Marie Louise "Weezie" Vreeland

Marie Louise “Weezie” Vreeland was welcomed into the arms of her Savior and Lord Jesus Christ on March 6, 2025. Weezie was born on Friday, September 13, 1946, in Cocoa Beach, Florida, to her parents, Ruth E. and Richard A. Stroud, who, along with her sister, Judy Chesley, predeceased her. Her first name is actually two words, Marie Louise, but her younger sister Judy could only say “MaWeezie” as a youngster, and as a result, since early childhood Marie Louise was better known by her many friends and family as simply “Weezie.”

As a teenager, Weezie exceled in sports and physical activities of all kinds and especially enjoyed “crewing” with her father in a missile class sailboat. She often competed successfully in sailboat races on Lake Hollingsworth, although then living in Indian Rocks Beach with her parents and sister. Weezie graduated from Largo High School in 1964 along with her then boyfriend John K. Vreeland. They both attended the University of Florida, where Weezie majored in Physical Education. For a number of years, Weezie held a University of Florida track running record, of which she was quite proud. After graduation, Weezie worked as a physical education teacher in elementary and middle schools in Alachua, Pinellas, and Hillsborough Counties.

John and Weezie were married on August 9, 1969, in Indian Rocks Beach shortly before John’s junior year in law school and more than 6 years after their first date, which was the Junior Prom at Largo High School. Weezie gave birth to their son Kyle, in Gainesville while John was a senior in law school. After graduation, John spent 4 years as a captain in the US Army with Weezie at his side, with three of those years spent in Germany, where their second son, Todd was born. Afterwards, John and Weezie and their two young sons moved to Lakeland, Florida, where Weezie worked as a substitute teacher and became active as a volunteer at Carlton Palmer School, St. David’s Episcopal Church and many nonprofit organizations, including Lakeland Cotillion, where she served as an instructor and then executive director for many years, and for the Polk Museum, where she and some of her closest friends helped fun Mayfaire-by-the-Lake for many years and were affectionately known as the May Fairies. Weezie was an avid reader, consummate bridge player, daily cross word puzzle doer, a loyal Gator fan “in all kinds of weather,” a competitive tennis player, and a member of many reading clubs, bridge groups, bible studies and organizations such as PEO and NGA. Weezie was an outgoing, compassionate, honest, loving person full of grace who cared very deeply about personal communications, proper etiquette, her children, grandchildren, and extended family, her Lakeland community, and all of her many friends.

Weezie is survived by her loving family, including her husband, best friend, and greatest admirer, John; her two sons, J. Kyle Vreeland (Rhenda) and Todd J. Vreeland (Christy); along with her grandchildren, Jacob, Henry, William, Mally, and Isabella; and many nieces and nephews; and grandnephews and grandnieces.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the SunFlower Preschool Park Fund at Givewell Community Foundation. SunFlower Preschool Park was created and funded in remembrance of Weezie’s late grandson, John Kyle Vreeland, Jr.

A memorial service and celebration of life will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, March 29th at Heath Funeral Chapel. A luncheon reception at Lone Palm Golf Club will follow the service. Those attending the service are welcome to join the family at Lone Palm.