Lafayette Scotland Dudley, Jr.

Lafayette (Sonny) Scotland Dudley Jr, 82 Years Old, of Dunnellon FL, passed away on May 15th, 2023, at E.W. & Lucille Cates House in Ocala FL.

He was the husband of Mary Frances Dudley. They married each other September 18th, 1964, in Boca Raton FL & happily shared 58 years of marriage together.

Born in Melrose, Massachusetts on March 1st, 1941, Sonny was the son of Lafayette Scotland Dudley Sr & Mary Louise Ciccarelli – Dudley. He was not only the baby of the family but the only boy of 5 sisters. He used to always joke and say that he grew up with 6 mothers, but everyone knows that he wouldn’t have had it any other way.

He attended & graduated from SeaCrest High School in Delray Beach FL. And then served a brief period of time in the US Navy. After graduating from high school & his time in the Navy, Sonny held a few titles / job positions throughout the years, but he dedicated the most time to 2 jobs that seemed to have brought him a lot of happiness. Sonny worked as a Stereotyper for the Palm Beach Post Times & a few other Newspapers for 20 Years & then he found his second passion as a Maintenance Supervisor for Leisureville, a retirement community, for 15 Years.

Sonny will be loved and remembered for many things. But two hobbies that he enjoyed a lot were fishing & riding motorcycles. These may not have been things that he was able to do much of in more recent years, but he did spend many years enjoying these activities and spending times with friends & family along the way.

Many would also say that Sonny was a firm believer in telling you how it was. You may not always ask for his opinion, but he was going to give it to you anyways. But most importantly he loved from the bottom of his heart. He made you feel welcome & included & would talk to anyone. Probably one of the happiest and friendliest people you could meet.

Sonny is preceded in death by his Mother, Mary Louise Ciccarelli – Dudley, his Father, Lafayette Scotland Dudley Sr, & 3 of his Sisters, Katherine Spaulding, Dorothy Webb & Lillian Vrchota.

Sonny is survived by his Spouse, Mary Frances Dudley, 78 of Dunnellon, his Son, William Scott Dudley, 53 of Dunnellon & Two Granddaughters, Amber Nicole Dudley, 22 of Dunnellon, & Jaden Renee Fair, 11 of Lake City.

The Funeral Service will be held on Monday, May 22nd, 2023 @ 11:00 AM @ Roberts Funeral Home of Dunnellon, located at 19939 E Pennsylvania Ave, Dunnellon FL, 34432, with the Interment at the Dunnellon Memorial Gardens Cemetery, located at 10939 SW 210th Ave, Dunnellon FL, 34431 (Off Of Rolling Hills Road) The Viewing will be held from 10:00 AM to the time of the Service.

Pallbearers will be: William “Scott” Dudley, Deanthony Tucci, Michael Skirvin, Stephen Michael, Bobby Braun, James Pettrey & Paul Quigley.