Rest in Peace Sheriff Joe

When we moved to Gainesville we lucked into having great next-door neighbors. The day we signed for the house I would have much rather been in Rochester with my Rooney cousins. My Aunt Pauline had died and we closed for the house on the day of her funeral. I called the florist recommended by the hotel where we were staying, Crevasse's, ordered flowers and told my story. It turned out that I was talking to my new next-door neighbor, Peggy, and we have been friends ever since.

She and her daughter, and her retired Dad lived there. He had served longer than anyone else ever has as our Sheriff. He was a flower enthusiast. My yard and several other neighbors' yards are filled with the day lilies, shrubs and trees he shared. It is so nice to have good neighbors.

He died this week at 96 and the funeral was a Gainesville event. The church was standing room only. The procession of officers cars leading us from the church to the cemetery was too long to count. He lived long and will be well remembered.