Jeanne Ruth McAffry Aters

Jeanne (aka Jean) Ruth McAffry Aters, 89, of St. Petersburg, FL, passed away July 5, 2015. She was 17 years into her Alzheimer's diagnosis and had developed other health issues including diabetes and atrial fibrillation. Mrs. Aters was born in St. Petersburg, FL July 16, 1925 at Faith Hospital (now St. Anthony's Hospital), and was a lifetime resident. She was a homemaker and a Protestant. She graduated from Glenoak Elementary, Southside Junior High, St. Petersburg High School (Class of '43), and attended St. Petersburg Junior College. She spent her early adult years working in the photography department at Webb's City and as a sales clerk at Lefter's Music store, which is where she met her husband-to-be, Nelson L. Aters. They were married 58 years when he passed. In her late teens/early 20's, she modeled for the local Chamber of Commerce where her photo was seen around the country in publications promoting sunny Florida. She also participated in various beauty contests including St. Petersburg's entry in the 1945 Florida's Tangerine Queen contest, and the University of Florida's Queen contest. During her youth, Mrs. Aters enjoyed horseback riding, and played basketball, softball, and volleyball with her sisters, friends, and cousins. She enjoyed many years of playing tennis with her husband at Bartlett Park Tennis Center, now the St. Petersburg Tennis Center. Mrs. Aters was a loving wife and a devoted mother. Her family was her entire world. She enjoyed gardening and delighted in taking care of her pet cats and the ducks, birds, and squirrels she regularly fed in her yard. Before Alzheimer's robbed her of the capacity, she was an accomplished artist who had received no formal training. Her family will miss her smile, the caring and love she showered on her family, and her wonderful sense of humor. We will not miss seeing the slow disintegration of a loved one from the terrible terminal illness that is Alzheimer's disease. Mrs. Aters was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Nelson L. Aters in 2008, sisters, Frances McAffry Krayak and Martha "Ann" McAffry Wilburn, an infant brother, Roger T. McAffry, Jr., her mother, Matilda Peel McAffry, and her father, Roger Tillman McAffry. Survivors include her children, Lynda A. Towery (Earl), Buckeye, AZ, Nancy L. Daugherty (Daniel), Jack M. Aters, and Patrick M. Aters, all of St. Petersburg, FL, a grandson, Christopher M. Towery, Gainesville, FL, first cousin Elizabeth "Beth" Harkey MacNeil, St. Petersburg, FL, and several nieces and nephews residing in Illinois, Virginia, Maryland, and Florida. Funeral services will be private and her cremains interred with her husband's at Bay Pines National Cemetery. For those who wish to do so, the family suggests donations in memory of Mrs. Aters be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Florida Gulf Coast Chapter, 14010 Roosevelt Boulevard, #709, Clearwater, FL 33762.