Fair, 55°
Weather sponsored by:

Obituaries 2/11/21


Posted

Brian D. Sheffield
Brian D. Sheffield, 63, of Orange Park, FL passed away January 15, 2021. Brian was born on April 21, 1957 in Decatur, Il, to Ovelia Mae (Newkirk) and LeeRoy Sheffield.
He married his wife Judith (McEntire) on January 7, 1978 in Decatur. Brian proudly served our country in the United States Marine Corps and as a Navy Spouse. He could always be heard greeting other Marines with ‘Semper Fi’ and would go out of his way to thank our Veterans for their service. He always said, “Once a Marine, Always a Marine!”
Brian retired from working at the Navy Exchange after 30 years. He was not content to stay home, so he went back to work for NAPA. If anyone ever needed help, Brian would drop everything and run to their rescue whether it was for a dead battery, flat tire, a ride home in the middle of the night or just someone to talk to. Brian enjoyed traveling to see our beautiful country, hiking, camping, working with his hands and was always building something (usually with wood), but he also enjoyed leather work and painting. We will continue to hear his voice boom out and remember his humor, dedication, and great love for all his family and friends. Brian was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Michael Sheffield and nephew, Stephen Rodriguez.
Brian is survived by his wife of 43 years, Judith; children, Luke (Allison) Sheffield, Jennifer (Clovis) Zitkus and Travis (Christina) Sheffield; grandchildren, Kylie, Skyler and Caiden Zitkus, and Rhylin Sheffield; siblings, Shirley (Joe) Tish and Ken (Jackie) Sheffield all of FL, Tom (Penny) Sheffield of AZ, and Penny (Brad) Gagnon of VA; brothers-in-law, Dan (Deb) McEntire of NC, and Dave (Susan) McEntire of WA; sister-in-law, Eiko (Tim) Reilly of AR; many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members and friends. Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home, 529 Kingsley Avenue, Orange Park, FL 32073, (904) 264-1233 served the family. Condolences and memories may be shared with the family in care of Aaron and Burney Bivens Funeral Home at www.bivensfuneralhome.com.

Elena Landrito Etter
Elena Landrito Etter, 70, passed away peacefully in Orange Park, Florida, on January 31, 2021, after a 15-month battle with pancreatic cancer.
She was born to Julio and Francisca Miñoza Landrito on August 13, 1950 in Cebu City, Cebu, Republic of the Philippines.
She is preceded in death by her parents and her older sister Normita “Normie” Crystal, and is survived by her loving husband John Etter; her daughters Sarah Etter, Susan Etter, and Rachel Etter Klama (Gary); her brothers Rogelio “Roy” Landrito (Esperanza “Ching”) and Rady Landrito (Elizabeth “Beth”), Normie’s surviving husband Bernard “Bernie”; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and brothers and sisters in-law.
Elena completed high school in the Philippines and started college before immigrating to the United States in 1968. She continued her education at the Washington Hospital Center School of Nursing in Washington DC, graduating in 1973.
Elena passed the State Board Test Pool Examinations (national standardized exams) and became licensed as a Registered Nurse. She was married to newly-commissioned Ensign John Etter at Saint Sebastian Catholic Church in New York City on June 15, 1974. She moved numerous times supporting her husband during his 22-year career, proud of being a Navy spouse, willingly making many personal sacrifices, living and working as a Registered Nurse in various parts of the United States and abroad.
While living in Iceland she quickly learned the Icelandic language as a prerequisite for the continuation of her nursing career at the Keflavik Hospital in Keflavik, Iceland. Elena finished her nursing career at the Orange Park Medical Center working with her close friends and co-workers in various clinics until retiring in August 2015.
Elena’s top priority was always her daughters, whom she loved with all her heart. Her interests and hobbies included spending time with friends and family, traveling, running, exercising, cooking, gardening, out fishing her husband and brother-in-law, international or gourmet foods and hiking. She especially loved visiting her family and childhood friends in the Philippines.
Elena was an avid runner who ran 13 marathons and countless half-marathons, 10K and 5K races. She was a member of the Florida Striders running club where she had many friends, regularly participating with them on weekly training runs and frequent social events.
Elena always looked forward to family reunions, class reunions, “mini” reunions and reunions in Annapolis with her friends and their spouses from the Naval Academy. She grew to love her farm in rural Minnesota, watching the deer and other wildlife frolic in the fields and yard. Elena was living proof that beauty (inside and out), compassion, determination, strength, courage, warmth, empathy, spirit, and much more can come in a small package. Her sense of humor was infectious and it was impossible not to know that she genuinely enjoyed your company. Elena loved so many things in her life, but most of all, she loved her family. Elena was raised in the Catholic faith and was a member of Advent Lutheran Church in Orange Park, Florida. We can take comfort knowing Elena is now wrapped in the arms of her Lord and Savior through his grace and her faith.
Services will be held at 11:00am at Hardage-Giddens Rivermead Funeral Home, 127 Blanding Boulevard, Orange Park, Florida, 32073 on Tuesday, February 16, 2021 followed by inurnment at the Jacksonville National Cemetery in Jacksonville, Florida at 1:30pm. A livestream of the chapel service may be viewed at https://youtu.be/3Izl_9zRtzE or https://youtu.be/fTD_rgE-WYw
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to pancan.org, Elena’s Church or the charity of your choice.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hardage-giddensrivermead.com for the ETTER family.

Barbara Mae Betker
Barbara Mae Betker, otherwise known as the “Penney Farms Turtle/Fudge Lady,” went peacefully to be with Jesus while residing at the Penney Retirement Community Pavilion on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 from congestive heart failure at the age of 89.
She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, James and Pat MacDougall, her daughter and son-in-law, Leo and Margaret Lundberg, son and daughter-in-law, David and Mary Betker and four grandchildren, Lisa and William M. Brown Jr., Jessica Kitterman, Corey Betker and Jamie Betker, and two great granchildren, Lauren and Aaron.
Barbara resided at Penney Retirement Community (PRC) for approximately 14 years. She enjoyed volunteering for years as a V.I.P Sheriff, community pool lifeguard, feeding folks at the nursing facility and entertaining as a Penney Clown,
One incredibly unique thing about Barbara – was her Godly gift of song - she would happily sing any old song with you – she knew them all. But what she was most known for was her scrumptious fudge and chocolate turtles. Barbara also loved her dear friends at the Orange Park Red Hat group, the Red Hot Toppers.
In addition to working 25 years at the Palatine Post Office in Illinois, she was a member of the Middleburg First Baptist Church and Deacon for most of her life at the 1st Presbyterian Church in Palatine before moving to Florida. She loved our Lord and Savior Jesus and is dancing and singing with Him today. There will be a “Celebration of Life” gathering held in Barbara’s honor sometime this spring.

William H. Cherry, Jr.
William H. Cherry, Jr., 89, of Orange Park, FL, passed away February 3, 2021.
Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL (904) 284-4000
www.broadusraines.com

Christopher “Paige” Foster
Christopher “Paige” Foster, 51, of Green Cove Springs, FL, passed away February 1, 2021.
Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL (904) 284-4000
www.broadusraines.com