Ocala Gazette
February 13, 2026
THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE FIFTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MARION COUNTY, FLORIDA
ARLENE SUE LEDFORD, Plaintiff,
V.
CATES ENTERPRISES, INC., a Florida for-profit Corporation; ESTATE OF RAY A. CATES, SR.; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, ANDAGAINST RAY A. CATES, SR., WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR CLAIMANTS; ESTATE OF ELLEN EARTHMAN CATES; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST ELLEN EARTHMAN CATES, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR CLAIMANTS; ESTATE OF RAY A. CATES, JR.; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST RAY A. CATES, JR., WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR CLAIMANTS; RAY A. CATES, III; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST RAY A. CATES, III, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR CLAIMANTS; ESTATE OF MARTHA LOUISE CATES BUFFINGTON; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN PARTIES CLAIMING BY, THROUGH, UNDER, AND AGAINST MARTHA LOUISE CATES BUFFINGTON, WHETHER SAID UNKNOWN PARTIES MAY CLAIM AN INTEREST AS SPOUSES, HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, OR CLAIMANTS; HOLLY STEVENS; HEATHER BARRY; JONATHAN BUFFINGTON; and REBECCA BECKLER,
Defendants.
Case No.: 2024-CA-1277
NOTICE OF ACTION
To the following Defendant: Estate of Martha Louise Cates Buffington. Last known address: 4601 Bluegrass Parkway, Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35046 Current address: Unknown.
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that a lawsuit has been filed against you regarding the following described Real Property: Lot 24, MAGNOLIA PLACE, according to the Plat thereof recorded
in the Public Records of Marion County, Florida.
Parcel ID: 2825-000-024
You are required to serve a copy of your written defenses to this action, if any, on Daniel J. Raymer, counsel for Plaintiffs, whose address is 445 NE 8th Avenue, Ocala, Florida 34470 on/or before
MARCH 20TH, 2026
The original must be filed with the clerk of
this court either before service on Plaintiff's attorney or immediately thereafter; otherwise a default will be entered against you for the relief demanded in the Complaint filed herein.
Dated this 3RD day of FEBRUARY, 2026.
Miscellaneous Notices