Loron Mercer

February 16, 1934 – December 28, 2013

Loron Mercer, 79, of Sun City Center, Fla., and formerly of Leawood, Kansas, passed away December 28, 2013.
Loron was born February 16, 1934, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a son of Orville and Mabel (Campie) Mercer. He lived in Illinois, California and Kansas before moving to Florida 19 years ago. Loron was united in marriage to Nancy M. Citrano on June 12, 1954, in Berwyn, Ill. He was an entrepreneur who owned a variety of businesses, including ACME Pattern and Model Works and Adventure PlaySystems, as well as the family-owned Fisherman’s Inn.
Loron was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Nancy; children David, Thomas, Susan and Deborah, and their three spouses (Tammy, Martin and Dina); nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; Nancy’s mother Jeannie Citrano; loving sisters Jean Flens (Ray) of Brandon, Fla. and Kristi Mercer of Champagne, Ill.
He was truly one of a kind; save the last dance until we meet again.
Memorial Service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, January 16, 2014 at St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, 1015 East Del Webb Boulevard in Sun City Center.
The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the SCC Emergency Squad, 720 Ray Watson Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573 or LifePath Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Dr., Ruskin, FL 33573. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home.

Albert Sidney Newton, Jr.
Albert Sidney (Sid) Newton, Jr. of Sun City Center, Florida, went to be with the Lord on Friday, January 10, at LifePath Hospice, Sun City Center.  He had recently celebrated his 80th birthday with his family.
Sid was born January 1, 1934 in Memphis, Tennessee to Albert Sidney Newton and Lillian Margaret Milner.  His father died when Sid was a young boy, but his mother, a public school principal, ensured Sid excelled in school, mastered the trumpet, became an Eagle Boy Scout, and enjoyed many outdoor camps and adventures in Arkansas and Tennessee. An accomplished teenage trumpet player, he appeared on Ted Mack’s “The Original Amateur Hour.” He attended the University of Mississippi as an ROTC cadet, during which time he met the love of his life, Jean Love Guyton. Following graduation from Ole Miss, Sid was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Air Force, in which he pursued his dream to fly fighter jets. Shortly after college, Sid and Jean were married at the Second Presbyterian Church, Memphis, Tennessee on October 4, 1957. For their first ten years of marriage, while Sid served as a fighter pilot in the USAF, they lived in Okinawa, Japan and Texas.  Among his accomplishments as a pilot, Sid won the coveted “Top Gun” fighter pilot of the Pacific in 1959. In 1965, Sid left military service and became a commercial airline pilot with Trans World Airlines (TWA). From 1965 to 1989, Sid, Jean, and their three daughters (Lisa, Carol, and Kathy) enjoyed friends and life at their Weatherby Lake home, north of Kansas City, Missouri. After 24 years of distinguished service, Sid retired as an airline captain and moved to Florida. In retirement Sid and Jean called Kissimmee, Estero, and then Sun City Center home, and also enjoyed summers in Land Harbor, Linville, N.C.
Sid’s life was dedicated to faith, family, and friends. An inquisitive disciple of Jesus, Sid regularly participated in Bible study and worship throughout his life. He was a faithful member of churches in Kansas City and Newland, North Carolina, as well as Trinity Baptist Church in Sun City Center, Florida.   Sid was a faithful American patriot, proud of his military service during tense years of the Cold War era. He was also a faithful and loving son, husband, father, and grandfather. As a proud family man, Sid was eager to tell stories about his mother and wife, including the night he first saw Jean and fell madly in love.  He would also eagerly share stories about his three daughters, their husbands, and especially his five grandchildren. 
In 2007, Sid and Jean celebrated 50 years of marriage in a surprise party with family and friends in Land Harbor, North Carolina. Sid also remained a committed friend throughout his life, and enjoyed lifelong friendships with many in Kansas City, North Carolina, and Florida. Sid’s friends will undoubtedly remember his quick wit, humor, story-telling, and personal kindness. His personal interests included outdoor sports, fishing, walking, fitness, and volunteering. Volunteer community organizations he was eager to support included the County Sheriff’s Office of Platte County, Missouri, and Young Life. 
Sid leaves a legacy of faith, love, and patriotism with those who were blessed to call him husband, dad, grandpa, and friend, including his wife Jean Guyton Newton of Sun City Center, Fla.; daughter Lisa and Steve Davis and granddaughter Michaela of Dallas, Tex.;  daughter Carol and Bruce Glover and granddaughters Claire and Jessica of San Antonio, Texas; and daughter Kathy and Greg Seckington and grandchildren Emily and Ben of San Diego, Calif. 
A memorial celebration of Sid’s faith and life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 at Aston Gardens  Clubhouse, 1311 Aston Gardens Court, Sun City Center, Fla. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a donation to Trinity Baptist Church, 702 Del Webb Blvd W, Sun City Center, FL  33573; or Life Path Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Dr, Ruskin, FL 33573.