Book of Life Obituaries & Videos

Anne F. O’Rourke, 90, of Merritt Island, passed away on March 16, 2014 at William Childs Hospice House in Palm Bay.

Anne was born April 16, 1923 in Port Chester, New York and raised in Pelham. She moved to Miami, Florida in 1957 and married Francis O’Rourke in 1958. Francis preceded her in death in April 1980. Anne worked in food service for Dade County Public Schools and later in office work.

She moved to Merritt Island in June 2010.  Anne is survived by her daughter Cathy (Reuel) Ely and granddaughters Lauren and Jennifer Ely.

Anne was a devout Catholic and loved spending time with family and friends. The funeral Mass will be held on Friday 10:00a.m. at Divine Mercy Catholic Church in Merritt Island.

On Sunday, June 1st please gather outside at 1:30 rain or shine for a two o’clock celebration of John’s life:

The Children’s Farm at The Center
12700 Southwest Highway Palos Park, Illinois 60464

When you arrive at the Children’s Farm (which is on the East side of Southwest Highway) you can walk to the gathering under the “pine trees” or a ride will be provided in wagon/hayrack.

If you would like to speak publicly about John you will be given the opportunity, and I would love that.

John LOVED to wear flip-flops. So in honor of John, please wear your flip flops on Sunday if the weather permits. Afterwards we will gather to enjoy some of John’s favorite foods, drinks and continue to celebrate. I can’t wait to see all of you and hear your stories about John.

 Please send me an email if you might attend. We would love to see you there.

John David Cheever, age 50, passed away at his home after a brave three year battle with primary brain cancer.

John was a Director at SRAM Corporation for 25 years. He held many titles there and had an incredible, unique career with his SRAM Family.  He is either directly responsible for or has contributed significantly to a long list of SRAM patents.

John loved to fish, boat, ride vintage motorcycles, work in his machine shop, play guitar, and watch the sunsets disappear.

John is preceded in death by Dorothy (Blume) Cheever, Fred Cheever, Roman Sendera, Mary Jinkinson, and his beloved dog Winston. He is survived by his wife Janice (Sendera) Cheever, parents Thomas and Carol Cheever, and his siblings Thomas, Caryn, and Carey (Udziela) Cheever.

I would like to extend my sincere appreciation to Dr. Jeffery J. Raizer, Dr. James P. Chandler, Dr. MaryAnne H. Marymont, and all the faculty and staff at the Northwestern Brain Tumor Institute for the care they had given John.

I will also be forever grateful to the Cancer Support Center for the help they have given John and I throughout this journey.

A celebration of John’s life will be held in Illinois sometime in the Spring. I will provide more details, including the date and location through this webpage. When this information becomes available, an e-mail will be sent out.

Billy Stumpf, age 52, passed away at home in Titusville, Florida, on Tuesday, March 4, 2014, with his family surrounding him.

Billy was born April 27, 1961, in Bristol, Pennsylvania. He was one of the nine children of John and Frances Stumpf. He attended the Sacred Heart of Jesus Elementary School and Lancaster Catholic High School, both located in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. As a young man, he was a paperboy, Boy Scout, and developed a life-long love of reading, fishing and the outdoors. Upon graduation, he was an integral part of two family-owned businesses, Stumpf’s Frozen Foods and JAS Sports Memorabilia. He spent many years devoting most of his time working in the retail and wholesale distribution aspect of the businesses and helped bring both businesses to the success they achieved.

In the late 1980’s, he moved to Florida, settling in the Orlando area. Little did he know that by 1990, he would have begun a dock-building business, “Boatdock Billy Stumpf,” becoming one of the most reputable marine contractors in Central Florida. Already an insider with established credentials, solid skill-set, and an incredibly creative mind, Bill’s knowledge and experience advanced his company into high profile municipal scopes of marine work, to include projects such as the City of Altamonte Spring’s Crane’s Roost Park, Bahama Bay Resort Dock & Cabanas and the Town of Harmony’s Deer Park, among many others. All of which are still celebrating gatherings to this day.

In 1992, Billy married an Orange County elementary school teacher, Ginny, and with that, he inherited an additional family which includes step-sons Scott, Christopher (Jen), step-daughter Tracy (Wade), as well as “his” first grandchild, Brittany (then 5 years of age). As the years went by, there were additional grandchildren, April, Eddie, Brody, Sarah, Lisa, Tori, and great-grandchildren Noah,and most-recently, newborn Sophia. One more great-grand child is yet to be born in the fall, (Eddie and Randi), and, if a boy, will carry the middle name of “William.” He loved all of his “kids” because he was a big kid himself. Perhaps it was because breakfast on Sunday mornings on “overnights” at Grandma and Grandpa’s house was usually hot fudge sundaes, whipped cream, cherries and all the fixings (as long as Grandma was still sleeping!)

