Obituaries: November 20, 2013

BarkalowNina Belle Barkalow, 92, of Vero Beach, FL passed away November 19, 2013 at VNA Hospice House. She was born November 11, 1921 in Mercer County, Illinois and had been a resident of Vero Beach for 3 years, coming from Yakima Valley, Washington where she raised her daughters. Mrs. Barkalow will be dearly missed by her daughters, Carol J. Vanderheiden of Vero Beach, Bonnie L. Motsinger of Vero Beach, Jerri A. Davis of Richmond, TX and Jean M. Cain of Corpus Christi, TX; sister, Margaret Minkler of Richland, WA; 7 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her husband of 51 years, Robert C. Barkalow in 2002; her parents and 6 siblings. Services will be held in Washington at a later date.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to VNA & Hospice Foundation, http://www.vnatc.com or to the Alzheimer’s and Parkinson Association of Indian River County, http://www.alzpark.org. An online guest book may be signed at http://www.coxgiffordseawinds.com. (11/20/13)

Ervin R. Beck, 83, died November 19, 2013 at Sebastian River Medical Center in Sebastian. 

He was born in Pike County, Indiana and lived in Grant since 1972 coming from Mt. Carmel, Illinois. 

He was a U.S. Marine having served during the Korean conflict. 

He was employed with Gene Estes Construction for 30 years then went to work for John’s Island as Bud’s Carpentry Service until his retirement 2003. 

He attended First Baptist Church of Malabar, Malabar, FL. He was a member of the Masonic Temple Lodge No 232, Sebastian, Florida. Survivors include wife of 62 years, Doris Beck of Grant; daughters, Becky Beck and companion, Thomas of Fort Pierce, Kathy Clarkson and her husband, John of Valkaria and Cheryl Randall of Grant; son, Gary Randall of Muncie, Indiana; 8 Grandchildren, 14 Great Grandchildren, 9 Great Great Grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital, 5011 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 in memory of Ervin R. Beck 

SERVICES: Visitation will be held 5:00 – 7:00 PM on November 21, 2013 at Strunk Funeral Home, Sebastian. A Masonic Service will be held 1:00 PM on November 22, 2013 with Rev. Joe Generazio, officiating. Interment will follow at Grant Cemetery, Grant, FL. www.strunkfuneralhome. (11/20/13)

DiazMaría Díaz, 71, of Vero Beach, passed away on Sunday, November 17, 2013 at the Indian River Medical Center. She lived in Vero Beach for 14 years, coming from South Carolina. Ms. Díaz love cooking and was a member of the St. Helen Catholic Church in Vero Beach, FL. Survivors include her sons, Juan Borja of Melbourne, FL; Alfredo Díaz of Vero Beach, FL; Marcelino Díaz, Jorge Díaz and Alejandro Díaz all from México; daughter, Guadalupe Díaz of México; brother, Juan Díaz of México; and sister, Atanasía Díaz of Pompano Beach, FL; 15 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. A Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, November 23, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Helen Catholic Church in Vero Beach. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 22, 2013 at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral home from 6 – 8p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent at http://www.coxgiffordseawinds.com. (11/20/13)

Sydney Gallo, 61, of Vero Beach, FL, passed away on November 11, 2013. Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, Vero Beach, FL http://coxgiffordseawinds.com

GrayMichael Dean Gray, 51, of Vero Beach, passed away on Thursday, November 14, 2013 at his residence. He was born November 25, 1961 in Paris, TN and had been a resident of Vero Beach for 2 years, coming from Palm Bay, FL. Mr. Gray served 20 years for the Navy U.S as a First Class Petty Officer. He was a member of VFW, the American Legion in Palm Bay, FL. He was employed for Virginia Beach Police Department as a Breath Tech from 1993-1999. Survivors include his wife, of 17 years, Melinda Gray of Vero Beach, FL; daughters, Lacey Weaver of Mt. Juliet, TN and Heather Gray of Palm Bay, FL; son, Matthew Moll of Beatrice, NE; brother, Tracy Gray of Union City, TN; father, Kenneth Gray of Paris, TN; 3 grandchildren. He was preceded by his mother Joyce Gray. A Funeral Service will be held on Thursday, November 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home in Vero Beach. Visitation will be held on Friday, November 21, 2013 at Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral home from 5 – 7p.m. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent at http://www.coxgiffordseawinds.com. (11/20/13)

Roberta Hill, 62, of Vero Beach, FL, passed away on November 16, 2013 at VNA Hospice House. Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, Vero Beach, Florida. www.coxgiffordseawinds.com. (11/20/13)

Jane Thiry Kichline of Vero Beach, FL, formerly of Jenkintown, PA, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on November 18, 2013. She was 89. Jane was the daughter of John and Ethel MacFarlane Thiry and the wife of the late John Peter Kichline. Her stepdaughter, Jacqueline Kichline George, and her stepson, Peter Kichline, predeceased her. A 1942 graduate of Germantown High School in Philadelphia, PA, Jane began her career at Germantown Savings Bank as a teller. At her retirement in 1981, she was Senior Vice President of Personnel, an amazing accomplishment at a time when female executives were a rarity in male-dominated banking. A gifted mezzo-soprano, Jane sang for a national television audience on Ted Mack’s Amateur Hour. She was a professional soloist for Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Philadelphia for nearly 30 years. She delighted audiences at the Ocean City (NJ) Music Pier and the Eagle’s Mere Hotel (PA). For many years, she sang leading roles for the Gilbert and Sullivan Players in Philadelphia and the Jenkintown Music Theatre. She gathered fellow artists together to perform at the Veterans’ Hospital at Coatesville, PA. She directed youth choirs at her churches in West Palm Beach and Vero Beach and organized and performed in musicals at Indian River Estates. She shared her gift of music for more than 50 years. When she wasn’t singing, Jane served her community as an executive board member of the Philadelphia Chapter of the American Red Cross. She also served on the Board of Trustees for Harcum College in Bryn Mawr, PA. Jane is survived by her granddaughters Cheryl (Kevin) Smith and Tonya George of Merritt Island, FL; her great-granddaughters Ashley and Tara Smith; Barbara Kichline of Ocean City, NJ, and Miami, FL; Kenneth (Judy) Foulke of Ivyland, PA; and her godsons Kristopher, Evan and Collin Foulke. A memorial service will be held at Indian River Estate in Vero Beach at a later date. Interment will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family believes that Jane’s memory would best be honored by donations to the American Red Cross. Arrangements are under the direction of Cox Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home and Crematory in Vero Beach, FL. Online condolences may be sent at www.coxgiffordseawinds.com.

Mary Jane King, 72, died November 17, 2013 at her home in Vero Beach. 

Mary Jane was born in Vero Beach and was a lifelong resident. 

She attended Vero Beach High School, worked as a packer for Haffield Citrus Packing House and also worked at the 7-11 Store on 43rd Avenue prior to her retirement. 

An avid Miami Dolphins fan and outdoors girl, Mary Jane enjoyed fishing, for which there was never a bad day. 

Survivors include her daughters Carol Sites, Bobbi Pace, Mary Gayle Sullivan and Kelly D. Hall, a sister Carolyn Bookstore, grandchildren Joey, Mandy, Tiffany, Clayton, Nicholas, Sean and Todd, and four great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her husband Hugh Ray King, daughter Jennifer O’Rourke, and siblings Diane, Elizabeth, Ellen, Jesse, Wesley, and Ethel. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 3375 20th Street, Vero Beach, FL 32960 

A private family service will take place at a later date.   www.strunkfuneralhome. (11/20/13)

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