Obituary of Elizabeth Ann Deaton

Ann Deaton, age 85, passed away on March 21, 2022. She died in Winter Haven, Florida with her husband and her niece lovingly by her side.

Ann was born Elizabeth Ann Bledsoe to Richard and Ray Lou (Marsingill) Bledsoe, in Lee County, Virginia on July 11, 1936. She was the oldest of nine siblings. She left Pennington Gap in the mid-1950s for employment opportunities in Indiana. In Indianapolis, Ann worked at Inland Container and then Diamond Chain.

While working at Diamond Chain, Ann met the love of her life, George Thomas “Tom” Deaton. Ann and Tom were married on May 7, 1960, in Commiskey,Indiana.

Seeking a warmer, sunnier climate, the Deatons subsequently moved to Florida. They owned and operated their own lawn care business for many years which ideally suited Ann’s strong work ethic and her green thumb. She had a gift and love for growing all types of plants.

Ann and Tom were an inseparable pair and would have celebrated their sixty- second anniversary this year.

Ann enjoyed traveling. She and Tom took a cruise and also visited numerous destinations including Las Vegas, and the Rose Bowl in California. Ann’s hobbies included golfing, boating, fishing, playing cards, spending time with friends and family, and teasing everyone around her, especially Tom. Ann was a “character” and often had her friends and family laughing alongside her.

Ann loved and was very proud of her nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great- nephews and they adored her in return.

Ann is preceded in death by her parents; her brother Richard Bledsoe, Jr., and her sisters Linda Kay Bledsoe, Betty Sue (Bledsoe) [Ron] Adams, Beatrice Ruth (Bledsoe) [James] Brown.

She is survived and will be greatly missed by her husband Tom, of Winter Haven, FL; brother Curtis [Darlene] Bledsoe of Plainfield, IN; sisters Edna Armenda [Roy] Lundy of Dryden, VA; Carolyn Marie [Bruce] Schnorr of Ocala, FL; Shelia Rhea [James] Davis of Pennington Gap, VA, numerous nieces and nephews, and their children.

The family would like to thank Ann’s niece Carolyn (Bledsoe) Scott for the tremendous care, love, and attention she has given to Ann and Tom over the past several years and especially in Ann’s last, difficult days.

Private visitation for family will be on Saturday, April 2, 12:30-1:00 p.m. at Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale, FL. Public visitation will be between 1:00-2:00 p.m. The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m.