Plant City Observer

Obituaries 3.31.22

William ‘Andy’ Lassiter

William “Andy” Lassiter, 49, of Plant City, Fla., born in Ft. Bragg, N.C. on Dec. 4, 1972, entered into eternal rest on March 25, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. 

Oscar Figueroa

Oscar Figueroa, 61, of Plant City, Fla., born on April 28, 1960 in San Miguel De Cruces, Durango, Mexico entered into eternal rest on March 17, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at www.HopewellFuneral.com.

Allison B. Bauer

Allison B. Bauer, 83, of Mulberry, Fla., born in Gouverneur, N.Y., on April 4, 1938, entered into eternal rest on March 23, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. 

Pamela Lynn Castret

Pamela Lynn Castret, 63, of Brandon, Fla., born in Fayetteville, N.C. on Jan. 28, 1959, entered into eternal rest on March 20, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. 

Sandra Shiver Shirley

Sandra Shiver Shirley, 74, of Lithia, Fla., born in Sanford on July 15, 1947, entered into eternal rest on March 20, 2022. 

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. 

William ‘Bill’ Canter

William “Bill” Canter, 79, of Plant City, Fla., born in Greensboro, N.C. on April 7, 1942, entered into eternal rest on March 28, 2022.

Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com. 

Danilo ‘Dan’ Coton

Danilo “Dan” Coton, 88, of Plant City, Fla., born on April 20, 1933 in Tampa, entered into eternal rest on March 28, 2022. He was a Veteran of the United States Army, where he served in the Presidential Honor Guard, and was a past President of the Plant City Dolphins Youth Football League. His life was his family. He is survived by the love of his life of 62 years, Rosalie Coton; children, Tammy Coton Vavolizza (Robert), of Rye Brook, New York, and Daniel Coton (Danna) of Plant City; grandchildren, Rick, Mark, Justin (Katherine), Courtney, Michael, Julianne, and Brent; and sisters, Ligia Fernandez, and Aida Diaz. The family will receive friends on April 1, 2022 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hopewell Funeral Home, 6005 South County Road 39, Plant City. Interment at Garden of Memories, Tampa. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to stjude.org. Expressions of condolence at HopewellFuneral.com.

Julius F. Hobbs

Julius F. Hobbs passed away peacefully in his home on Sunday March 20, 2022. He was 84 years old. He is preceded in death by his son Julius “Frankie” Hobbs Jr. He is survived by his wife Shirley M. Hobbs, his daughter Jennifer Hobbs Clark, son in law Thomas Clark, his grandchildren Lyndsi Griffith, Jaedan and Piper Clark, great grandchildren Sophia and Jaiyla Baez, his sister-in-law M.A. (Micki) Hobbs, nieces Kimberly Gustafson, Debbie Hobbs, Madonna Schaffer, nephew Todd Hinson.

He graduated from Plant City High School in 1956, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in administration from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, and a master’s degree in management from The University of South Florida. Julius left an imprint in the greater Tampa Bay Area and enjoyed more than 38 years of service with Tampa Electric Company. He retired as the Director of Corporate Relations and Executive Director of the Teco Energy Foundation.

His love of the Greater Tampa Bay community led his past involvement in local and state activities including the Audubon of Florida, founding Chairman and Board Member of the Gasparilla Pirate Fest, was the “Father”of the Manatee Viewing/Educational Center, founding board member for Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (Now Straz Center), Florida Aquarium, MOSI, and served other various boards and community events. His interest in education was evident in his service as charter Board Member of the Hillsborough and Polk Education Foundations, Board Member of the Florida Education Foundation, Chairman of the USF’s College of Educational Development Board, past Chairman of the Education Council of the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce and served in advisory capacities for various educational and nonprofit groups as well as the founder of the Great American Teach-In. He was an active member of First Methodist Church of Plant City, the Tampa Chamber of Commerce, and Florida Merchants Association and was a Rotarian.

The family would like to thank his caregivers, Dorothy McDaniel, Raya Bauer, Carson Magann, Steve Miner and Pedro Labrada.

Family Visitation will be March 31, 2022 at 10 a.m., followed by the memorial service at 11 a.m. The location is First United Methodist Church in Plant City (303 N. Evers St). Haught Funeral Home is presiding. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Methodist Children’s Home or Hospice Sapphire Group.

Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

Leslie Norman Kimmel, Sr.

Leslie Norman Kimmel, Sr. died unexpectedly on March 17, 2022 in Plant City, Fla. He was 61 years old. Services will be held  privately. The family would like to thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

Linda Lucille Nelson

Linda Lucille Nelson, age 72, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on March 29, 2022. 

The family will receive friends April 1, 2022 from 10 to 11 a.m. at Haught Funeral Home Chapel, 708 W. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Plant City, FL 33563. Funeral services will follow at  11  a.m.

Online condolences may be left for the family at haught.care.

Ward Earl Johnson

Ward Earl Johnson, 65, of Dover, Fla. passed away on Tuesday, March 8, 2022. Ward was born Dec. 5, 1956.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Johnson family.

Lewis Bailey Leverett 

Lewis Bailey Leverett, 89, of Madison, Ala., passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2022.  He was born on Nov., 1, 1932.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Leverett family.

Joan S Macisco

Joan S Macisco, 88, of Plant City, Fla. passed away on Thursday, March 10, 2022. Joan was born May 3, 1933.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Macisco family.

Carl ‘Fred’ Difani

Carl “Fred” Difani, 79, of Plant City passed peacefully on March 10, 2022. Services were held March 22, 2022 at Wells Memorial.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Difani family.

Shelton T. Gould

Shelton T. Gould, 77, of Plant City, Fla., passed away on Wednesday, March 9, 2022. Shelton was born Feb. 28, 1945.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.WellsMemorial.com for the Gould family.

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