter-in-law, Laurie H. Chavis; brother, Timothy Kerrigan (Paula); fifteen grandchildren; seventeen great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Mary E. & James C. Kerrigan; son, Brian L. Chavis; and brother, Lawrence J. Kerrigan.
A Visitation will be held at Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home and Crematory on Monday, December 13, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., with a Funeral Service beginning at 11:00 a.m. Following the service an internment will take place at Crestlawn Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Humane Society of Vero Beach and Indian River County, 6230 77th Street, Vero Beach Fl. 32967
Arrangements are by Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Jack Donald Williamson, 86, Vero Beach
June 9, 1935 – December 6, 2021
Jack Donald Williamson, 86, of Vero Beach, Florida, formerly of Riverview, Michigan, passed away peacefully from heart failure at home surrounded by his loved ones on December 6, 2021.
Don was born June 9, 1935 in Cedartown, Georgia. He was Vice President of his senior class, was on the National Honor Society and received a scholarship to Clemson University to play football and study electrical engineering.
He married his high school sweetheart, Sharone Baxter, in 1955 and moved to Detroit, Michigan to work and start a family. Don began working as an apprentice toolmaker at the Fisher Body Fleetwood Cadillac Plant in Southwest Detroit. Don rose through the ranks becoming the toolroom supervisor. He worked at Fleetwood for 32 years until it closed. Many people who worked with him said they admired his work ethic, knowledge and how he treated his employees. An accomplishment that he was proud of was a fixture he and his men made at Fleetwood is called the body drop. It drops the body of the Cadillac onto the chassis. That fixture is currently on display at the Detroit Historical Museum along with a brass plaque that has his signature and his men that built the machine. He then went to work for American Sunroof Corporation in Southgate, Michigan as Lead Engineer for 10 years until his retirement in 2005.
After retirement, Don and Sharone moved from their home in Riverview to Seneca, South Carolina. They enjoyed a beautiful home on Lake Keowee where they loved entertaining their kids and grandchildren with pontoon boat rides, swimming, tubing and visiting area waterfalls. They then moved to Vero Beach Florida for the last remaining years of his life. His family will miss his tradition of giving everyone a box of chocolate covered cherries at Christmas time. He enjoyed that very much. He also enjoyed his dogs Molly and Sandy.
In addition to his parents, Roy and Jessie Williamson, he was predeceased by his brother Richard.
Surviving in addition to his wife Sharone, are his six children, Charlotte McCarty, Craig (Caron) Williamson, Nancy (late Richard) Tokarz, Suzanne (Ray) Bradley, Jennifer (Mark) Webb, and Donald Williamson and his brother Roy Glen (Shirley) Williamson. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
A service of remembrance at a private family ceremony will be held in Vero Beach at Strunk Funeral Home and in Michigan with Bobcean Funeral Home providing arrangements with interment at Michigan Memorial Cemetery.
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