From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Nancy McKinney Sayford, 96, Indian River Shores
August 21, 1927 – July 30, 2024
NANCY MCKINNEY SAYFORD, 96, of Indian River Shores, FL passed away peacefully at home on July 30, 2024 surrounded by family. Born in Breckenridge, TX, the daughter of the late Mordant and Frances Madelyn McKinney, she spent most of her childhood in Tioga, TX. Nancy received both her Bachelor of Science and her Master’s in Education degrees from Texas Christian University. Nancy was a teacher in the public school system of Irving, TX and then joined the faculty of the University of Dallas where she was the Director of Student Teaching. Nancy later served on faculty at Nazareth College and Palm Beach Atlantic College.
Nancy loved to travel with her late husband, Richard, of 44 years and enjoyed living in different locations in the U.S. and abroad, such as Zurich, Switzerland; Munich, Germany; Paris, France; Rochester, New York; San Francisco, California; North Palm Beach, Florida; White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia; Denver, Colorado; and ultimately in John’s Island in Indian River Shores. Nancy most enjoyed playing bridge, reading and working crossword puzzles.
Nancy is survived by her two children Gary Flemmons and Janet Troutman; five grandchildren Jason Flemmons, Jeremy Flemmons, Stephanie Flemmons York, Collin McMullen and Courtland McMullen; sister-in-law Elizabeth Jacobsen; nephew Bruce Jacobsen; niece Martha Durkin; and nine great grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Christ by the Sea United Methodist Church, 3755 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963 or the Visiting Nurse Association and Hospice Foundation, 920 37th Place #101, Vero Beach, FL 32960 would be appreciated.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Joseph Michael Keenan, 57, Port St. Lucie
November 17, 1966 – July 30, 2024
Joseph Michael Keenan, 57, of Port St. Lucie, Florida and formerly of Scranton, Pennsylvania, passed away Tuesday after being stricken ill at home. He was the son of James and MaryAnn Wasco Keenan of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Born November 17, 1966, and was raised in East Scranton, attending Mulenberg and Prescott Elementary schools. He enjoyed playing baseball with the East Scranton Little League, football with the East Scranton Apollos, and basketball at the Central Boys and Girls Club. He continued playing football at Scranton Central High School, graduating class of 1984. He starred as a collegiate football athlete at East Stroudsburg University, graduating class of 1988.
He moved to Florida and started his teaching career at St. Joseph’s Catholic School and then to neighboring St. Michael’s School in Stuart, Florida as a Physical Education teacher. He then moved to the Pine School in Hobe Sound, Florida where he flourished as a PE teacher and the passion to coach girls volleyball. He fine tuned his coaching duties in volleyball and became managing director of the successful Shamrocks Volleyball Club. For the last couple of years, he continued as Physical Education Instructor and Athletic Coordinator at St. Andrew’s Academy in Fort Pierce, Florida.
He loved his job as an educator with students, young and old. He was so glad to teach his players “The Game” and took pride in treating them as family, helping them to work out everyday problems. The School posted…, “It just isn’t summer unless Coach Keenan is holding one of his famous volleyball camps.” He made a lasting impression on the Treasure Coast of Florida as many of his players went on to star as collegiate athletes in volleyball.
He attended St. Lucie Catholic Church, Port St. Lucie, Florida and as a boy went to Immaculate Conception Church, Scranton, Pennsylvania where he served as an altar boy. He loved his two great dane dogs, assisted his neighbors, and was an organ donor.
Joe is survived by his parents, James and MaryAnn Keenan, sisters Debra Ann Cowher of Scranton, AnnMarie Thomas and husband, Chris of Knightdale, North Carolina and brother James Matthew Keenan and wife, Julia of Vero Beach, Florida. Nieces and nephews, Erin and Seamus Keenan, Kathleen Forst, Jennifer Warner, CJ Cowher, Christopher, Justin and Katelyn Thomas, as well as great-nieces and nephews. Joe is preceded in death by his grandparents, Joseph and Mildred Keenan and Michael and Anna Wasco and several aunts and uncles.
