Obituary: Palatka Daily News

Obituary for: Rose M. Gornto

FLORAHOME - Rose McGrath Gornto, 94, died Tuesday, February 16, 1999, at Putnam Community Medical Center following an extended illness.

A native of Franklin, Arizona, she had resided in Putnam County since 1911, coming from Franklin, Arizona. She had worked as a meat packer with the Southland Provision Company. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Interlachen Ward and had served as secretary in the Palatka Branch of the Relief Society. She had also been a member of the East Palatka Community Club and had served as secretary in the Womens Auxillary of VFW Post No. 3349. She was a very kind and compassionate person to those who were less fortunate.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Raymond Gornto Sr.; and sons, James Dowman Gornto, Richard Herman Gornto, and William Robert Gornto.

She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Raymond Gornto Jr. and Carolyn of Palatka; daughter and son-in-law, Anna R. Christensen and Peter of Florahome; a daughter-in-law, Mary J. Richardson of Lafayette, La.; grandsons, Richard Gornto of Houston, Texas, Daniel Gornto of Bryson City, N.C., William G. Bishop Jr. of Florahome, Stephen M. Christensen of Temecula, Calif., Dennis C. Christensen of Vancouver, Wash., David A. Christensen of Beaver, Ore., and Christopher S. Christensen of Klamath Falls, Ore.; granddaughters, Patricia Johnson and Brenda Tresp, both of Palatka, Linda Janiszewski of Las Vegas, Nev., Katherine Gonzales of Mexico City, Mexico, Mary A. Rees of Lawrenceville, Ga., and Paula Jean Lawrence of Acworth, Ga.; 22 great-grandchildren; and 16 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Saturday, 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Palatka Ward, with Bishop H.D. Deloach Jr. and Bishop Howard Roberson officiating. Interment will follow in Paran Cemetery.

Visitation will be Friday, 6-8 p.m. at Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home of Palatka.
Johnson-Overturf Funeral Home of Palatka is in charge of arrangements.

Birth Certificate

During her entire lifetime she thought that she did not have a birth certificate. She used a letter signed by her aunts who stated they were present at her birth for proof of birth. I found her birth certificate in the Arizona State Vital Records [NOT New Mexico]. She was not given a name or it was filed without her name as she was not expected to live through the night. Her Mother often told her how her Father put her up on his shoulder and kept her there all night long so that she could breathe. Not only did she prove the doctor wrong but she lived to be almost 95 years old!

Joseph L Clark of Etna, Wyoming

In my Grandmother's suitcase of pictures is the picture of a man- the back of the picture says, "Compliments of Joseph L Clark Etna, Wyoming". I have often wondered who he was to be included in the mess of family pictures she left behind.

In reading her baptismal certificate we now know that he was at her baptism...