Longboat Key: Obituaries

+ George Bennett

The Rev. George Bennett, 105, of Bradenton and formerly of Longboat Key, died March 4.

Born in 1910, in England, he lived in Ontario, Canada and then moved to Chicago, where he attended Moody Bible Institute. There, he met Elizabeth, the love of his life. The couple was married 65 years.

He graduated from Bradley University in Illinois and Northern Baptist Seminary, where he acquired a Bachelor of Divinity degree. He became a U.S. citizen in 1941 and was ordained in 1945.

Rev. Bennett served as pastor to churches in Illinois, Wisconsin and Indiana. In 1952, he served with the American Baptist Home Mission Society and lectured at numerous churches throughout the U.S. He also traveled to five countries in central Africa for American Leprosy missions, where he helped start clinics and hospitals to treat the disease. In 1966, he was called to the First Baptist Church of Indianapolis, where he served in pastoral care and counseling and visitation of the sick and shut-ins. At the age of 61, he received his Master of Arts degree from Butler University.

He and Elizabeth retired in 1973 and lived on Longboat Key for 25 years. In 1999, they moved to Westminster Manor in Bradenton. He enjoyed working with metals, woodcarving and fishing.

Rev. Bennett was preceded in death by his sister, Doris, in 2005, and wife, Elizabeth, in 2001. He is survived by his son, James Bennett; nephew, Donald Smith; four grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

A service was held March 19, in Bradenton.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ministers & Missionaries Benefit Boart, 475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1700, New York, NY 10115.

+Laureano Causo

Laureano Causo, 85, of Longboat Key, died March 11.

Born Nov. 6, 1930, in Lajas, Cuba, he lived in Fresh Meadows, N.Y. until retiring to Longboat Key in 1995.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ivy Causo; children, Zeida, of Bayside, N.Y., Ivy, of Cumming, Ga., and Anna, of Longboat Key; siblings, Armantina, of Union City, N.J., and Lucia, of St. Louis; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

A celebration of life Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. March 29, at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church, 4280 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

+Joyce Taylor

Joyce Angelina Taylor, 83, of Longboat Key and formerly from East Brunswick, N.J., died March 5.

A wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, she was also an occasional newspaper contributor. She was a volunteer at Mote Marine Aquarium for many years and was most recently a volunteer at the Longboat Key Library.

She was as an amazing cook and loved making dinner for her family. She will be remembered as a compassionate and beautifully spirited woman. She was blessed with a friendliness that allowed her to open her heart with all who came into her path.

She was preceded in death by her husband, William Taylor, and brother, Ross Giangrasso. She is survived by her children, Janice Taylor, of North Brunswick, N.J., Jayne O’Connell, of Safety Harbor, and William Taylor, of Cream Ridge, N.J.; eight grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

There will be no services at this time; the family plans a memorial service in the future.