E. Frank King
E. Frank King, age 73, of Destin, Fla., formerly of Germantown, Tenn., died Monday, May 10, 1999, in a local hospital.
He was a graduate of Georgia Tech, where he was a member and officer of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, and a member of the varsity basketball squad. Mr. King, a businessman, real estate developer and broker, built the first condominiums in Destin, Silver Dunes, and over the next 30 years developed numerous other commercial and residential properties in Okaloosa and Walton counties.
Mr. King is survived by his daughter, Kathy of Memphis, Tenn.; sons, Frank of Collierville, Tenn., Richard of Shreveport, La., and Starnes of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.; and grandchildren, Chris King, Kelly King and Morgan Fite.
Memorial services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, at Christ the King Episcopal Church.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be sent to Christ the King Episcopal Church Building Fund; or to Habitat for Humanity.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
George Joseph Farmer
George J. Farmer, age 66, of Hollywood, Fla., died Saturday, May 8, 1999, at his residence in Hollywood.
Mr. Farmer was born in Fort Hoyle, Md., on March 28, 1933, to William Goebel and Mary Catherine Kraft Farmer and had been a resident of the Hollywood area for 22 years. Mr. Farmer was a Christian and retired from the U.S. Air Force as a senior master sergeant with over 20 years of service to his country in times of peace and war, being a veteran of Korea and Vietnam.
He was a loving husband, father and grandfather and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his loving wife of 42 years of marriage, Joan Umpleby Farmer of Hollywood; sons and daughter-in-law, Doug and Jennie Farmer of Crestview, Lee Farmer and Lon Farmer, both of Hollywood; brothers, Bill and Madge Farmer, and Johnny Farmer, both of Maryland; sisters, Betty Farley of Kentucky, Dorothy Lewis of Maryland, Pat and Jim Greer of Washington State, and Nancy and Yeha Sharky of Michigan; and two grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be conducted at Whitehurst Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Graveside funeral services will be conducted at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., on Thursday, May 13, at 11:45 a.m. with military honors provided by the U.S. Air Force Honors Team and a U.S. Air Force chaplain officiating.
Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
Essie L. Windsor
Essie L. Windsor, age 89, of Crestview, Fla., died Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at Crestview Nursing and Convalescent Home.
Mrs. Windsor was born in Geneva County, Ala., on June 11, 1909, to Carlton and Etta Carraway Miller and had been a resident of the Northwest Florida area since 1986. Mrs. Windsor was a retired seamstress with White Knight Inc. of Ozark, Ala. She was a member of Cowarts Baptist Church in Dothan, Ala.
Mrs. Windsor was a Christian, a mother and grandmother and will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse J. Windsor, in 1972.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Helen Windsor of Crestview; sister, Pearl Smith of Slocomb, Ala.; grandsons, Ken and Greg Windsor of Crestview; and three great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Whitehurst Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, May 13, in the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home with the Rev. Fran Picker officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. in the Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Dothan.
Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
Clinton Hooks
Retired Police Chief Clinton Hooks of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., age 72, passed away Sunday, May 9, 1999, in a local hospital.
Chief Hooks was born in DeFuniak Springs on July 15, 1926. He served 35 years in law enforcement - 18 years as DeFuniak Spring's chief of police and 17 years as a city police officer and county deputy.
His love of people was evident in his dedication to his work and his willingness to work countless hours during his off-time to assist residents of this city and county. However, his generosity was not limited to local residents. He was a giving person, who sincerely loved people. From 1967 to 1994, he was also a bus driver for the Walton District School System.
Survivors include his daughter, Gwen Scott of Callaway, Fla.; stepdaughter, Dr. Dorothy Paul Walker of Miami; a host of grandchildren and great-grandchildren; stepmother, Ruby Hooks; brothers and sisters-in-law, Coy and Pamela Hooks of DeFuniak Springs, Clifford and Ann Hooks, and Charles and Mary Hooks of Buffalo, N.Y.; sisters, Rose Stewart, Lela Sims of Buffalo, and Barbara Smith of Cheektawoga, N.Y.; sister-in-law, Bessie L. Hooks of Crestview, Fla.; and a special nephew whom he assisted in rearing as his own, Michael Young (Lutricia) of Buffalo.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Greater St. Joseph AME Church, Graham Avenue, DeFuniak Springs. Interment will be in Magnolia Cemetery, with police honors.
A visitation will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, May 13, at the DeFuniak Springs Civic Center on 10th Street.
Flowers may be sent or memorial donations in Chief Hooks' memory may be made to Mount Nebo Missionary Baptist Church, 185 N. 11th St., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32433.
Arrangements by Park Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs.
Kathleen Sheila Denewith
Kathleen "Kathy" Sheila Denewith, age 48, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Tuesday, May 11, 1999, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. She died from complications arising from her 18-year struggle with diabetes.
