Fitzpatrick, Lorraine (Brandon) Passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, April 21, 2011 surrounded by her adoring family. She was 86. Lorraine was a native of Brandon and the great great grand daughter of the Brandon namesake James W. Brandon. She was preceded in death by her parents, a brother, three children and the love of her life, her husband of 42 years, Jackson Henry Fitzpatrick. Lorraine loved life and took a tight hold on all it had to offer. In her life she held a taxi license, a pilot's license and even wrestled at the Fort Homer Hesterly Armory in the 1950's. She was a savvy business woman with adventures that included a general store, a sandwich shop, a gas station and many a bar & tavern. She owned and operated The Crossroads Bar in Tampa, Lorraine's Place in Brandon and her life long dream of Lorraine's Neon Moon in Riverview.



She was the Matriarch and the binding glue of a large and loving family. She was a very gifted self taught musician, playing a variety of more than a dozen different instruments, without the help of instruction or knowledge of reading music, a talent which she lovingly bestowed onto her children and grandchildren. The void she will leave in our lives can only be shadowed by the size of her heart.



She is survived by her brother, Otis Brandon (Mary), her children, Ronnie Christie, Lonnie Christie (Christine), Donna Kelley (Bill), Betty Jo Ballard (Cliff), Tommy Bishop (Sherry),

Laura Murray Beck (Robert), thirteen (13) grandchildren, thirty (30) great-grandchildren, four (4) great-great grandchildren & many nieces & nephews.



Services are scheduled for Tuesday, April 26, 2011 at Serenity Meadows Memorial Park in Riverview with Visitation at 10 am and funeral services at 11 am.