SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS IN MEMORY OF No man is an island, entire of itself every man is a piece of the continent,
[This memorial page is far from complete. Biographical information and obituaries of deceased classmates are solicited .] CLASS OF '62
Belleview - Roscoe Alexander, 62, went home for his 40th anniversary on July 15, 2007 at Ocala Regional Medical Center. He was born in Elkhart, IN and a longtime resident of this area. He was a retired pressman for the Ocala Star Banner after 19 years. Mr. Alexander served in the United States Coast Guard. He enjoyed his grandkids, fishing, golf, and hunting. Survivors include his daughters, Lezlie Fritts, Ocala, Kimberlie (Tom) LaSenna, Belleview, son Richard (Patty) Alexander, Ocala, 7 grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren, and dog, Gator. Memorial services were held at 11:30 AM, Monday, July 23, 2007 at Wings of Faith Fellowship, 5066 SE 64th Avenue, Ocala with Pastor Johnny Johnson officiating. A gathering of family and friends was held one hour prior to the service. Arrangements under the direction of Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, Belleview. Published in the Ocala Star-Banner from 7/19/2007 - 7/20/2007. [Picture from 1959 Lake Weir High School annual. Although a class of '62 mate, Ross officially graduated in '63 according to Don Phillips] Taps for Ross The bugle call of taps is a lonely sound. It is used at
funerals and memorial services in the military when it signals lights out. If you
are a young soldier in basic training and hear it played at the end of the day it can stir
your emotions. I was at a memorial service last Monday for an old friend and taps
never sounded more beautiful to me than when it was sounded for Ross Alexander. It
certainly started my emotions and brought back a lot of memories.
[Billy Clapp (24), Wallace McKeehan (being hugged), Glenn Herbert (over WM's left shoulder), Manny Rodriquez, Jimmy Phillips (reaching out), Ralph Nichols (behind Jimmy), Mike Welch (right)]
Beverly succumbed after a long and herioic bout with cancer. She married Perry Jacobs, a self named "Jack of All Trades and Master of None," a Lake Weir High '62 classmate soon after graduation. Both were voted individually Friendliest in the Class of '62 Favorites. In the early years of their over forty one years of marriage, the family traveled around some including places like South Carolina, Ohio and New York while Perry was in the drafting business. They were in retail sales for a few years. They eventually settled in the Wiersdale area. Beverly became a career hair dresser after their third child was born and was a familiar face at the Smart Set Beauty Shop in Belleview. They have children Rusty, Sherri and Eric. Beverly was fortunate to attend the 2004 Cracker Barrel reunion which all agreed raised her spirits and those of her classmates. A memorial service in which the class was well represented by classmates and flowers showing the ole yellow and blue colors was held at the Weirsdale Baptist Church Wednesday, April 28.
Beverly O'Neal Alexander, 57, Belleview, died June 8, 2002, at Munroe Regional Medical Center, Ocala, FL. She was a native and lifetime resident of Ocala (Belleview), Florida. Mrs. Alexander was a Courier for Quest Diagnostics, Ocala, Florida; and a member of the First Baptist Church of Belleview. Survivors include her husband Roscoe D. Alexander Jr., Belleview, FL; two daughters Lezlie L. Fritts, Ocala, FL and Kimberlie L. LaSenna, Ocala, FL; a son Richard D. Alexander, Summerfield, FL; sister Joyce O'Neal McNely, Ocala, FL; four grandsons; two great grandsons; previously deceased by brother Lenord Donald O'Neal. [Picture from 1959 Lake Weir High School annual]
CLASS OF '63
Earl Lytle “Steamboat” Scales was a bonded buddy to all LaWeHi athletes and a little brother to those in the classes of ’59-’62, competing in varsity football and basketball as a sophomore and varsity baseball as a freshman. Our ole buddy and classmate who was known affectionately as just Boat Scales was born and raised in Weirsdale, MarionCo, Florida descending from a long line of pioneers of the area’s citrus industry. The nickname Steamboat came from the nurses who remarked to his parents in the hospital where he was born “Here’s your little Steamboat” referring to his huffing and puffing just after birth. His middle name came from his mom Florence Lytle's maiden name, Ms. Scales is still well and driving at age 86. Many of us will never forget her graciousness when were invited over to the homeplace on the lake. Yes, many from the area in their youth remember Boat's granpa ole Doc Lytle, who loved kids and was always good for a monetary gift sufficient to buy a Coke or so. Doc Lytle and Boat were best buddies for many years. After graduation in ’63, Boat moved north and attended the University of Florida, Gainesville, played some football and received degrees in agricultural economics and law. He returned to MarionCo where he continued the family tradition and businesses of his father Key Scales II, a leader and spokesman for the Florida citrus industry who was credited with contributing to maintenance of uncompromising quality in the industry. Boat was a partner in G &S Packing, Inc. in Weirsdale and the family-owned Key Scales Ford car dealership in Leesburg. Boat met his lifelong companion, Leslie, at the age of 12 during family vacations on the east coast at which time they were immediately good buddies, but didn’t formalize a partnership until 1967 when they were married. Helping Leslie run for the school board stimulated an interest in politics. He was active in the Democratic Party and became well known in local political circles. He served as Chair of the MarionCo Democratic Executive Committee and state Democratic Party treasurer. He is credited with helping unify the local party and caused an increase in membership. Boat also served as Chairman of the MarionCo planning commission and involved in several regional environmental concerns particularly for Lake Weir, he was a founding member of Save Lake Weir. Boat was known for his concern for people, equal opportunities and fairness. He campaigned actively and was treasurer for the Kerry-Edwards Florida campaign. Scott Maddox, chairman of the Florida Democratic Party said “The FDP will forever be grateful for his service and for his friendship.” It was his last political campaign for soon after he learned of