H. Maxine McEwen, 94, of Gainesville, passed away April 25, 2013 at North Florida Regional Medical Center surrounded by her family.

She was born in Columbus, Ohio on May 28, 1918. Mrs. McEwen and her late husband were great supporters of the Boy Scouts of America and provided property that enabled generations of young boys to experience camping in the wilderness. She also served her community in New Berlin, Wis., as a dispatcher for the volunteer fire department. After moving to South Florida, she was a successful real estate broker during the 1970s and 80s. She was a volunteer at Shands Hospital for many years. She also enjoyed quilting and was a member of the Gainesville Quilting Club.

Mrs. McEwen is survived by her daughter, Patricia Moser (Jeff) of Alachua; step son Tim McEwen (Joanne) of St. Augustine; three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, May 2, 2013, at 2 p.m. in the Forest Meadows Memorial Park Central Mausoleum, (Chapel in the Meadows), 4100 NW 39^th Avenue.

In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made to Susan G. Komen Foundation, Donor Services, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309.

James Roger Hensley, Sr., 68, of Alachua, passed away Saturday, March 9, 2013 at his home. He was born July 6, 1944 in Orlando, Fla., to James Blain and Willa Lee Rogers Hensley.

Mr. Hensley graduated from Wildwood High School and then attended Mars Hill College in North Carolina and the University of South Florida.  After working for Eastern Airlines for 24 years, he started a new career as owner of Hensley’s Nursery and Tree Farm. He loved and was proud of his family and they loved and were proud of him.  He will be greatly missed.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Marcia Windham Hensley; daughters, Kimberly Anne Jones (Barry) of Watkinsville, Ga., and Nancy Hensley Kight (Jess) of Marietta, Ga.; son, James Roger Hensley, Jr. (Danielle) of Alachua; siblings, Joy Fenicle of Orlando, Marilyn Grimes of Wildwood, Fla., Rev. James Hensley of Tennessee and Gail Blanton of Wildwood; six grandchildren, Tyler, Parker, Courtney, Preston, Hayden and Grayson and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, March 13, 2013 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Williams-Thomas Funeral Home Westarea, 823 NW 143^rd Street, with Rev. Faye DeSha officiating.  The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the service, beginning at 10:30 a.m.

Odis Porter, 78, passed away April 12, 2013. Mr. Porter lived in High Springs, Fla., most of his life. Prior to retiring he was a Head Custodian for the Alachua County School System.

Survivors include sons, Paul Odis Porter of Tallahassee and Richard Dan Porter of High Springs; daughters, Jeannette Tatum of Lake City, Sue Grimes of Alachua, Brenda “Steve” Scudder of High Springs, Shirley “Tim” Cercy of Jacksonville, and Dana Strickland of Tallahassee; brothers, Clifford Porter of Bristol, Fla., and Curtis “Annette” Porter of Wewahitchka, Fla.; 16 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren.

Funeral Services were Sunday, April 14, 2013, at 3 p.m. at Turning Point at Newberry, 5577 NW 290 Street, Newberry, Fla. Arrangements under the care of Evans-Carter Funeral Home of High Springs. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90 Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.

Rita M. Slaughter, 69, of High Springs, Fla., went to be with our Lord and Savior Feb. 24, 2013.  She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, Feb. 12, 2013.  She is survived by her two loving sons, Dr. Martin Slaughter of Starke and Steven (Dana) Slaughter of Seattle, Wash.; two grandchildren, Jillian (Jared) Smith,  Richard (Angela); and five great-grandchildren ,Abegail, Annahlee, Logan, Liberty, and Zoey all of Texas.

Mrs. Slaughter was born on May 21, 1943 in Mansfield, Ohio to Thomas and Mary Carpenter.  She married the love of her life, Richard “Sarge” Slaughter in 1962.  One of four children, she is survived by her brother, Roger T. F. Carpenter and sisters, Pauline Carpenter and Eileen Sapp. 

Her strength, resolve and outstanding devotion to her husband and children guided her through the hardship and loneliness of numerous separations from her husband due to his military duties.  She braved many unknowns and countless heartache.  Her devotion to her husband and children reflects great credit upon herself and the institution of marriage and motherhood.  She was profoundly admired and truly loved by her husband and her children.

After retiring from the University of Florida, she and her husband ran a small cattle ranch in High Springs.  She had a large circle of friends that loved her dearly and will miss her laughter, humor and kindness. 

A memorial will be held Feb. 26, 2013 at Evans-Carter Funeral Home in High Springs, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Services will be held Friday, March 1, 2013, 2 p.m. at the Forest Grove Baptist Church on NW 94^th Street.  Interment will follow at Forest Meadows Cemetery on S.R. 241.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Shriner’s Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa FL 33607 or to The Florida Masonic Home at The Masonic Home of Florida, 3201 1^st NE, St. Petersburg, FL 33704

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