Three Christmases ago, Billy brought a six-week old Brindle Boxer home with him. He named her “Jazz,” short for “Jasmine.” She loved her Daddy, and comforted him as best she could. She misses him terribly.

 Billy was preceded in death by his parents John and Frances, brothers Jack, Tom (Ruth) and Rick. Billy left behind his large, wonderful family in Lancaster, brothers Robert (Susie), Edward (Shirl), and sisters Jeanne (Kevin), Mary in Philadelphia, and Joan (Anthony) in New York, as well as Godchildren George William, Andrew, and Caroline Schouten and many nieces and nephews. Billy met and kept many friends in both Pennsylvania and Florida, including “brother” Mitch Aument, and he will be missed by all of them. Special love to Ernie Heuthe for being Billy’s “friend to the end.”

Billy Eugene Morris was born on December 1, 1936 in La Junta, Colorado to Robert and Catherine Morris and he passed away February 20, 2014.  He is survived by his wife Barbara A. Morris of Merritt Island, FL and two daughters, Pam (John) Bruckner of Woolsey, SD and Karen Wyman (Duane Alvarado) of Merritt Island, FL and five granddaughters, Angela (Michael) Pickett of Vermillion, SD, Sarah (Nathan) Miller of Aberdeen, SD, Alissa (Jason) Orban of Rapid City, SD, Jessica Pentacoff of Merritt Island, FL and Heather Pentacoff of Rancho Cordova, CA and six great-grandchildren Noah, AJ, Keegan, Payton, Lovelynn, Katie and his two sisters Norma Lee Conover of Rocky Ford, Colorado and Barbara Blackwell of Littleton, Colorado.

Bill graduated High School in Trinidad, Colorado.  He obtained an Associate’s Degree from Pueblo, Colorado.  He was drafted in the US Army and stationed at Huntsville, Alabama at the Hawk Missile site.  He was in Sales for many years and after he married Barbara in September of 1977 they moved to Greeley, Colorado where he decided to go back to his knowledge of beekeeping, which his father taught him at an early age, and purchased Rice’s Honey Farm and together they had a blooming business for 20+ years.  When they retired in 1999 they moved to Tucson, Arizona for five years.  After Arizona, they started to travel and decided to land in Rapid City, SD where he chose to go back to work in sales for Jack’s Campers.

During their travels, he always loved to be near a beach and that is when they decided to relocate to Florida where they enjoyed walking along the beach together.  Bill had 3 B’s in his life that he loved: Barbara, Broncos, and his Bees.  Bill always enjoyed gardening, cooking and getting together with family and friends.  Bill will truly be missed by his loved ones.

“Don’t grieve for me, for I am free.  God wanted me, now He set me free.”

Daphne Fay Landry  88, passed away peacefully in her sleep early Friday morning, January 31^st, 2014 at La Casa Retirement Home in Merritt Island, Florida.  Her husband, John, preceded her in death June 18^th, 1978, and her youngest daughter, Joanne,   March 15^th, 2009. She is survived by her children, Mark (and Mary) Landry of Overland Park, KS, Mary Landry Lindsey (and Dave) and Susan Landry Brannock of Morehead City, NC, William Ward Landry (and Nancy) of Cape Canaveral, FL. She had seven grandchildren, and six great grandchildren.

She was born in Geneva, Switzerland, where her father, Harold Van Vechten Fay and mother, Kathryn Beadle Fay were living and working for the World Peace Conferences of Boston  following World War I.  She lived there until about five years of age and they returned to Chevy Chase, MD where her father continued working for the federal government. She attended Holton Arms High School, and Wheaton College in Massachusetts where her degree was in Psychology and English. She married and settled eventually in 1954 in Potomac, MD where she could ride Pharaoh, her horse, and raise five children, dogs and cats. During her youth she worked a summer job at a hotel in Cape May, New Jersey, and acquired a life long passion for the beach.  In the summer of 1956, she purchased a cottage just outside the then limits of Ocean City, Maryland. Summers were spent there from then on, even to where the grandchildren would come back and visit. Four of her last five years were spent in independent living by her son, Mark, in Kansas. There the owner let her happily keep her sixth child, Chippy the III, her companion Jack Russell.  When more managing care was needed Will brought her to Cape Canaveral next door to his condo unit where she could daily observe the ocean waves breaking.