A viewing and prayer service will be held on Saturday, August 3rd from 3-5:00pm at Strunk Funeral Home, 916 17th Street, Vero Beach, Florida 32960. A viewing and funeral mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 7th beginning at 10am at Immaculate Conception Church, 801 Taylor Avenue, Scranton, Pennsylvania 18510. An interment will follow at Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to your local animal rescue in memory of Joseph M. Keenan. Arrangements are entrusted to the Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach, Florida and The Vanston and James Funeral Home, Scranton, Pennsylvania.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Philip Eugene Becher, 88, Vero Beach
April 23, 1936 – August 1, 2024
Philip Eugene Becher, 88, passed away peacefully on August 1, 2024, in Vero Beach, Florida. Phil was a cherished husband, father, grandfather and friend born in Dayton, Ohio on April 23, 1936.
He graduated from Fairview High School and later studied at Ohio University. Phil volunteered to serve our country in the United States Army and was honorable discharged on October 31, 1962. He followed family tradition and started out at Becher Lumber Company learning building from square one. Then at Gem Savings and Loan he began as a teller and advanced to a position of vice president serving as both building manager and property appraiser. Using the gained experiences, Phil started his own appraisal business in Dayton, Ohio. Seeing an opportunity to move and work in Florida he moved to Vero Beach and joined St Lucie County Appraisal Department, retiring in 2001.
A devoted Christian, Phil worshipped at First Methodist Church in Vero and through Operation Love Your Neighbor (OLYN) and youth sailing, he supported the local community. He was an avid boater and sailing was his love. From Lake Michigan & Erie down to the Indian River Lagoon, Phil hoisted sail. His second passion was golfing with family and friends.
Phil is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Pat Becher; brother-in-law Tom and Kathy Reif of Vero Beach Florida, son Cliff and Patty Becher of Cary North Carolina and daughter Peggy and Stephen Spector of Boise Idaho. He was a proud grandfather of Nicholas, Elizabeth, Jonah and Sophie. He was preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Margaret Becher; his brothers Jack and Dick Becher and his daughter, Ginny Adams.
Services will be held at First Methodist Church on Thursday, August 8th at 10am.
Phil will be deeply missed by all who knew him and his legacy will live on through his family and the many lives he touched.
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From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
William Robert Fletcher, 74, Vero Beach
March 29, 1950 – August 3, 2024
Bill was born in Cambridge Vermont, the only son of Robert W. Fletcher and Betty (Cox) Fletcher. He was a handsome, smart, strong redhead with beautiful blue eyes and smile until the end. Although raised on a dairy farm, he said the happiest day of his life was when his father sold the milking cows! He was not meant to be a Dairy farmer but a ‘horseman’ he was… Always an entrepreneur, he and his father soon started a penicillin farm collecting urine from pregnant mares. There was always a team of horses to work the maple sugar operation as well as to tend the fields. These same beautiful Belgian Draught horses weighed around 2000 lbs. and could pull 8000 lbs! And they were trained to compete in pulling competitions when at the age of 14 ‘Billy’ Fletcher was named a “Horseman’s Horseman” winning competition after competition. He was also an excellent outdoorsman bagging an 8 point buck at the age of 11. And trout fishing the brooks of VT was a favorite pastime always. He graduated from Enosburg Falls HS where he played baseball, soccer and basketball. Anxious to hit the road he graduated from the Mid South Academy of Horseshoeing in Memphis, TN as a Farrier – he was so good that he even shoed horses for Elvis Presley! He traveled throughout NE , NY and Canada to the Midwest buying, breaking and selling horses and successfully competing in competitions. He could always sell anything to anyone!
Bill is survived by the ‘love of his life’, Deb (Deborah Greenwood) who was by his side to the very end; daughter Kelly, grand-daughter Audrey Barnier and her partner Jarod Bigelow, brother-in-law Rocky Greenwood, special niece Carla Lafar and her family especially 7 yr. old Zander who visited Uncle Bill every day while here in July… Several nieces, nephews and uncles and so many special friends, classmates, golfing and boxing buddies – too numerous to name.
