We Remember Those We Have Lost

We Remember Those We Have Lost
tdobituaries finished71

Emilie Strait

OCEAN PINES – Emilie Strait, age 88, died on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Salisbury Rehabilitation and Nursing Center.

Strait was born in Czechoslovakia. She was preceded in death by her husband Mathias Strait.
Strait enjoyed playing cards, especially Pinocle.

She is survived by a son, Berthold Strait and his wife Marilyn; two grandchildren, Darin Strait and Darlene Herrmann; and one great grandchild, Caylie Herrmann.

Services and interment are private. Arrangements by the Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.

Norman Russell Jones

OCEAN CITY – Norman Russell Jones, age 89, died Friday, April 24, 2009 at his home in Ocean City.

Born in Princess Anne, he was the son of the late Elmer Arthur Jones and Alice Josephine Lamb Jones. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marie E. Zitnik Jones, and a daughter, Frances Elaine Martin.

He is survived by his children, Norma Sharon Mumford of Ocean City, Russell Bordeaux Jones and his wife Deborah J. Jones of Berlin, and Dianna Jones Rayne and her husband Edgar "Buddy" Rayne of Ocean City. There are 10 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Also surviving is his dear friend, Catherine "Kitty" Hearne of Ocean City, and beloved friends Linda and Larry Cook who were like family. He was preceded also in death by a brother, E.A. Jones, Jr.

Jones was a surveyor and had worked for George Bert Cropper for 21 years and then purchased the company and continued with his own firm, Norman Jones Surveyors for eight additional years until his retirement in 1990. Jones was extremely active in the Boy Scouts of America as a youth. He became an Eagle Scout and later a scout master spending over 30 years in scouting. Jones had worked for Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Co. in Newport News, Va. and North Carolina Shipbuilding Co. in Wilmington, N.C., many major construction projects. He very proudly had a preserved and extensive tool collection. He was an ardent antique collector. He was an avid wood worker with a love of antiques and refinishing them. He was an enthusiastic gardener, loved history and genealogy.

Services were held. Interment will private for the family at a later date in Manokin Presbyterian Cemetery in Princess Anne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Coastal Hospice, P.O. Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21804 or the Ocean City Paramedic Foundation, P.O. Box 3099, Ocean City, Md. 21843

George Randall "Randy" Messix

BERLIN – George Randall "Randy" "Pop" Messix, age 55, died at his home in Whaleyville on April 23, 2009.

He was the son of the late George and Frances Blades Messix.

He worked in maintenance for 23 years for English Family Restaurant, was an EMR Technician for seven years and owner/operator of Atlantic Restaurant Service since 2006. He Messix was a member of the AMSA association, the NHRA and was owner of Messix/Messix Racing team at U.S. 13 Dragway. He enjoyed traveling with his family and fishing.

He is survived by his wife, Michele Seybert Messix; a son, Michael Messix and his companion Kim Jones; a daughter, Stacy Layfield; Buddy Layfield, who was like a second son; two grandsons, Brandon and Vince Layfield; a sister, Margorie Miller and her husband Glenn; a mother-in-law, Anna Seybert; sisters-in-law JoAnn Burbage and her husband Ted and Danette Sifford her companion Mike Birch; a brother-in-law, George Busch from Philadelphia; and nieces and nephews, Cody and Austin Miller, Tammy Boston and her husband Rodney, Christina Tingle and her husband Mike, Kenneth Sifford Jr., Christopher Sifford, Michael Birch and David Birch; stepniece Debbie Burt; grand nieces and nephews Samantha, Kylie, Caleb, Colby, Kenneth; step grand nieces Hannah and Haleigh; and uncles, aunts, cousins and many dear and loving friends young and old.

He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Vernon and Della Blades.

Services were held. Donations may be made to Whaleyville United Methodist Church, c/o Elaine Rogers, 12332 Blueberry Rd., Whaleyville, Md. 21872 or Coastal Hospice, PO Box 1733, Salisbury, Md. 21801.

Willie Paul Mumford Sr.
BERLIN – Willie Paul Mumford Sr. passed away on April 19, 2009 at Atlantic General Hospital.

He was a retired nursery man from Buntings Nursery in Selbyville, Del. He was a member of Curtis United Methodist Chruch in Bishopville, Md., and sang in the men’s choir. He was a Army Veteran of WWII and a member of the Duncan Showell American Legion in Berlin.

You could always see him laughing, telling jokes and stories. He was devoted to his family and loved his grandchildren and his dog Molly. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Nancy Pitts Mumford, and a son Richard Mumford in 1973. He is also preceded in death by six brothers and one sister, Isaac, John Jr., David, Charles, Henry and Otha Mumford, and Rolena Mumford.

He is survived by his special companion, Catherine Mumford of Berlin; his sons, Willie Paul Mumford Jr, and wife Charlene of Delmar, Md. and Wayne M. Mumford of Pocomoke City; his daughters, Joyce Walker and husband Ozzie of Newington, Conn., Sandra Snell of Hartford, Conn., Patricia Mumford of Berlin and Nancy Johnson and husband Ronald of Hartford, Conn.; 14 grandchildren, three of whom he raised, Roderick, Kamesha, and Quentesia; 18 great grandchildren; one great-great grandchild; and a host of nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Services were held. Arrangements by Watson Funeral Home.