Marion Lewis Nieland, 88, lifetime Alachua resident, departed this life on Sunday, December 23, 2012 at her residence. She was the longest living member of First United Methodist Church of Alachua and a graduate of the Alachua High School Class of 1942, a founding member of the Alachua Recreation Board and affectionately known as Coach Grand Ma. She was an active registered nurse for 50 years retiring at the age of 70.

She was preceded in death by her late husband David O. Nieland. Survivors include a son, David (Marlene) Nieland, Fort White; four daughters, Debbie (Rodger) Mallard, Alachua, Nancy Duke, Daytona Beach, Sandra Thrower, Covington, Georgia, and Mona (Joe) Halverson, Plano, Texas; two sisters, Laura Jean Robinette, Satellite Beach and Catherine Floyd, Indian Pass, Florida; brother, James Lewis, Alachua;  12 grandchildren and eight grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 28 at First United Methodist Church of Alachua with Rev. Lamar Albritton officiating. Burial will be at Newnansville Cemetery in Alachua. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Santa Fe Babe Ruth Softball, P.O. Box 0897 Alachua, FL 32616. Arrangements are under the direction of Evans – Carter Funeral Home, High Springs, FL.

Michael Richard Johnson of High Springs, Florida passed away December 22, 2012 at North Florida Regional Medical Center. He was 59.

Mr. Johnson was born April 29, 1953 in St. Petersburg, Florida to Richard Lee Johnson and Barbara Neet Johnson. He graduated from the University of Florida and was a mechanical supervisor for the railroad, including Amtrak, BNSF, Conrail and Triple Crown.

Survivors include his wife of 27 years, Becky Johnson of High Springs; father, Richard Lee Johnson of Cape Canaveral, Florida, brother, James C. “Chris” Johnson (Patti); sister, Kimberly Johnson Bradford (Ned); and beloved dogs, Amelia, Dakota, Chubbs, Hannah, Buster and Doodles.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013 at 11 a.m. at the Chapel in the Woods, Trinity Methodist Church, Gainesville, Fla.

Arrangements are in the care of Evans-Carter Funeral Home, High Springs, FL.

Glenda F. Kelley, 65, of Newberry, Florida passed away peacefully on December 17, 2012 after a courageous battle with breast cancer. She was the daughter of the late Allison (AM) and Bonita Green and is survived by her husband, Donald J. Kelley, and children, Sean Kelley, Diedra Kelley and Kristen Galvan; son-in-law Jeffrey Galvan; step-children, Peppi and Tracy Tate; beloved grandchildren, Angel, Ashley, Heather, Chris, Kasi and Logan; sisters, Phyllis Norfleet and Cindy Bass; brothers, Gabe, Don and Barry Green, four great-grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Mrs. Kelley attended the University of Florida and became an English teacher for over 30 years at Newberry High School where she had the opportunity to fulfill God's purpose by touching the lives of many young people. She believed teaching was one of her best accomplishments. In addition to being a devoted Christian, she was a very loving mother and grandmother. And in the words of her husband she was "The best wife a man could ever ask for."

Words cannot even describe the person Mrs. Kelley was, what she meant to others and how much she will be missed.

Those who knew her can take solace in knowing that she is in heaven and will live on in the hearts of her family, friends and the students whose lives she touched forever.

To honor her final wishes, she requested that we celebrate her death with a family party as opposed to a memorial service. In her words, "I hate that traditional crap."

Cards can be mailed to the family at 8007 SW 250th Street, Newberry, FL 32669. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by check or online to Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida 1600 SW 14th Street Gainesville, FL 32608, www.rmhcncf.org or Child Advocacy Center of Gainesville, P.O. Box 13454, Gainesville, FL. www.childadvocacycentergainesville.org.

Tyrone Anthony Cooper, Field Executive Supervisor for ADP, Inc., age 64, passed away on Monday, December 10, 2012 at St. Luke, The Woodlands Hospital, Woodland, Texas after a short illness.

Mr. Cooper was preceded in death by wife, Ruth Anne Cooper, and brother, Vernon Neal.

Survivors include his loving mother, Eva Pearl Neal, St. Petersburg, Florida; two loving daughters, Tonda D. Cooper Butler (Darnell) of Spring, Texas and Justis Robinson of Fort White, Florida; two sons, Michael Cooper (Natalie) of Farmington and Michigan and Robert Cooper of Trenton, New Jersey; seven grandchildren, one brother, Reginald Neal of Graceville, Florida; sister, Rutha Mae Bing, of Ft. White, and many other caring relatives and friends.

The memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 22, 2012 at 11 a.m. at Antioch Baptist Church, Jordan Road in Fort White with Rev. Donnell Sanders officiating.

Arrangements are under the care of A. Jerome Brown Funeral Home, High Springs, FL.