Beatrice Bird

Obituary of Beatrice Bird Beatrice Amanda Bruther Bird, age 95, Bushnell, Florida (formerly of Lake Panasoffkee) passed away Friday, December 18, 2009. She was the widow of Jesse P. Bird who predeceased her in 1990 after 41 years of marriage. She was born on May 11, 1914, in Hanover, Indiana, the only daughter of William W. Bruther and Ella Gordon Bruther. She was preceded in death by her parents and brothers, Gordon W. "Boots" Bruther, Thomas C. Bruther, George L. "Fritz" Bruther and Cecil J. "Farmer" Bruther. She moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, and worked as a nanny and as Department Manager of Ladies Fashions at L. S. Ayres department store. After moving to Miami in 1954, she worked in the Real Estate Department of 1st Federal Savings and Loan and was a member of their bowling team. She was a member of many organizations in the area, serving in many capacities, including President, for the Women's Chamber of Commerce of Greater Miami and the Tropical Business & Professional Women's Club. She and Jesse moved to Hollywood, Florida, after his retirement and to Lake Panasoffkee in 1974. She was a Tupperware Manager for ten years, retiring in 1986. In 1997, she became a Fashion Coordinator with Weekenders . She served for many years as a volunteer in the Sumter County Sheriff's Office. She was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority having served in many capacities, including President, and a member of Lake Panasoffkee United Methodist Church, serving as an usher and in many other activities including Outreach Committee, Sunshine Circle and UMW. She is survived by six nieces and six nephews and many grandnieces, grandnephews and great grandnieces and great grandnephews. She also leaves behind her beloved cat GiGi. Bea will be remembered by her loving family and friends as a faithful servant of God, a giving person who loved people and brought incredible wit and sunshine into everyone's life that she touched. Visitation The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 10:00 am - 11:00 am prior to the service. Services Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2010, at 11:00 a.m. at Purcell Funeral Home Chapel, Reverend Warren W. Bennett, presiding. Interment Will follow at Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, FL. Memorials In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Lane Purcell Hospice House, Cornerstone Hospice, 2445 Lane Park Rd., Tavares, FL 32778, or to the Humane Society / SPCA of Sumter County, Inc., P.O. Box 67, Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538.

Beatrice Bird

May 11, 1914 - December 18, 2009