He and Deb were together 40 years and owned and operated Fletcher & Associates, Ltd. – a very successful Wholesale Petroleum Distribution Company as well as a trucking company, DebKo Inc. both of which they started. Unable to travel owning two businesses they found Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club in Vero Beach FL in 1988 and closed on their first home there in 1991. When the opportunity to sell these businesses appeared they enjoyed an early retirement living as snow birds until they sold their VT home. They loved to travel… cruising the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas, the Alaskan Passageway, and the Mississippi River or hiking the Green Mountains in VT, the White Mountains in NH, the NC Mountains and the Red Rocks in Utah. They even zip-lined over the Rain Forest in Costa Rica and white water rafted the Savage River in Mexico. Both were always competitive in sports and Bill took up tennis for Deb and she became a golfer for him. Together they won many tournaments and championships – in VT and FL. Deb bested Bill in number of Hole-in-ones but he was infamous for his Albatross (Double Eagle) on the River Course’s 3rd hole – a 533 yard par 5 – Driver, 3 wood! They traveled throughout the UK, France & Italy; the Dominican Republic, Mexico Puerto Rico and the United States and Canada from Nova Scotia to Vancouver Island – golfing all the way! Bill’s favorite was always Bandon Dunes in Oregon. He loved the NY Yankees, the Dallas Cowboys, the Saratoga Race Track, and the Driving Range where he spent countless hours with his friends!
Always generous, he volunteered with Habitat for Humanity building homes as well as GH Audubon constructing bird houses, trellis’ and working in the Nature Garden… after a little coercion from Deb. He was an Equity Full Member of Grand Harbor, a member of the Elks Club in St. Albans VT and past member of the Champlain Country Club where he was instrumental in installing an irrigation system, Enosburg Falls CC and Bakersfield CC. also in VT leaving many friends in each location. He is a member of GH’s Community Outreach, GH’s Audubon and Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital’s Eagle Society and the Pyramid Legacy Society.
Bill left us way too young after an amazing fight to live against Lewy Body Dementia, a terribly progressive neurological disease without a cure. His brain has been donated to the University of FL in Gainesville having previously volunteered along with his wife in numerous research studies. SO many to thank for their love and support these last years since diagnosis…from the many GH friends and special neighbors Maureen and Rick, to Ron and those who renamed his Blue Tee Golf Group “Fletcher’s Fighters” to Ken and the GH Cup making him their ‘honorary starter’… to Macy and Gus and his ‘Rock Steady’ boxing friends and the First Presbyterian Church. And when Deb could no longer take care of him at home the last year the wonderful ‘family’ at Certus Memory Care Facility and his many visitors especially Tom Lauda and Bill & Lane Workman who visited regularly ‘with snacks’ until the very end; the Emergency Department for multiple trips there, and lastly the VNA Hospice team…
There will be a Memorial Service at First Presbyterian Church in Vero Beach on Wednesday, August 21st from 3-4pm and a ‘Celebration of Life’ at Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club at the Club House from 4-6pm. No flowers please but one might consider a donation in his memory to the Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease at the University of FL in Gainesville where his brain was donated; or locally to GH’s Audubon, the Cleveland Clinic Indian River Hospital’s Foundation, First Presbyterian Church, or, a native plant for the Nature Garden!
Deb learned that you’re never ready to say goodbye… RIP until we meet again my love… Your friends are convinced that you’re teeing it up in heaven with those that went ahead of you!…
From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Kenneth Lee Bush (Kenny), 70, Sebastian
December 1, 1953 – July 24, 2024
Kenny was an extraordinary man – he was larger than life! He was someone who could always make you laugh, and we loved that about him. He never forgot a joke and was always the center of attention in any room. He loved his wife, Wendy, with all of his heart. He was a dedicated husband, father and Poppa. He was kind, loving and honest, which is something that we will try to emulate as we remember him with the same love, he showed us every day.
Kenneth Lee Bush (Kenny), 70 of Sebastian, Florida, passed away @HCA Lawnwood Medical Center in Fort Pierce, Florida on July 24, 2024. He was born in Saint Joseph, MO in 1953 to John and Pauline Bush. His mother and step father moved the family to Rivera Beach, Florida in 1963. Kenny worked for Pratt and Whitney Aircraft in Jupiter, Florida for over 40 years until he retired in 2011.
Kenny met the love of his life, Wendy Hinman in 1984 while working at Pratt and Whitney Aircraft. Excited to start their lives together, they were married in October 1985. They enjoyed many vacations and adventures together over their 39 years of marriage. Vero Double Tree Suites and dining at Jake’s Ocean Grill was their all-time favorite! They chose to vacation there for birthdays and anniversaries for years.
He was preceded in death by his Father – John, Mother – Pauline, stepfather Martin, brother – Burl, and step brother – Jerry.
He is survived by his wife Wendy, sons David and Steven, daughter Gena three grandsons, step sister Sherie, and step brother Larry.
Arrangements are entrusted to Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, 1623 North Central Avenue, Sebastian, Florida 32958.
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