Richard M. Slaughter died February 12, 2013. He was born Feb. 4, 1939 to Gladys R. Dyer and John W. Slaughter in Friendship, Ohio.

Mr. Slaughter was known as “Sarge” to his many friends and ran a small cattle ranch near High Springs, Florida. He was a retired 1^st Sergeant, U. S. Army. He served two tours of duty in South Vietnam. He also served as a Drill Sergeant for 8 years. He received many awards including Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Good Conduct, Vietnam Campaign, and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Bronze Star, NCO Professional Development, Ranger Tab, Combat Infantryman Badge and Drill Sergeant Identification Badge.

He was a life member of the VFW Gainesville, Fla., and was a member of the American Legion, Newberry, Fla. He was a Mason and Shriner and a member of both the Scottish and York Rites. He was also a member of the Sojourners. He was a Life Member and Past Master of the High Springs Masonic Lodge #137 and Past President of the Gainesville Shrine Club. Mr. Slaughter received the “Standing Tall Award” for his Dedicated Service to the Shriners Children Hospitals.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 50 years, Rita; sons, Dr. Martin Slaughter of Starke, Fla., and Steven (Dana) Slaughter of Seattle, WA; two grand-children, Jillian (Jared) Smith and Richard (Angela) Slaughter; five great grandchildren, Abegail and Annahlee Smith and Logan, Liberty and Zoey Slaughter all of Texas; two brothers, Ronald Slaughter of Gibsonton, Fla., and John Slaughter of Chiefland, Fla.; brother-in-law Roger Thomas (Pat) Carpenter; sisters-in-law Pauline Carpenter and Eileen E. Sapp all of Mt. Vernon, Ohio.

The viewing was held Feb. 17 from 5-7 p.m. at the Evans-Carter Funeral Home in High Springs. Services were held Feb. 18, 2013 at 2 p.m. at the Forest Grove Baptist Church on NW 94^th Street. Interment followed with full Military Honors at the Forest Meadows West Cemetery on S.R. 241. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Shriner’s Hospital for Children at: Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or the Florida Masonic Home at 3201 1^st Street NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704.

Arrangements are under the care of Evans-Carter Funeral Home, 220 N. Main Street, High Springs, FL 32643.

  Ruth K. Fletcher, 95, longtime resident of Newberry, Fla., passed from this life Feb. 1, 2013 at E.T. York Hospice Care Center. Mrs. Fletcher was a member of the High Springs Church of Christ and a native of Royston, Ga.

Survivors include two sons, Charles Edward (Shirley) Fletcher and Walter Gerald (Jeanette) Fletcher, both of Ocala, Fla.; four grandchildren, Kenyon, Jerrod, Eric and Kristi; and eight great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted Feb. 7 at 12:30 p.m. following a noontime viewing at Evans-Carter Funeral Home. Burial will be at the High Springs Cemetery under the direction of Evans-Carter Funeral Home of High Springs.

Reverend Diana Walker, 62, of High Springs passed away Feb. 5, 2013. She was the oldest child of Thelma Williams Sheppard and the late Johnny Sheppard, Sr. Reverend Walker was a 1967 graduate of A. L. Mebane High School and former pastor of Woodstock United Methodist Church, Jacksonville and Bartley Temple United Methodist Church, Gainesville. She attended Bethune Cookman University, Daytona Beach and the University of Florida, Gainesville.

She is survived by children, Anissa Sheppard, Tiffany Garrison, Shalonda White, Tera Walker and Crystal Wright; grandchildren Brittani Wooden, Clifford Britt, Jr., Oneisha Daris, Tanzania Jenkins, Adrian Williams, Jr., Tajhanae White, Jayden Williams, Halaijha Mosley, Stori White; great-grandson Richard Snead III; and siblings John Sheppard, Jr., Dirk Sheppard, Belinda Lewis, Bruce Sheppard and Carlos Sheppard.

Viewing will be held Friday, Feb. 8, 2013 from 5 pm. – 7 p.m. at A. Jerome Brown Funeral Home High Springs, 1560 NW 1^st Avenue, High Springs, FL 32643. Funeral Services will be Saturday at 1 p.m. at Church of God by Faith, 1605 NW 1^st Avenue, High Springs, Elder James Williams, Pastor. Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery. Funeral arrangements entrusted to A. Jerome Brown Funeral Home.

Shirley Mae Wilson Scott, 75, of Indianapolis, Ind., passed away Jan. 4, 2013. She was born Sept. 25, 1937 in Alachua, Fla., to Jesse Gracy and Estelle Jeanette (Baucum) Wilson.

Mrs. Scott is survived by her daughters, Nancy Darlene Scott Brewer of Indianapolis and Jeanette Violette Scott of Jacksonville, Fla.; 11 grandchildren and several great grandchildren; and sisters, Barbara Jeanette Wilson (Cliff) Krause of Fishers, Ind., Mary Alice Wilson (Pete) Blok of Panama, Republic of Panama, Margaret Louise Wilson Saucier of Vero Beach, Fla., and Laura Sue Wilson, of Gainesville, Fla.

She was preceded in death by her husband, James Devey Scott; her daughter, Judy Arlene Scott MacFarlane; grandson, Joseph Lee Nickolls; sister, Virginia Lee Wilson Huff; and brother, Jesse Gracy Wilson, Jr.

Memorial services will be held, Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013 from 2-4 p.m. at the Williams-Thomas Funeral Home, 404 N. Main Street, Gainesville, Fla. Graveside service will follow at the Newnansville Cemetery, Alachua, Fla.