Velma Jean Russell (Facey) was born on Sept. 14th, 1921 of parents who came to the U.S. from Newfoundland, Canada. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she was raised in Valley Stream. Eventually they relocated and she spent the majority of her life in Florida.
She was athletic and lettered in both basketball and softball in high school, at a time when women’s sports were not as common as today.
While attending nursing school, she changed careers due to a back injury. She was later employed at a bank where she excelled at and enjoyed her work, successfully moving her way up. She was a character in her own quiet way.
When she married, she and her husband together built up a bait and tackle business in Fort Lauderdale, eventually shipping deep sea fishing bait and equipment across the world. Early in their marriage, Velma’s mother was lovingly welcomed into their home, becoming an integral part of the family and taken care of until her passing, also at the age of 100.
Velma was independent and had a calm strength, quite often saying, “Everything is going to be alright”… and you believed her.
She appreciated the peace and quiet of nature and a good book. Her immense love of reading started in childhood and lasted throughout her life. She especially enjoyed mysteries and nonfiction inspiring stories of animals.
Upon retiring, she and her husband bought the fish camp in Citrus County where they had spent their honeymoon and every vacation thereafter with their children in tow, instilling in them their love of the outdoors.
In later years, she cared for her husband in his prolonged illness with love and dignity.
She is a Christian and now resides in heaven. We deeply miss her, but take comfort in knowing that we will see her again.
She passed the love and appreciation she had for animals and how they enrich our lives to the following three generations in our family. Out of this love she requested that, in lieu of flowers, donations would be made to the Humanitarians of Citrus County.
She is survived by her son Clinton H. Russell and his wife, Janet. Also by her daughter Joy D. White and her husband, Walter. Also by two grandchildren, Abigail Baxter and Rebecca Matava and 7 great-grandchildren, Asher, Phoenix, Ocean, Honey, Gideon, Stormy, and Mercy.
She was preceded in death by her husband Harold Willis Russell; father Albert Edward Facey; mother Tryphena Lydia Facey; half-brothers Albert Edward Facey Jr. and Herman Leslie Facey; and half-sisters Lillian Gada Facey VanDyke and Gertrude Facey Merrit.
Funeral service will be held at Charles E, Davis funeral home in Inverness on Saturday, April 30th, at 2:00 p.m.
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