Mary Alice Escalante King passed away peacefully in her sleep on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 in Boca Grande.

She was born in Tampa on  May 30, 1933 to the late Carlos and Florinda Escalante. She is survived by: Her three daughters, Georgette Hassler, Lisa King and Andrea King; cousins Elaine Fernandez and Debbie (Jim) Wolfe and their son, Jack; the children and grandchildren of Carlos Escalante.

Paula Lynn Johnson was born in Mt. Clemens, Mich. on Feb. 16, 1947. She spent her childhood in Rochester and on the family farm in Curran, Mich.

After high school she worked as a corporate secretary, commuting between Detroit and Chicago. Disillusioned by the corporate lifestyle and a brief marriage, she began searching for a new direction. The search led her and a group of friends to the Self-Realization Fellowship Church (founded by Paramahansa Yogananda in 1920), where she married fellow church member Mike Machnik in 1971.

Following the birth of their son, Andy (2/14/72), they travelled in a converted panel truck to California, living a communal lifestyle with friends in a dome house in Mokelumne Hill.

Barbara A. Whidden Chatham, 76, of Boca Grande, died on Wednesday, March 21, 2012.

One of the island’s daughters passed away late Wednesday, March 21. She was 76 and was well-loved in Boca Grande.

Barbara Ann (Whidden) Chatham was the daughter of Sam and Leslie Whidden, born in 1935. Her surviving children include a son, Capt. Dave Chatham (Jill) of Boca Grande and a daughter, Jane Allen. Her sister, Isabelle, also survives her.