There will be a memorial service and inurnment in May at the Potomac Methodist Church in Maryland, the date yet to be set.

Tom Steele passed away on September 10, 2013 at Wuesthoff Hospital in Rockledge, Florida at the age of 66. He was born in Waverly, Ohio on August 20, 1947 to Florene and Thurman Smith. He had two sisters, Verona McCarty (deceased) and Bertha Smith, and five brothers, Carl Pressnell (deceased), Walter Smith, James Smith, Charles Richard Smith (deceased) and John Smith (deceased). He attended North Judson High School in North Judson, Indiana.

Tom lived in many places throughout his youth including California and Las Vegas until finally setting in Florida in 1987 with his wife Suzanne Steele. In his youth he was involved in the entertainment industry as an agent for several musical groups. He later got into automotive sales as a salesman and worked his way up to manager. He changed directions and decided to go into real estate sales before ultimately retiring.

Tom was blessed with three children, Tom W. Smith, Suzetta Terman, and Savannah Steele. He also was given two beautiful granddaughters Jennifer Terman and Andrea Terman. Tom was blessed with a large, loving family and many friends who deeply cared about him. Tom loved his dogs and leaves behind his devoted dogs Roscoe and Cheyenne.

Tom lived a very colorful and exciting life. He enjoyed listening to rock and roll music, and spending time doing so with his friends at Lou’s Blues He enjoyed all sports especially football and basketball, his favorite teams were the Florida State Seminoles and New York Yankees.

Tom was a great husband, a loving father and an amazing friend to those who knew him. He will be greatly missed, but never forgotten.

November 6, 1957 – July 3, 2013

Debra Doresham was the 3rd of 4 children born to Ralph and Wilma Doersham in Detroit, Michigan. The children lost their parents at an early age and it was Karen, the eldest sister, which looked after and nurtured her 2 younger sisters. As Debra got older, she and Karen together took their youngest sister under wing and cared for her throughout her life. Sadly, Sandra is now deceased as is Debra’s brother.

Because Debra was a firm believer in life after death, with the untimely death of her little sister she often said that the time would come when she would greet Sandra once again. On July 3rd, 2013, she did just that and went to live with her beloved sister in the peace of divine eternity. Debra firmly believed in butterflies as a symbol of the resurrection and felt a strong connection to those that had passed before her when one would appear. We too shall look for the butterflies to appear.

Debra had 6 nephews and 2 nieces between her sisters, and had one son of her own.

Debra and Jon Miner were married in 1997, Merritt Island, FL. They had a passionate relationship, full of ups and downs, but their intense feelings for each other never wavered. Although their core beliefs and ideas were often at odds – they could fight like tigers or love like swans, their marriage commitment remained the focal point of Jon and Debra’s lives. Debra continually fussed over her husband, monitoring his diet and daily habits as best he would allow, but she never gave up in her efforts of keeping him healthy and herself as well. Without medical intervention in her cancer fight, Debra fought her disease valiantly through a carefully researched diet. During the latter stages of her illness and her disease overtook her, Jon remained close by her side nurturing her in whatever way was needed.

When Debra married Jon, she inherited a very large family of Jon’s 5 brothers, their wives, and 13 children. There are now 12 great grandchildren added to the family. She also gained another mother, Hope Babcock, and a stepfather, Richard Babcock whom she relied upon to love her, nurture, and comfort her. Robert Miner and his wife Sharon, Jon’s father and step mother were very much in her life as well. She loved the large family atmosphere with the family dinners, birthday celebrations almost monthly – the chaos and noise were always fun for her.

Debra was a marvelous cook and loved to share new recipes with others. She could make anything in a garden grow, and had a great love of crafts, movies, and debating the news of the day. She had strong opinions and a definite mind set – a strong belief in right and wrong.

Her passing leaves a void in the family tree and in the hearts of all that knew her. But today she is in a much greater place with no pain, without illness – something we cannot begrudge her. Debra was a valued and loved member of this large family and shall be missed.

Rest well dear Debra. Fly with the butterflies and know you are in our hearts

We love you.

December 5, 1960 – May 6, 2013

Since Dad had been scheduled to go to Japan and had asked for a delay for the birth, he was shortly “rewarded” with an assignment to Goose Bay, Labrador.  He had to leave without the family initially, but returned after about six months to retrieve the family.

Barry’s permanent residence was in Merritt Island where he attended Merritt Island High School.  His schooling was cut short and his life forever changed after a motorcycle accident at age 17.  He could no longer enjoy many of his past pleasures.

