Flora "Bee" Lee Littlefield

Our beloved Flora Lee “Bee” Haven Littlefield, 93, passed away peacefully on September 3 at Brandon Regional Hospital. Born January 30, 1924 in Bushnell, Florida, Bee was the second of eight children of Jonah Sampson Haven and Clara Gennille Haven. The young family loved playing and fishing in the sparkling clear waters of Sumter County. She attended Bushnell schools then moved to Clewiston graduating from High School in 1942.

After high school, she learned telegraphy and worked in Clewiston until she was promoted and transferred to Del Ray Beach. Soon promoted again, Bee transferred to Miami where she met her husband John Ray “Jack” Littlefield, an officer in the United States Coast Guard. They were married May 3, 1943. Soon after the war, Jack was transferred to Brooklyn, where they resided for several years. While there, Bee worked at Macy’s Department Store in New York City and studied voice with a famous New York voice coach. This was a passion and talent she enjoyed throughout her life. She was a member of the Sweet Adelines of Hialeah for many years.

Eventually Jack was reassigned to Miami and Bee furthered her education with a Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching from Florida State University. Bee taught Kindergarten for 25 years at the Faith Lutheran School in Hialeah where she received “Most Outstanding Teacher of the Decade” award. Bee was a devoted educator and the school was renamed “Miss Bee Haven’s School” in loving dedication of her work with many young students.

In 1988, her husband Jack passed away. Bee then retired from teaching and moved to Brandon to be closer to family.

She is survived by her loving, care-giving nephew, Ron Lee Hankins; adoring sisters Inez Bauer, Evelyn “Bebe” Green (Ron), Esther Walker, and beloved brother Donald Haven (Sonja), cousins, Randy Hobbs and Karen Hobbs Williams (Greg), many nieces and nephews, and her adopted daughter Susan Reister that she shared with Ann Jabo. She was preceded in death by her husband John Ray “Jack” Littlefield and her siblings Madeline Reid (Melvin), Edith Viola Hankins and Jerry Haven.

Funeral services will be held Friday, September 22, 2017 with visitation at 10:00 am and funeral service at 11:00 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 2919 John Moore Road, Brandon, Florida. She will be laid to rest with her late husband in the Vista Memorial Cemetery in Miami Lakes, Florida.