SUMNER, Daniel Emmitt (Pa) 93, of Arcadia, a native of Hillsborough County and former resident of Brandon, passed away on Monday, Aug. 15, 2016, after a brief illness while summering in North Carolina. Preceded in death by his parents, Isaac Mills and Bessie Rae Sumner; wives, Marcella Morgan Sumner (2001) and Jane St. Claire Sumner (2011); and eight brothers and sisters, Ralph, Dorothy, Haynes, Louie, Iris, Rachel, Jimmy, and Glen. He is survived by his children, James Daniel (Miranda) Sumner, of Cuthbert, GA, David Hamilton (Barbara) Sumner, of Willow Oak, FL, Randall Morgan (George Mabry) Sumner, of Orlando, Norma Mariraye (Donald) Southwell, of Arcadia; step-sons, Joe (Maria) Dowell, Tampa and Fred Dowell, of Louisville, KY; sister, Norma McInnis; his grandchildren, James Daniel Sumner Jr., Marcella Elaine Grady, David Hamilton Sumner Jr., Thomas Randall Sumner, Sarah Anne Marie Muldoon, Amanda Raye Miller, and Donald Emmett Southwell; and his twelve great-grandchildren. As a third generation Floridian, born of pioneer stock, Emmitt grew up working on the family farm. As a young man, he worked as a Cow Hunter, spending many a day on horseback in rural Hillsborough County rounding up free range cattle. He worked many years in the phosphate (fertilizer) industry retiring from Farmland Industries in 1988. A 1941 graduate of Brandon High School, he wed his high school sweetheart, Marcella Morgan, in 1944 and raised a family with four children. After Marcella passed away, he married another classmate, Jane (Janie) St. Claire (Dowell). After Janie's passing, Emmitt sold his Brandon home and moved to Arcadia to live with his sister, Norma, in the home of his daughter and son-in-law. He continued to escape the heat of Florida by retreating to his home at Mountain Cove in Busick, NC. He was a member of New Hope United Methodist Church, Brandon, and in summer attended Celo United Methodist Church, Celo, NC. In retirement, he loved spending summers in the mountains of Western North Carolina and loved to hunt, fish and just being outdoors. He was loved and admired by his family and all who knew him. Funeral services will be held at 2 pm, Monday, Aug. 22, at Southern Funeral Care, 10510 Riverview Dr., Riverview, with the family receiving friends one hour prior. Interment will follow at Pelote Cemetery, in Lithia. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Florida United Methodist Children's Home, 51 Children's Way, Enterprise, FL 32725 OR Celo United Methodist Church, PO Box 44, Burnsville, NC 28714.
Southern Funeral Care

Published in the Tampa Bay Times on Aug. 19, 2016