June 22, 2010       

WATERTOWN, N.Y.  —  Myrtle Catherine Lathan, 92, of Benton Village Palm Coast, Fla., died Saturday, June 12.  She was under the care of Hospice and was at the Stuart Meyer Hospice House at the time of her death.

Born March 10, 1918, in Harrisville, the daughter of Verner and Viola Stowell Shean, she spent her childhood in Harrisville, along with her brother, Francis Shean, sister, Marilyn Van Brocklin, both of Watertown, and sister, Margaret Branchaud, Wylie, Texas. 

She was a pianist as a young girl and played for silent movies at the local theater when she was 12. She was a high school cheerleader and graduated from Harrisville High School with a Regents Diploma. At 16 she was the pianist for the ‘Gold Diggers’ and toured with a girl’s orchestra. 

She married James Houghton Lathan on August 28, 1937. They lived in Watertown where they operated Lathan’s Dodge, Inc for many years. 

Upon retirement they moved to Largo, Florida and in 1980 to Palm Coast, FL where they spent their leisure time playing golf. Summers were spent on Bob’s Lake, Ontario, Canada where they enjoyed fishing and playing golf.  

Summers were active with children and grandchildren at the family cottage in Canada.  

James died in April 1987 a few months prior to their 50^th wedding anniversary.

Myrtle and James had 6 children. Her son, Bernard Lathan predeceased her on December 25, 1969 at the age of 20.  Surviving children are George Lathan, Kaufman, TX, Jerome Lathan, Rock Hill, SC , Marjorie Campany, Diane Parlow and James R. Lathan, all of Palm Coast, FL, 13 grandchildren,19 great grandchildren and 3 foster great grandchildren. 

A private graveside service will be held in July at the Brookside Cemetery, Watertown, for family and close friends. Clymer Funeral Home, Palm Coast, FL is in charge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers the family would like donations sent to Flagler Hospital Hospice Care, 770 W. Granada Blvd., Suite 304, Ormond Beach, Fl, 32174.





Information provided by the family and Newzjunky, Watertown, N.Y.