Obituaries 4/7/22

Joyce Ann Mitchell Ortagus
Joyce Ann Mitchell Ortagus, 79, of Fleming Island, FL passed away on March 30, 2022. She was born on December 12, 1942, in Green Cove Springs, FL to the late Estelle “Eldridge” Breeden and Bethel “Short” Mitchell. Joyce Ann was a school bus driver for Clay County for 25 years and was of the Christian faith. She was preceded in death by her husband, Elworth “Pete” Ortagus; daughter, Bridgette Darlene and sister, Jane Hunt.
Joyce Ann is survived by her daughter, Gidgette Lewis (Rob); sister, Catherine Patton (Tim); niece, Chrissy “Eden” Kizer; nephew, Troy (Allyson); grandchildren, Robbie Lewis II (Angelique), Autumn Lewis, Summer Lewis, Joshua Cole and 7 great-grandchildren.
Please sign the family’s online guestbook at www.broadusraines.com Arrangements are under the care of Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL 32043. (904) 284-4000

Heather Snyder Glass
Heather Snyder Glass, 45, of Middleburg, FL passed away March 31, 2022.
Broadus-Raines Funeral Home, 501 Spring St., Green Cove Springs, FL (904) 284-4000 www.broadusraines.com

Craig Michael Rifkin
Craig Michael Rifkin, 36,of Tenafly,N.J. passed away on March 16, 2022. Craig was born October 1,1985 in Orange Park, FL.
Craig graduated from St.Johns River State College in Orange Park and Bergen Community College,N.J. where he received his B.A. in nursing. Later he received his B.S.N. from University of Texas school of nursing.He was currently working at Englewood Hospital in N.J.
Craig was a lover of animals-especially dogs. You could usually hear laughter when he was around because he had a wonderful sense of humor.
 He is survived by his father, Kerry Rifkin,M.D. and his wife Janice; mother, Wendy Osur and her husband, Stan; brothers Sam “Rocky” Rifkin (Jessica), and Kyle Rifkin (Allison); nephews Mason, Kane, Miles, and Theo Rifkin. Also, his grandmother, Rita Birne, Aunt Pam Birne, Uncle Robert Birne (Cindy), Uncle Murray Rifkin, and cousins, Cole and Jackson Rifkin.
A funeral service was held March 20th in N.J.. 
If you wish to make a donation, please send to Safe Animal Shelter, 2913 County Rd 220, Middleburg, FL 32068 so Craig can continue helping the animals he loved so much.

Emma Christine Holtz Shipley
Emma Christine Holtz Shipley, 91, passed away peacefully at the family home in Orange Park, Florida on April 2, 2022. She was a beloved Mother, Nana/Grandmother and Great Grandmother.
Chris was born March 23, 1931, in Alpha, New Jersey, to her parents Emma Holtz and John Holtz. She graduated from Phillipsburg High School in 1949 and attended Dietitian school in New York City.
Chris met and married the love of her life Bert Shipley and they lovingly celebrated 65 years of marriage. She is predeceased by her husband Bert and brother John Holtz, Jr. Bert’s love and admiration for Chris was expressed by his claim that “she is an angel on earth.”
Her devotion and passion were to her family. She was a full time Mother and homemaker throughout her adult life attending to the needs of her husband and children.
Chris served her community as a genealogy volunteer at the local Family History Center in Orange Park for many years. She was dedicated to researching genealogy. She and Bert traveled to cemeteries and court houses in many states in her research efforts.
She was a friend to many and never met a stranger and was so generous. Whenever you left her house, she wouldn’t let you leave empty handed.
Chris is survived by her children: Dr. Dawn Basinger (Ricky), Ruston, Louisiana; Bert S. Shipley (Lynn), Fleming Island, Florida; and Diane Kite (Denny Hilliard), Green Cove Springs, Florida; their seven grandchildren: Eddie Basinger (Tiffani), Casey McCaa (Rob), Margaret Wright (Doug), Eric Shipley (Morgan), Chad Kite, Chelsa Gantea (Johnny), Michael Hilliard and eight great grandchildren, nieces and nephews; a sister-in-law Georgia Holtz and her five children.
A celebration of Chris’ life will be held at Hardage-Giddens Holly Hill Funeral Home, 3601 Old Jennings Road, Middleburg, FL on Saturday, April 9th. A viewing will be at 10:00 am and the service at 11:00 am.