Barry is survived by his parents, sister, brother, two nieces and their husbands, a nephew and his wife, and their combined five children; along with many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Barry will be resting at Buckner, Missouri in a family plot.

Rachel Marie Price, 18, died February 28, 2013.  Although, she was killed and ripped from our lives by a drunk driver, we know God decides when to take his children back.  We take comfort she walks as an Angel in Heaven, because she was an Angel here on Earth.

Rachel Marie Price was born July 11, 1994, in Melbourne Florida, to Donnie Lee Price Jr. and Eva Marie Claudio-Price.

Rachel Marie is survived by her Father Donnie Price Jr., her Mother Eva Marie Claudio-Price, her brothers Brandon Price and Ryan Price, her Grandfather Richard Claudio, Grandfather Donnie Price Sr. and Grandmother Jean Price, a number of Great Aunts and Great Uncles, and Aunts and Uncles, names are Richard and Cecelia Claudio, Raymond and April Claudio, Pamela (Claudio) and Scott Levenduski, Matthew Claudio, Vincent Price, Crystal Price, and her cousins Lyndsey, Ricky, Vincent Jr., Marissa, Robert, Xenia, Rayna, Bryce, Erik, Raymond, John, and Landis. Rachel now joins her grandmother Elvira Claudio in Heaven.

She began her soccer career when she was 4 years old in Melbourne Beach Soccer Club. Her teams were Tsunami, Space Coast United, Brevard FC, Lady Renegades, H.C. United, and the Tampa Bay Hellenic.  At Melbourne High School, she helped her Lady Bulldogs win 3 consecutive State Championships. She was a member of the United States U-15, U-17 and U-18 Women’s National Teams.

Rachel was High School All-American in her Junior year.  In her senior year, she transferred to Palm Bay High School. She graduated from Palm Bay High School. Rae had the opportunity to play soccer at Eckerd College where she made an immediate impact athletically as well as academically. She was named 2012 Sunshine State Conference Commissioners Fall Honor Roll, 2010 State Player of The Year and a High School All American.She continued her passion and trained hard following ACL reconstruction to achieve her goals of one day playing in the World Cup, becoming a member of the United States U-20 Women’s National Team, and represent her country in the Olympics.

Rachel had a drive in her like no other. She set specific goals and was able to accomplish every one of them until February 28.  When she was younger around 8 years old, she was given a notebook by one of her trainers. She was asked to write down her dreams.  She told him I don’t need to write them down because I am going to make them all happen.  She wanted to be the youngest player to make the Olympic Soccer Team knowing she had to at least match Mia at 16.

She was born to play soccer and make a difference in the lives of others.  Rachel could accomplish anything she set her mind to.  She loved spending time on the pitch, being with her family and her friends.  This should not have happened.  We should not outlive our children.  God gives us our children as blessings and we are so blessed he gave her to us. We just wish we could have had her longer. We are so proud to know how many lives Rachel Marie has touched and the enormity of her spirit is overwhelming.  Some people never accomplish in a lifetime what she accomplished in such a short period of time. We love and miss you with all of our hearts, Rachel Marie.

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN!!!!!!

Services will be held at

Calvary Chapel of Melbourne

2955 Minton Road
West Melbourne

Saturday March 9, 2013 11:00 a.m.

Charlotte Hendrix Griffin, cherished wife and Oma, passed away on Dec 27^th, 2012. She was born September 3^rd, 1930 in Miami to Earl and Bessie Hendrix. She graduated Orlando High School in 1948. She married Francis Dillman Griffin in 1949. Soon thereafter the newlyweds moved to Atlanta to attend Georgia Tech.

In 1958 Francis got a job in Huntsville, Alabama with NASA. They were members of Southside Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama. Charlotte sang in the Church choir and was also president of the Women’s Club. As the Space program accelerated they were transferred to Merritt Island, FL in 1965. There they became active members of the First Baptist Church of Merritt Island. She was a Soprano in the choir and a frequent soloist. She also taught special needs children and worked in drama ministries.

Among many life accomplishments, Charlotte was a successful local artist. She taught painting at her studio and gallery, Cousins II, in Cocoa Village and was a frequent judge at annual art shows. She was a co-founder of the Musical Theater of Brevard and a past member of the Brevard Opera Arts Association, singing and acting in many local productions.

Charlotte is also survived by her sons Michael, Steven and Charles, Her brother Harold Hendrix (Rosemary), her cousin Arleene Westman (Robert), grandchildren, Marisa, Allyson and Kelly, great-granddaughter Dannikah and many other loving family members. Charlotte had many close friends, students and colleagues. Thank you to all who were a part of her remarkable life.