obituaries lifetime best friend, Beverly Thompson Jerger. The family would like to thank the wonderful nurses in the Med/Surg unit of St. Pete General for their care and compassion; it did not go unnoticed. Susie will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Services to be held at a later date.
Susan Leigh Atkinson Merryman of Pinellas Park, formerly of Silver Spring, Maryland, passed away on Oct 21, 2021 at St. Pete General Hospital. Susie was born on May 6, 1954, at St. Anthony’s Hospital, to George “Lum” and Mary Atkinson (deceased.) She grew up in Gulfport, Florida, and attended Gulfport Elementary, Disston Junior High and Boca Ciega High School. She was a property manager in Maryland, and also worked at Strosniders Ace Hardware in Silver Springs, Maryland. Susie loved life, loved listening to both of her sons sing, loved to dance with her husband, and had an enormous love for her family. She is survived by her loving husband of 32 years, Ron Merryman; two sons, Michael (Robin) Rowe and Robert (Sondra) Rowe; two daughters, Cynthia (Robbie) Whitmore and Josie (Marie) Merryman; two grandsons, Trent and Alex; six granddaughters, Tiffany, Allina, Cassidy, Madison, and her youngest granddaughters Samantha and Tabitha (who both lovingly referred to their Grandmother as Silly Goose); her father, Lum Atkinson; two sisters, Mary DeAngelis, Cookie (Walter) Cottrell; many nieces, nephews, cousins (two of whom she thought of as brothers, Joe Hickman of Colorado and Bobby Powell of Georgia); aunts and uncles sprinkled around the country; friends Janet Weiner, Lynn Howser (who introduced Susie to Ron), Debbie and Ernie Reams; and Susie’s
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Elizabeth “Betsy” Rivero died peacefully at her home in Gulfport, Florida on Friday, Oct. 22 at age 92. Born in 1929 to Earle and Abigail Leonard of Trenton, New Jersey, she graduated from Trenton Central High in 1947 and from Mercer Hospital School of Nursing in 1950. In December, 1953, she married Dr. August Serafin Rivero, an immigrant from Cuba, 11 months after their first blind date. From 1953-1956 she was the head maternity nurse at the West Jersey Hospital. After moving to Lawrenceville to raise their three children, she studied at Trenton State College in 1970 to be certified as a school nurse. For over a decade, Miss Betsy was beloved by the children she cared for in the Lawrence Township schools, famous for her Daffy Duck impression. After her husband was diagnosed with Parkinsons, Betsy and August retired to Florida in 1983. Her youth was spent in Seaside Park, New Jersey – fishing, boating and swimming – instilling the love of the Jersey Shore in the generations
to follow. Betsy and August loved to golf, and they could dance the merengue like nobody’s business. Betsy cared for her husband and volunteered for the Suncoast ADPA Chapter to help other families facing Parkinson’s. She enjoyed sewing, puzzles, playing cards with her grandchildren and bridge with the women of the Pasadena Yacht Club. At her recent 90th birthday, Betsy’s life was celebrated by countless family and friends from across the country. Thanks to the loving care of her daughter Joanne and hospice, she was able to stay in her beautiful home as she wished. Betsy is survived by her daughters Joanne and Linda (John), daughter-in-law Jodie, grandchildren Niccole, Samantha, Justin, Andrew and Tyler, and great-granddaughter Mia. She is preceded in death by her husband (2006) and son, John August (2017). A memorial service will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the American Macular Degeneration Foundation or your local hospice. Keith Stillwagon Funeral at Bay Pines VA, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines. Dec. 1, 2 p.m.; a Celebration of Life follows at 3:30 p.m. The Historic Peninsula Inn, 2937 Beach Blvd. S., Gulfport.
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