Obituaries

Mildred F. Berry
Mildred F. Berry, 95, of Yonkers, N.Y., and formerly of Longboat Key and Huntington Woods, Mich., died June 16.

Born May 10, 1914, Mrs. Berry was a longtime member of the Detroit Puppet Guild and the Puppeteers of America, as well as an active member of the National Council of Jewish Women for many years.

Mrs. Berry is survived by her daughter, Judy, of New York City; sons, James, of Chevy Chase, Md., and Donald, of Dresher, Pa.; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

William ‘Bill’ Gowan
William “Bill” Gowan, 76, of Longboat Key and Curtis, Mich., died July 7.

Born May 31, 1933, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., he moved to Curtis in 1944 and graduated from Newbury High School and Michigan State University. Mr. Gowan served as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force, earning the rank of captain, and was an original member of the Mach Busters Club.

Mr. Gowan married his wife, Marlene, in 1956, and the Gowans raised their family in Okemos, Mich. Mr. Gowan worked for Lifetouch for 33 years and became senior vice president of acquisitions. He spent his retirement years on Longboat Key and in Michigan.

Mr. Gowan enjoyed spending time with his family, reading and the outdoors.

Mr. Gowan is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marlene; sons, John, of Harbor Springs, Mich., and Doug and Brian, both of Okemos; daughter, Mary Elizabeth Liska, of Okemos; twin sister, Nancy Erickson, of Curtis; brother, Fred, of Curtis; stepfather, Sherman Ludlow, of Curtis; and three grandchildren.

A funeral service took place Saturday, July 11, in Curtis. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Three Lakes Academy William Gowan Library Foundation, P.O. Box 159, Curtis, Mich., 49820.

Patricia Greer Taylor
Patricia Greer Taylor, 72, of Longboat Key, died June 22.

Born Sept. 12, 1936, in Moravian Falls, N.C., she attended the University of North Carolina, in Greensboro.

In the early 1980s she moved to Sarasota and became a Realtor and joined the Sarasota Association of Realtors. Patricia was a Realtor with Michael Saunders & Co. on Longboat Key since 2002, and she was an award member of Michael Saunders & Co. Director’s Circle.

Mrs. Taylor was known for her strong work ethic and her love for her family and animals. Over the years, she received many trophies when riding and showing her Morgan horses. When she was not selling real estate, she traveled to many countries.

Mrs. Taylor is survived by her husband, Douglas Moppert; son, Kelly Strader, of Los Angeles; mother, Edith DeLuge, of Sarasota; sisters, Kay Greer, of Sarasota, and Gail Page, of Naples; one nephew; and two grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at noon Sunday, July 19, at Christ Church of Longboat Key-Presbyterian, 594 Bay Isles Road, Mediterranean Plaza, Longboat Key, where Mrs. Taylor was a charter member. A reception will immediately follow the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions for Mrs. Taylor may be made to the Humane Society of Sarasota County, 2331 15th St., Sarasota, Fla., 34237.