PETTERS, Ernest C., 74, of Bushnell, Fla., passed away Monday, March 19, 2007 in Brooksville under the care of Hernando-Pasco Hospice. He was born June 6, 1932 in San Antonio, Fla., to Charles J. and Emma Gude Petters. He moved to Bushnell from Tarpon Springs, Fla., where he was a member of the St. Ignatius Catholic Church. He worked most of his life in the farming, citrus, and agriculture industry. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Caldwell Petters, Bushnell; two sons, Wayne C. and Janelle Ballard, Webster, Fla., Kevin E. and Tina Ballard, Rockwood, Mich.; two daughters, Bonnie A. Lewis, Winter Park, Fla., Sandra A. and Garry Huffman, Dade City, Fla.; two stepdaughters, Carrie Blankenship, Maryland, Carla Terry, Ark.; one brother, Raymond Petters, Saint Joseph, Fla.; four sisters, Hildegarde Osburn, Campbell, N.Y., Magdalen Coverly, Williamstown, N.J., Leona Bircher, Harrisburg, Pa., Ruth Stewart, Hernando, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Brandi Tadlock, Jim Harrelson, Julie Limoges, Dustin Ballard, Dixie Cleveland, Ashley Huffman, Megan Huffman, Kyle Ballard, Robert Ballard; seven great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by three children, Mark V. Ballard, Veronica Petters, Janet L. Ballard; one brother, Clement Petters and one sister, Anna Clark. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Friday, March 23, 2007 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Saint Joe, Fla. Burial will follow at Saint Joe Cemetery. Friends may call from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at the church. In lieu of flowers, family request donations in his name to the Bloodhounds for America Program at Child Protection Education of America (CPEA), 410 S. Ware Blvd., Suite 710, Tampa, FL 33619.