Person Page - 91

     William was born on 10 September 1853. He was the son of Willis Richard Whatley and Lucy Randall. He married Temperance Annie Parker, daughter of Robert Ransom Parker and Civility Sullivan, on 1 September 1881 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.^2,1 William died on 17 July 1926 at Suwannee, Florida, United States, at age 72. His body was buried in July 1926 at Mount Gilead Cemetery, Suwannee, Florida, United States.

     William was born on 26 April 1866. He married Molly R. Parker, daughter of Robert Ransom Parker and Civility Sullivan, on 18 November 1888 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.¹ William died on 14 May 1920 at Jacksonville, Duval, Florida, United States, at age 54. His body was buried in May 1920 at Rocky Sink Church Cemetery, Suwannee, Florida, United States.²

     William was born in December 1855 at Florida, United States.¹ He married Arianne Parker, daughter of Robert Ransom Parker and Civility Sullivan, on 15 May 1879 at Suwannee, Florida, United States.² William died on 26 January 1932 at Suwannee, Florida, United States, at age 76. His body was buried in January 1932 at Johnson Cemetery, Dowling Park, Suwannee, Florida, United States.³

     Lewis was born circa 1824 at Prussia.¹ He married Minerva Townsend, daughter of Allen Townsend and Sarah Briant, on 29 April 1847 at Madison, Florida, United States.^2,3 He died on 1 June 1913 at Brunswick, Glynn, Georgia, United States. He was buried at Oak Grove Cemetery, Brunswick, Glynn, Georgia, United States.
     Lewis's occupation: Planter.

     Benjamin was born on 16 October 1809 at Cedar Grove, Chesterfield, Virginia, United States.¹ He married Josephine Townsend, daughter of Allen Townsend and Sarah Briant, on 23 February 1870 at Madison, Florida, United States.² Benjamin died on 11 April 1877 at Madison, Florida, United States, at age 67.³ His body was buried in April 1877 at Townsend Cemetery, Madison, Florida, United States.
     Benjamin's occupation: Doctor.

     Everett was born on 7 August 1947 at Millville, Cumberland, New Jersey, United States. He was the son of Everett Clark Schanck and Margaret Elain Brock. He married Jo Anne Tompkins, daughter of John Paul Tompkins and Leila Mae Hadden, on 7 October 1977 at Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, United States.¹ He died on 21 December 2010 at Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, United States, at age 63; Obituary for Everett Clark Schanck - A celebration of life service will be conducted for Butch Schanck at Our Savior's Lutheran Church on Tuesday, December 28, 2010, at 2:00 p.m., with Pastor Bob McNamara Officiating. Butch died at home after a long battle with cancer.
Butch married the love of his life, Jo Anne Schanck October 7, 1977, who survives him. Other surviving family members are; daughter Shealyn Counts and step daughter Lisa Bates (husband, Matt) from a previous marriage together with five grandsons, mother (Margaret), father (Everett, Sr.), brother (Norman and spouse, Lynn), sister (Karen and spouse Bill) and numerous nieces and nephews.
Butch graduated from NCHS in 1965 and served two years in the National Guard. For the last 31 years he was employed by Wilson Supply. He retired in 2009, leaving behind many close friends. He enjoyed bowling, golf and sports of all kinds. He was buried on 28 December 2010 at Highland Cemetery, Casper, Natrona, Wyoming, United States.

     Sandra was born on 28 January 1959 at Avon Park, Highlands, Florida, United States. She was the daughter of Solomon Wayne Cannon and Ernestine Polk. She died on 25 April 2009 at Little Gasparilla Island, Charlotte, Florida, United States, at age 50.

     Kimberly was born on 20 May 1986 at Winter Haven, Polk, Florida, United States. She was the daughter of Clifford Paul Tompkins and Sandra Kay Cannon. She died on 25 April 2009 at Little Gasparilla Island, Charlotte, Florida, United States, at age 22; Barrier Island Fire Kills 4 Polk Residents
Relatives say the victims include 3 from a Fort Meade family and a man from Lakeland.

By Shoshana Walter
THE LEDGER

Published: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 4:59 p.m.
FORT MEADE | During the early morning hours Saturday, officials say flames crept through a home on Little Gasparilla Island, killing four Polk County residents.

Provided to The Ledger
The deceased include three members of a prominent Fort Meade family, relatives say, although officials had not released the identities of the victims by Saturday night.
Burt Perry, a citrus grower and school bus driver, and his wife, Fort Meade teacher Sandra, died in the blaze, along with Sandra Perry’s daughter Kimberly Tompkins and her boyfriend Clint Jowers, relatives and neighbors said.
The island home, built in the 80s by the Perry family, was a favorite, peaceful spot. The Perrys spent many weekends on the island, which is only accessible by boat.
“They loved the beach. That was their retreat for peace, away from the hustle and bustle. That’s what’s so ironic about all this. It breaks my heart,” said Priscilla Perry, who is married to Burt Perry’s cousin.
Charlotte County sheriff’s deputies first learned people might be inside the home when they arrived at 9638 Pieces of Eight Trail about 3 a.m. to find firefighters battling the fire.
Flames had consumed the recently-renovated wooden home. The State Fire Marshal’s Office arrived and discovered the four bodies, the Sheriff’s Office said.
Priscilla Perry said officials have pointed to an electrical malfunction as the source of the fire. Since cars are not allowed on the island, the Perrys relied on a golf cart to get around. The cart was plugged into a charger on the bottom floor of the home near one of the three bedrooms, Perry said.
“I pray they were sleeping. I truly pray that’s what happened,” she said. “It’s hitting all of us real hard. It doesn’t even feel real.”
Burt Perry’s grandfather owned and developed about 100 acres of citrus groves on Old Bowling Green Road in Fort Meade, protecting the property from phosphate mine developers years ago. The land has been passed down through the family and is still occupied by the extended Perry family.
“Orange groves is the way of life around here. This is the original land that his granddaddy made into groves. There are four generations that have lived on this land,” Perry said.
A school bus driver, Burt Perry parked his bus every morning outside the Double RR Cafe on Charleston Avenue where he ate breakfast before starting his route. He and Sandra, known as Sandy, often met for lunch at the restaurant, where photographs of their faces decorated scrapbooks.
“They were very considerate of each other. Very protective and loving,” Priscilla Perry said. The couple married in 2001.
Sandra taught in the Fort Meade school system for more than 16 years. Last year, she began teaching advanced science to students at Lewis Anna Woodbury Elementary, Perry said.
“Sandy was a lifelong friend and teacher, also tutor for my kids,” mayor Bob Elliott said Saturday. “It’s a huge loss to the community and a big loss for the school system.”
Both Sandra and Burt have two children from previous marriages, including 22-year-old Tompkins. She was following in her mother’s footsteps and studying education at Warner Southern College.
Tompkins’ boyfriend, 24-year-old Clint Jowers, won national awards for his work in FFA, formerly Future Farmers of America, while a student at Kathleen High School. He graduated in 2004 and continued to live and work in Lakeland as a maintenance worker for Publix, said Logan Skinner, who called Jowers his best friend.
Jowers and Tompkins were good friends before they began dating in October.
“He’s been the happiest he’s ever been in his life. He was just a good ol’ country boy,” Skinner said.

[From The Ledger Website URL= http://www.theledger.com/article/20090425/news/904259931 a newspaper of Lakeland, Florida]