Jane Braznell Mackle

MACKLE, JANE BRAZNELL, died Tuesday at age 89. She was a longtime resident of Dade County, Fla., and the widow of prominent real estate developer Robert Mackle. Mrs. Mackle was born in 1917 in Pittsburgh, Pa., where her father, Scott Braznell, owned a number of coal mines. At the age of 15, her family relocated to Miami Beach, where Mr. Braznell owned and operated the Braznell Hotel on Collins Ave. Mrs. Mackle graduated from Ida B. Fisher High School in 1934. An excellent student, Mrs. Mackle received a B.S. in economics from Duke University, where she was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority. During World War II, she worked for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. She married Robert Francis Mackle in 1943. Theirs was a military ceremony in Washington, D.C., where he was an officer in the U. S. Navy. Robert Mackle was one of Florida's well-known Mackle Brothers, whose projects included Key Biscayne and Westwood Lakes. During the course of his career, Robert and his two brothers, Frank and Elliot, founded the General Development Corporation as well as the Deltona Corporation, planning and developing such communities as Marco Island, Port Charlotte, Port St. Lucie and the City of Deltona. For many years, Mrs. Mackle and her husband lived at the Key Biscayne Hotel & Villas, which was built and owned by the family until it was sold in 1983. She continued to live on Key Biscayne until her death. Mrs. Mackle was a member of the Gilded Lilies of the Easter Seal Society of Miami and had been involved with the American Cancer Society and the March of Dimes. She loved to garden and many a day could be found working in her yard or visiting area nurseries. A bridge enthusiast, she enjoyed the camaraderie of friends with whom she had played cards for many decades. Mrs. Mackle loved football, and rarely missed a Miami Dolphins game. She was an avid tennis fan as well and was a regular volunteer at Key Biscayne's first international tennis tournament, then known as the Lipton Tennis Championships. But what she loved more than anything else was her family, who will remember her as a devoted mother and grandmother whose love and loyalty was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Her many friends and family will miss her always, and she will be in their hearts every day. Mrs. Mackle died in Melbourne, Fla., of complications following a fall. She is survived by a son, Robert F. Mackle, Jr. and wife Lynn; a daughter, Barbara Woodward, and husband Stewart Woodward; four grandchildren, James Mackle, Robert Mackle III, Scott Woodward, Virginia Woodward; and one great-grandchild, Colin Mackle. A private family service was held at Woodlawn Cemetery on Friday. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Christian Children's Fund or a charity of personal choice To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.