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Kanola Hightower, 96, Church of God
WINTER HAVEN -- Mrs. Kanola C. Hightower, who touched countless lives with her work in the ministry of the Church of God, died of heart failure Wednesday (Dec. 14, 2005) at her son's home in Bartow. She was 96.
At the age of 94, Mrs. Hightower was given the honor of "senior ranking chaplain" of more than 1, 500 chaplains serving around the world by Dr. Robert Crick, director of the Church of God chaplains commission.
"She is well-known all over the southeastern state for her work, " said her daughter-inlaw, Evelyn Hightower of Bartow. "She did jail ministry from northwest Florida back down to central-south Florida, and most recently in the jail in Bartow. She pastored churches and she built churches."
Born in Jackson County on Nov. 20, 1909, she came to Wahneta from there in 1951. With a strong Christian upbringing, Mrs. Hightower accepted Christ as her Lord and savior at the age of 12. She began in the ministry in 1938 and continued her work until a week ago when her health began to fail.
"She has been very active in the medical missionary trips and she spent six weeks one time on the Mercy Ship. She also went to quite a few of the islands. She went to Haiti several times, Belize, Puerto Rico and Guatamala, " Evelyn Hightower said.
She was a member of the Wahneta Church of God.
Mrs. Hightower was preceded in death by her husband, James Hightower. She is survived by her daughter, Betty Jahazel Bristow, Wahneta; son, A.J. Hightower, Bartow; brothers, J.D. Collins and Alvie Collins, both of Panama City, Seab Collins Jr., Green Cove Springs, and W.J. Collins, Deland; 17 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 this evening at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at Winter Haven Church of God, 675 Ave. E S.W., Winter Haven.
Myra Chandley, 103, Teacher
LAKE WALES -- Mrs. Myra Curtis Chandley, an early settler in Lake Wales, took an active role in volunteering in the community and was named "Lake Wales Pioneer of the Year" in 1986.
"Her knowledge of the history and people of of Lake Wales was frequently called upon for precise, first-person accounts, " said her son, George Dixon Chandley of Lake Wales.
Mrs. Chandley, a teacher and community activist, died of natural causes associated with old age Monday (Oct. 10, 2005). She was 103.
Born in Echo, Minn., on Dec. 21, 1901, she came with her family to Winter Haven from Tugaske, Saskatchewan, in 1912.
Hard-working pioneers were needed in Lake Wales, and in 1913 the family moved to the community. They had running water but no electricity.
At the age of 15, she won a competition and received an invitation to the inauguration of President Woodrow Wilson in 1917, and she and a chaperone traveled by train to Washington, D.C.
Mrs. Chandley, who attended summer classes at the University of Florida, became a teacher in a one-room school house at Lake Aurora, east of Lake Wales, where she taught briefly. She also played accompaniment for silent movies in the Scenic Theater.
After marrying Edgar Reason Chandley in 1923, she dedicated her time to raising her family and to her community. "She was present at the dedication of the Bok Singing Tower with a little daughter at the time, " George Chandley said.
Mrs. Chandley was one of the last surviving members of the Wednesday Bridge Club. She volunteered for the Junior and Senior Red Cross and was a Red Cross Gray Lady. She was a member of the Sons of the American Legion, the Junior American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. She volunteered for the Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, PTA, National Honor Society, Key Club, the Lake Wales Library, the USO and Bundles for Britain. She was a Yellow Lady for the Lake Wales Hospital with more than 5, 000 hours. She was a member of the Rotary Wives and the Democratic Party.
She was a member of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales for more than 88 years and for many years played the piano. She was a member of the Missionary Society and the Whatsoever Sunday school class.
Mrs. Chandley was preceded in death by her husband of 61 years, Edgar Reason Chandley, in 1984. In addition to her son, George Dixon Chandley, she is survived by her daughters, Marjorie Jane Chandley, Atlanta, and Ann Chandley Cullison, Tallahassee; 15 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; and seven great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 22, at First Presbyterian Church in Lake Wales. Burial will be in Lake Wales Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Wales Public Library, 290 Cypress Gardens Lane, Lake Wales, FL 33853.
Marion Nelson Funeral Home, Lake Wales.
JAMES BEIKIRCH, 59
Talbot House
LAKELAND -- Mr. James Beikirch of Lakeland died of heart failure Sunday (Oct. 9, 2005) at Lakeland Regional Medical Center. He was 59.
Born in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 25, 1945, he came to Lakeland from Avon, N.Y., in 1973. He was operations director for the Talbot House. He was a member of All Saints' Episcopal Church.
Mr. Beikirch is survived by his wife, Paula Beikirch; son, Maj. Thomas Beikirch, Yuma, Ariz.; daughter, Betsy Beikirch-Godwin, Winter Haven; four grandchildren.
Services will be at 6 p.m. Thursday at All Saints Episcopal Church.
Memorials may be made to Talbot House, 814 N. Kentucky Ave., Lakeland, FL 33801.
Heath Funeral Chapel.
Jacques Vogt, 69 Softball Coach
WINTER HAVEN -- Mr. Jacques Brigham Vogt, known as "Mr. Jack, " worked with count-less girls on softball teams that led some of them to scholarships.
"He sent several girls to different colleges like Troy and Stetson on full scholarships. He worked with a whole bunch of local girls around here, " his wife of 42 years, Sybil Watson-Vogt, said.
The general contractor and founder of the Polk County Rebels died of a heart attack Saturday (Oct. 8, 2005) at Winter Haven Hospital. He was 69.
Born in Augustus, Ga., on Sept. 23, 1936, he attended Camden Military Academy in South Carolina. He also attended Riverside Military Academy in Gainesville, Ga., and South Georgia Junior College where he played football under Bobby Bowden.
Mr. Vogt, who was a longtime resident of Winter Haven, served in the Army for two years.
He initially served as president and coach of the Miss Winter Haven Softball Team for a number of years.
In the late 1980s, Mr. Vogt formed the Polk County Rebels, an 18-and-under girls' fast-pitch, traveling softball team.
"I worked for two summers with him with the Polk County Rebels, " said Sonia Cook, who is now a volleyball and softball coach at Ridge Community High School in Haines City. "I had just moved into Polk County and wanted an opportunity to learn about fast-pitch softball and he was the man to go to.
"I learned everything, " she said. "At that time, it was the only fast-pitch summer team that was around in Polk County. They used to travel all over playing, and his team was one of the top teams."
A commitment that he made to a couple of his team's players gave him the opportunity to work as an assistant coach for the Polk Community College Vikings for a couple of years.
"He promised his girls that he would do that if they went to school, " Cook said.
Mr. Vogt was also a 40-year general contractor who enjoyed fishing, camping and his animals.
In addition to his wife, Sybil Watson-Vogt, Mr. Vogt is survived by his sons, Scott Vogt, Tennessee, David Vogt, California, and Greg Watson, Winter Haven; daughters, Tammy Watson-Hamilton, Tallahassee, Regina Vogt, Winter Haven, and Lisa Vogt-Campbell, North Carolina; sister, Dorthea Pendergrast, Georgia; 13 grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 tonight at Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home, Winter Haven. Services will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel.