his illness and his final struggle began. He was quoted in the Ocala Star Banner article of Nov. 4 just after the Kerry-Edwards concession: "That's a shame," Scales said when Kerry conceded the election, after deciding that Bush's lead in Ohio was insurmountable. Scales' disappointment was tinged with sarcasm. "I'm bitter," Scales said. "I'm well-off (financially) and now George W. will give me a lot of tax breaks, so I guess I will spend it on my boat and travel.” This author had the privilege of meeting ole Boat briefly in his office in April 2004 at G&S for the first and last time since graduation in 1962 while on a nostalgia trip through the ole Lake Weir and Ocklawaha area. Ironically, we talked of what we would do as we wind down our focused work like boating, travel, outdoor life and trout fishing in Colorado. Politics aside, ole Boat’s first love was citrus, “being out in the groves and smelling the blossoms” according to wife Leslie, and the lake on whose shores he was born and raised. Like his father before him, he was involved intensely in the citrus industry and its advocacy through service on numerous statewide committees. The passing of Boat represents the passing of an era that began in the mid-1850’s when the Lytles planted the first citrus trees in the region. Boat and his office in the historic Weirsdale G&S buildings were a landmark and dear symbol of the industry for whom many of us worked at least part-time for spending money, unbanking little trees in the spring, irrigating the groves, getting a day or two out of school to get the smudge pots out when frost threatened, getting out the beehives in spring, harvesting the clear honey and working on the packing line over Christmas holidays. Boat served also on the board of directors of the Central Florida Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Metropolitan Ocala Rotary, the Weirsdale Presbyterian Church and the Florida and Marion County Bar. He also served in the Naval Reserve. He leaves besides his mom and wife Leslie, a son Earl Lytle “Bubba” Scales Jr. and a daughter Erin, brothers Key "Sonny" Scales III and George Scales and grandson Key Alastair Scales. He was preceded in death by his father Key Scales II, and a brother John (LaWeHi Class of ’60) who also was our not forgotten buddy, teammate and classmate. The family has requested donations be made in ole Boat’s memory to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa.
[Photo: Boat & Coach Jim Pfiel, annual '63]
FACULTY
Miss Bea Atkinson Succumbs at Age 74
Librarian Ms. Julia Yancey Dowdy Hogenboom Passes at Age 102
Miss Dowdy as she was known to Lake Weir High students was the epitomy of the professional stern, tolerant and helpful librarian. Don Phillips speaking for her class of '62 students remarked "she genuinely cared for all of her students and would graciously assist with any of our youthful concerns. I can hear her now saying, 'Quiet now students, this is a library.'" According to her obituary in the Ocala Star Banner, Ms. Dowdy was born Julia Anna Yancey, February 16th in 1906, first married to William Dowdy (1948-1956) and second to Reverend Joshua M. Hogenboom (1977-1994). She had a great love for singing, especially hymns, that she continued to share with others throughout her life. After attaining her teaching degree from North Carolina State Teachers College she spent the first twelve years of her career at Bryan College in Tennessee. She served twenty nine years in the Marion County school district. [Picture left from the 1962 LaWeHi annual; right on her 101 birthday party] Mr. Kearsley Passes Away at Age 81 Donald J. Kearsley, Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor, passed away on Friday, Nov. 8, 2002. He was a resident of Weirsdale, a native of Ohio, and moved to Marion County from Wyoming in 1952. He was a Navy veteran and attended UCLA, U. of Wyoming, Cornell and the U. of Arizona. At retirement he was Federal Programs Director for the Marion County School Board. As a straight-shooting, stern, but caring counselor and teacher, Mr. Kearsley touched the lives of many in ways that both they and he had long forgotten. However, burned on the memories of many are recollection of an encounter that now with pride they relate how a stern nudge and some caring, sometimes unwanted, advice at the moment triggered them in a positive direction for the long term.
"Mr. Kearsley convinced me and gave me the confidence that with persistence and hardwork a boy from modest itinerant background, means and a central Florida rural school could compete with the best at UF. He contended that money was not the limit and pointed out where there was will there was a way to obtain financial assistance."---Former student class of '62 "I was sent to him for being disrespectful to a young new teacher, I expected to be highly reprimanded. He suggested I was wrong, that I apologize, but only if I really meant it, took a long time to explain to me why I was wrong, to teach me a lesson in sincerity, used the incident to try to make me a better person."---Former student, '62 SONS OF DEWITT COLONY TEXAS |
Ross (arrow at left in the celebrating fans after the 
ODE TO
BOAT
Social studies teacher known
to all as simply Miss Bea died on December 31, 2002. She was an uncompromising
teacher of old and new related to government and politics including interest in local
student council affairs and procedures as a learning process. She once compared a
student council president to Harry Truman because of his use of a couple of swear words in
a speech. Miss Bea was born in Summerfield and was also a psychology professor at
Central Florida Community College. She was a graduate of Stetson University and the
University of Florida. She remained in the Lake Weir area in retirement. She
was an influential teacher to many on the key issues facing high schoolers in this Cold
War and impending Viet Nam War period of history. Students remember her for her
ability to rationally and unemotionally dissect the philosophies of communism, capitalism
and democracy and predictions for their success in the real world in terms that they could
understand. Her predictions and reasons for failure of communistic systems turned
out to be true.
"Once a teacher
unjustifiably tried to humiliate me. Mr. Kearsley found out about the incident and took
the teacher to task. I have a deep respect for Mr. Kearsley because he stood up for
what was right."---Former student class of '61