Obituaries: February 26, 2014

GEORGE J. CARMICHAEL JR, 100, of Vero Beach, FL died at home on Friday, February 21, 2014 after a brief illness.

He was born January 30, 1914 in Brooklyn, NY where he attended the Erasmus Hall High School. He was the last surviving alumnus of the Colgate University class of 1935, and he served as an officer in the US Navy during WWII from 1942-1945. He has a very successful 40-year career with AT&T and the New York Telephone Co., becoming VP of Public Relations in 1963, and retiring as VP of Personnel in 1978. He lived primarily in the metropolitan New York area, including Manhasset, NY, where he was president of the school board from 1964 to 1971. He retired to Vero Beach, FL where he lived from 1978 to 2014. He was an active member of the First Presbyterian Church, as well as a long-time member of the Vero Beach Country Club, Vero Beach Yacht Club and Sons of the American Revolution.

Mr. Carmichael was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Beverly Carmichael in 2006 and daughter, Gail Carmichael in 2003. Surviving are his sons, George J. Carmichael, III of Vero Beach, FL; James Carmichael of Atlanta, GA and five grandchildren, Timothy, Christie, James, George and Robert. Memorial contributions may be made to the charity of one’s choice in memory of George J. Carmichael Jr.

Visitation will be from 4-6 p.m., Saturday, March 1, 2014 at the Strunk Funeral Home, Vero Beach. A funeral service will be held at 6:00 p.m., Staurday, March 1, 2014 at Strunk Funeral Home with Dr. George L. Earnshaw, First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach officiating. Interment will be in Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, NY. http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com (2/26/14)

MATTHIAS “MATT” MATHEWSON, 79, died February 24, 2014 at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach. He received his masters’ degree from State University of New York, Oswego, NY. Matt was an Army veteran and received Missile systems instructor during the Korean War. He retired from Secondary Education where he taught electronics and industrial arts at Columbia High School, Maplewood, NJ, for 33 years. Matt was a member of Christ The King Lutheran Church, Sebastian, FL. He was a member of the Vero Beach Power Squadron where he taught boating safety and celestial navigation and was an avid sailor.
Survivors include wife of 31 years, Maureen Mathewson of Sebastian; daughter, Karen Whelan (John) of Vero Beach; son, Steven Mathewson (Karin) of Springfield, NJ; granddaughter, Kelsey Whelan; grandson, Cory Whelan; brothers, Bernard Mathewson of Haleyville, AL, Skuli Mathewson of Freeport, NY, Edward Mathewson of DeBary, FL and Ronald Mathewson of North Babylon, NY. He was preceded in death by brother, Walter Mathewson and sister, Diane Ellis. Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church, 1301 Sebastian Boulevard, Sebastian, FL 32958 in memory of Matthias Mathewson. A Funeral Service Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 1, 2014 Christ The King Lutheran Church, Sebastian, FL with Pastor Karen Leedahl, officiating. http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com (2/26/14)

MERRITT TOOKER, 90, died February 24, 2014 at Indian River Medical Center in Vero Beach. Merritt was born in Staten Island, NY and lived in Vero Beach for 41 years coming from Lake Mohawk, NJ. He was a graduate of Port Richmond High School, Staten Island, NY. Merritt was a veteran of the United States Army serving during World War II. He was a salvage diver and was a part of the salvage team that raised the U.S.S. Normandy from New York Harbor. Merritt was an avid golfer and member of the Lake Mohawk Golf Club, Lake Mohawk, NJ. He was a member of the Sons of Norway, Ft. Pierce, FL and volunteered for over 20 years with the Vero Beach Humane Society Thrift Shop. Merritt was a diehard New York Giants fan.

Survivors include his son, Merritt Tooker of Vero Beach; daughters, Karen Larsen of Barnegat, NJ, Marilyn Salfelder (Robby) of Sparta, NJ and Betsy Terjesen of Cary, NC; 7 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Merritt was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years, Betsy; brothers, John and George Tooker and a sister, Betty Tooker. Memorial contributions may be made to Humane Society of Vero Beach, P.O. Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961 in memory of Merritt Tooker Visitation will be held from 12:30-2:30p.m. Saturday, March 1, 2014 at Strunk Funeral Home Vero Beach. http://www.strunkfuneralhome.com (2/26/14)