Obituary for Lorraine Wilson
Lorraine Taylor Wilson died at her home in Bradenton, FL on January 22nd after a long illness. She was born in St. Augustine, FL on August 6, 1929, and lived with her family in Palatka, East Palatka, and San Mateo. Lorraine enjoyed swimming, music, dancing and being captain of the girls’ basketball team while attending Mellon High School where she graduated in 1947 and enjoyed organizing class reunions through the decades.
During WW II, Lorraine sold war bonds and volunteered with other young women at the Women's Club to dance and interact with soldiers on leave. After meeting and falling in love with Don Wilson of Hastings, they married at St. Monica's church in November of 1952. She and Don were married for 66 years. He preceded her in death in January of 2019.
Lorraine was baptized at St. Monica's Church and a member for 85 years serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for 38 of those years. She also was a member of the Ladies Guild and the St. Augustine / St. Monica's deanery.
After Lorraine and Don moved to Sarasota in 2014, she was a member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic church.
Lorraine was on the Board of Directors of Barry Manor and served as president in 2005.
She loved PBX work and was an operator at the switchboard at Hudson Pulp and Paper. Always enjoying new challenges, she worked as a realty saleswoman with Nicky Harden Realty in the sixties to then moved onto H&R Block as a tax consultant.
Lorraine went back to her first love of PBX work at the Putnam County Court House in the early seventies and years later moved over to Emergency Management, being hands on with her department when the 1991 Amtrak from New York carrying 175 people derailed in downtown Palatka.
She retired in 1993.
Lorraine was a member of the Bass Kountry Cloggers and performed at county fairs and other events.
She loved to fish with her family at Crescent beach, the St. Johns River and Rodman Dam. Clamming in the intracoastal waterway was a joy with evenings ending in satisfying clam bakes. Another favorite was mining for rubies and sapphires in North Carolina.
She enjoyed her family's horses and was a member of the Palatka Horseman's Club participating in overnight trail rides and riding her palomino in parades down St. John's Avenue.
Being quick-witted and intelligent, Lorraine loved humor and was known for her infectious laugh. Her kindness knew no bounds. She treasured her family and friends and held them deep in her heart through her long, beautiful life.
As with her kindness, Lorraine's faith was deep and steady, never doubting Christ's love. She quietly walked His walk.
She is survived by her two daughters, Dana Straker and Deidra Wilson, grandson Jason Straker, great-grandson Eli Straker and sisters-in-law Betty Wilson and Melba Knowles.
Lorraine's surviving nieces and nephews are Kathy Ward, Dianne Taylor, Lynn Harris, Dorinda McKenzie, Gayle Reed, Debbie Cline, Adele Sommers, Cindy Dyess, Karen Reese, Sharon Watson, Ann Marie Fish. Nephews are Paul Wilson, Tommy Wilson, Richard Walsh, Skip Shepard, Ron Taylor, Don Pastor, Billy Taylor, Rob Pastor and Marvin Dyess.
Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, January 30, 2023, at Johnson-Overturf Chapel in Palatka with Father Anthony Bonela officiating. Burial will follow at St. Monica Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, January 29, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Lorraine’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com .
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.
During WW II, Lorraine sold war bonds and volunteered with other young women at the Women's Club to dance and interact with soldiers on leave. After meeting and falling in love with Don Wilson of Hastings, they married at St. Monica's church in November of 1952. She and Don were married for 66 years. He preceded her in death in January of 2019.
Lorraine was baptized at St. Monica's Church and a member for 85 years serving as an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist for 38 of those years. She also was a member of the Ladies Guild and the St. Augustine / St. Monica's deanery.
After Lorraine and Don moved to Sarasota in 2014, she was a member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Catholic church.
Lorraine was on the Board of Directors of Barry Manor and served as president in 2005.
She loved PBX work and was an operator at the switchboard at Hudson Pulp and Paper. Always enjoying new challenges, she worked as a realty saleswoman with Nicky Harden Realty in the sixties to then moved onto H&R Block as a tax consultant.
Lorraine went back to her first love of PBX work at the Putnam County Court House in the early seventies and years later moved over to Emergency Management, being hands on with her department when the 1991 Amtrak from New York carrying 175 people derailed in downtown Palatka.
She retired in 1993.
Lorraine was a member of the Bass Kountry Cloggers and performed at county fairs and other events.
She loved to fish with her family at Crescent beach, the St. Johns River and Rodman Dam. Clamming in the intracoastal waterway was a joy with evenings ending in satisfying clam bakes. Another favorite was mining for rubies and sapphires in North Carolina.
She enjoyed her family's horses and was a member of the Palatka Horseman's Club participating in overnight trail rides and riding her palomino in parades down St. John's Avenue.
Being quick-witted and intelligent, Lorraine loved humor and was known for her infectious laugh. Her kindness knew no bounds. She treasured her family and friends and held them deep in her heart through her long, beautiful life.
As with her kindness, Lorraine's faith was deep and steady, never doubting Christ's love. She quietly walked His walk.
She is survived by her two daughters, Dana Straker and Deidra Wilson, grandson Jason Straker, great-grandson Eli Straker and sisters-in-law Betty Wilson and Melba Knowles.
Lorraine's surviving nieces and nephews are Kathy Ward, Dianne Taylor, Lynn Harris, Dorinda McKenzie, Gayle Reed, Debbie Cline, Adele Sommers, Cindy Dyess, Karen Reese, Sharon Watson, Ann Marie Fish. Nephews are Paul Wilson, Tommy Wilson, Richard Walsh, Skip Shepard, Ron Taylor, Don Pastor, Billy Taylor, Rob Pastor and Marvin Dyess.
Services will be held at 1:00 pm on Monday, January 30, 2023, at Johnson-Overturf Chapel in Palatka with Father Anthony Bonela officiating. Burial will follow at St. Monica Catholic Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday, January 29, 2023, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.
Memories and condolences may be expressed to the family at Lorraine’s Book of Memories page at www.johnsonoverturffunerals.com .
Arrangements are entrusted to Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home in Palatka.