Mrs. Joanne House Horton

Mrs. Joanne House Horton, 82, passed away peacefully on Sunday, September 18, 2016 in Starke, Florida. She was born on May 15, 1934 in Lynch, Kentucky to the late Elihu and Ida Ilona Sebok (aka Sheback) House. She was preceded in death by a sister, Ellen House Robinson. Mrs. Horton was a Christian of the non-denominational faith. She retired years ago after spending many years in the restaurant field. She even grew up as a child working in the hotel/restaurant business. She was a devoted daughter, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. She loved Hungarian cooking, gardening and watching the returning hummingbirds each year to her yard. Above all her greatest joy was spending time with her family whom she loved with all her heart. Joanne was very proud of her maternal Hungarian heritage and she instilled that in her children. Her grandparents came here from Hungary through Ellis Island and helped raise her and her 2 sisters. They taught her the language and customs and about love of family. As a young woman she eventually moved to Summerfield, FL to live with her aunt and worked in a restaurant where she worked with her future mother in law. One day a man walked in and she said one day I will marry that man and the rest is history. Joanne married the love of her life, the late Ervin Levi Horton and they were married for over 47 years. The eventually settled in Gainesville, FL where they lived until his death in 2005. She is survived by her 6 children; Dan (Linda) Horton of Bell, FL; Christa (Spencer) Frankel of Broken Arrow, OK; Ervin L. Horton, Jr.,of Gainesville, FL; Bill (Paula) Horton of Waldo, FL; Sheryl (Terry) Watson of Newberry, FL, and Jana Horton (Bill) Kowitz, of Gainesville, FL; two grandchildren, Terry (Georgia) Watson, Jr., of Newberry, FL and Danielle Frankel of Broken Arrow, OK; two great grandchildren, Jackson Levi Watson and Jamie Lynn Watson, both of Newberry, FL; her sister, Esther Stevens, of Merritt Island, FL, along with numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, September 24, 2016 at 12:00 P. M., in the Chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL HOME WESTAREA, 823 NW 143rd St., The family will receive friends for one hour prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 A. M. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Haven Hospice, 4200 NW 90th Blvd., Gainesville, 32606.

Mrs. Joanne House Horton

May 15, 1934 - September 18, 2016