Finding information about a neighbor who passed or a long-lost relative in Marion County isn't always as simple as a quick Google search. Honestly, if you've ever tried to hunt down Ocala Star Banner obits from the 1980s or even just last week, you’ve probably realized there are layers to this. It’s not just one big digital filing cabinet. It’s a mix of paywalls, microfilm, and legacy databases that don't always talk to each other.
People often assume every obituary ever printed is sitting there for free on the newspaper’s website. That’s just not the case. Between shifts in ownership (Gannett owns the paper now) and the move from carrier delivery to postal mail back in 2024, the way we access local records has changed.
The Search Struggle: Where the Records Actually Live
If you’re looking for a recent death notice, your first stop is usually the digital archives. But "digital" means different things depending on how far back you're going.
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For anything within the last few years, the Ocala Star Banner obits are typically hosted on Legacy.com. This is where you’ll find the guest books, the photos, and the ability to send flowers. It’s convenient. It’s fast. But it’s also temporary in terms of being "front and center." After a while, these records slip into the deep archives.
The Archive Gap
- 1954 to 2007: You can actually find scans of the entire paper on Google News Archives. It’s a bit clunky to navigate, but it’s free.
- Recent Years: Legacy.com handles the modern era.
- The "In-Between": This is where it gets tricky. If you’re looking for something from 2010, you might need a subscription to a service like GenealogyBank or NewsBank.
Why You Can’t Find That Specific Name
I’ve talked to folks who get frustrated because they know someone passed in Ocala, but the search bar comes up empty. Here’s the reality: not everyone has an obituary.
An obituary is essentially a paid advertisement. It’s a beautiful tribute, sure, but the family has to pay for it. In 2026, with rising costs, some families opt for a simple death notice (which is shorter and cheaper) or just a social media post.
If you’re hitting a brick wall, try searching by the spouse’s name or even just the last name and the year. I’ve found that older records often listed women as "Mrs. [Husband’s Name]," which is incredibly annoying for modern researchers but a fact of historical record-keeping. Also, check the Ocala Gazette. Since it’s another local player, some families choose to publish there instead.
Submitting an Obituary: What It Costs Now
If you are the one responsible for placing a notice, prepare for the process. You can’t just call up and dictate a story over the phone usually.
The Star Banner requires verification. This basically means they need to confirm the person actually passed away through a funeral home or a death certificate. They aren’t being difficult; they’re preventing fraud.
Expert Tip: Most funeral homes in Marion County—like Hiers-Baxley or Roberts Funeral Home—will handle the submission for you. They have direct portals to the newspaper. If you do it yourself, you’ll likely be emailing
StarBannerObits@gannett.com.
Expect to pay by the line or the inch. Adding a photo? That’s extra. Want it to run for three days? That’ll cost you more. It’s a business, after all. Some people get sticker shock when they realize a full-length tribute with a photo can easily run several hundred dollars.
Using the Library for the Hard Stuff
When the internet fails, you go to the brick-and-mortar archives. The Marion County Public Library system is a goldmine. They have microfilm copies of the Ocala Star Banner obits that aren’t digitized anywhere else.
The Marion County Genealogical Society is another massive resource. These folks are volunteers who live for the hunt. If you’re stuck on a "brick wall" ancestor from 1920, they probably know exactly which reel of film you need to look at. They even take research requests if you don't live in Florida.
Practical Steps for Your Search
Stop just typing the name into Google. It’s too broad.
- Check Legacy first. If the death was in the last 5-10 years, it’s likely there.
- Use specific date ranges. If you know they died in 1992, don't search "all time."
- Try variations. Search for nicknames or even the name of the funeral home plus the person's name.
- Look at the Ocala Gazette. It’s the local "rival" so to speak, and often carries different notices.
- Contact the Clerk of Court. If you need legal proof and not just the story, the Marion County Clerk’s Record Center has marriage and death indexes starting from 1965.
Researching family history or looking for a friend’s service shouldn't feel like a part-time job. By knowing which database covers which year, you save yourself hours of scrolling through irrelevant results.
Start by narrowing your search to a specific five-year window on a dedicated genealogy site. If that fails, reach out to the Marion County Genealogical Society via their website to see if a volunteer can pull a microfilm record for you.