- Date Of Birth: December 24, 1919
- Date Of Death: March 6, 2017
- State: Florida
Eunice Leila Carter Plaire Gossett passed away quietly in her sleep Monday March 6, 2017 at the age of 97.
Leila is preceded in death by her husband Marvin O. Plaire Sr. and husband Walter E. Gossett Sr.; parents James Albert Carter and Florence Iler Roberts Carter; brothers Darvin Carter, Harley Carter, Hubert Carter; sisters Thelma Zipperer, Verda Carter, Gladys Copeland and Nell Bentley; daughter Patsy Ann Carey; and granddaughter Kelly Denise Edmonds.
Leila is lovingly remembered by her daughters Marjorie Sue Dorrell (Dan) Lakeland, FL and Kathryn Lea Smith (Gregory) Lakeland, FL and son Marvin O. Plaire Jr. (Tommi Sue) Plant City, FL; grandchildren Paul Carey, Ryan Dorrell, Heather Bacon, Rory Plaire, Tiffany Kukuk, Chad Dorrell, Kimberly Walker; twelve great-grandchildren; and one great-great grandchild.
Eunice Leila Carter was born in Lake Park, Lowndes County, Georgia on December 24, 1919. She graduated from Lowndes County High School in Lake Park, Georgia. After high school she married Marvin Plaire Sr. of Hahira, Georgia, February 2, 1941. Two years later they started a family in Valdosta, Georgia, moving to Lakeland, Fl. in 1952.
In 1956, Leila (fondly referred to as Lea) obtained a position as meter checker with the Lakeland Police Department. Walking the beat for seven years she was promoted in 1963 as the first Police Woman (Badge #26) for the Lakeland Police Department.
In 1964, she attended the University of Tampa completing a general studies in the Institute for Police Juvenile Officers. Furthering her education in 1964, under the sponsorship of Polk Junior College and Lakeland Police Department and in cooperation with The Federal Bureau of Investigation, she attended a Law Enforcement Officers Training School specialized in General Law Enforcement. In 1972, Leila completed a training course at the Florida Institute for Law Enforcement (a Police Officers workshop) at St. Petersburg Junior College. She was a member of the Central Florida Juvenile Officers Association and a member of the Florida Peace Officers’ Association.
Leila was always “on the clock” and worked tirelessly to help families and children through difficult times and counseling and guiding delinquents for hopes of a better life.
After retirement, Leila and husband Marvin grew award winning blue ribbon African Violets and Gesneriads . They belonged to the Gesneriad Society International and local and national African Violet Associations. They travelled judging and entering competitions in shows throughout the United States. After Marvin’s passing in 1988, Leila married Walter Gossett in 1994 and enjoyed his companionship until his death in 2010.