Born on Feb. 20, 1951, in New Jersey, she had resided in Okaloosa County, Fla., since 1976.
Kathy Denewith was a loved daughter, wife and mother, and an adored grandmother.
She is survived by her father, James O'Shea of Inverness, Fla.; husband, Alan Denewith; daughters and sons-in-law, Deidre and Michael George of Niceville, Fla., Jennifer and Jason Halfhill of Seattle, and Valerie and Marcus Brown of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; daughter, Kelly Winchell of Mary Esther; son and daughter-in-law, Brendan and Jennifer Winchell of Obernheim, Germany. She will be sorely missed by her six grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her mother, Catherine O'Shea.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Diabetes Association or to the American Cancer Society.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave. S.E., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, May 14, at the funeral home.
A memorial service will be conducted at McLaughlin Mortuary at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 15, with Deacon Dave Robinson officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Rachel Ellen Ligocki
Rachel Ellen Ligocki, retired registered nurse of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Saturday, May 8, 1999.
She was born on Oct. 29, 1908, in Georgetown, Ill.
She was preceded in death by her parents; 12 brothers and sisters; her first husband, Donald L. Wills and her husband by second marriage, Stanley J. Ligocki.
She leaves many nieces and nephews, a great number of friends and caretakers at Fort Walton Beach Health and Rehabilitation Center, friends in Danville, Ill., a daughter, Maryl Wills Bednar, son-in-law, Donald A. Bednar of Fort Walton Beach, and grandsons, Mark A. Bednar of Pensacola, Fla., and Kenneth L. Bednar and wife Lori of Pompano Beach, Fla.
Rachel moved to Fort Walton Beach in 1992. Prior to that she was a lifelong resident of Danville. She was a graduate of Georgetown High School and the St. Elizabeth Hospital School of Nursing in Danville in 1929. She spent 50 years dedicated to her profession and was honored in 1958 as the Professional Woman of the Year. She and her daughter actively recruited people into the nursing profession by appearing on nationally broadcast radio programs from Chicago.
She was a dedicated and devout convert to Catholicism in 1954, and was a member of Holy Family Church in Danville.
Her personal request was for cremation with a private burial at Resurrection Cemetery in Danville. A Mass will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, May 15. A Mass will also be held at Holy Family Church in Danville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church or to the Nursing Scholarship Fund at Lakeview College of Nursing in Danville.
Cynthia L. Sears
Cynthia L. Sears was born in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 6, 1947, to Woodrow W. and Mae Jean (Kapp) Lowery.
She remained in Tampa until she finished high school. In 1972, Cynthia moved to Fairfield, Calif., where she worked and continued her education. Cynthia and Raymond Sears were united in marriage in Fairfield on Nov. 5, 1987 and moved to Crestview, Fla., in 1989.
Cynthia passed away unexpectedly at home on May 6, 1999.
She was preceded in death by her parents; and brother, David Lowery.
Survivors include her husband, Raymond Sears of Crestview; sister, Kathy Knowles of Dothan, Ala.; son, Brian Davis of Fairfield; daughter, Valerie Davis of Crestview; and three grandchildren.
Cynthia was a good friend, a devoted wife, and a loving mother and grandmother. Her passing has left a large void in the life of everyone that she knew. We all loved her, will miss her, and will cherish her memory.
Dear Lord, our beloved Cynthia has come to join you. Please hold her close and give her the peace and tranquility that she so richly deserves. Please give her family and friends the strength to persevere and accept our loss. We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A private service will be held on Friday, May 14, in the chapel of Brackney Funeral Service with Pastor Harry Tomlin officiating.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Bill Ates
Bill Ates, age 80, of Milton, Fla., and formerly of Holt, Fla., passed away Wednesday morning, May 12, 1999, at his daughter's home in Milton, Fla.
He was born in Holt and had lived there all his life before moving to Milton three years ago. Mr. Ates was a member of Holt Assembly of God and a veteran of World War II. He was a Mason, Mount Ewell Lodge 131 F&AM; member of York Rite bodies; member of Hadji Shrine Temple; and member of DAV Chapter 2.
He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Rodger and Mary Ates of Crestview, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law, Angela and Dale Adkison of Milton; brothers, Bobby Ates of Holt, Terry Ates of Milton, and Donnie Ates of Bagdad, Fla.; sisters, Mildred Wilson of Pensacola, Fla., Nancy Beard of Holt, Norma Jean Hamm of Jacksonville, Fla., and Betty Summerlin of Pensacola, Fla.; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, May 14, at Holt Assembly of God with the Rev. Jeffrey Scurlock officiating. Burial will follow in Holt Cemetery, with Masonic graveside services.
The family will receive friends at the church from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
James Bryam Norton
Lt. Col. James "Jim" Bryam Norton, U.S. Air Force retired, age 77, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Tuesday evening, May 11, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Norton was born on Jan. 25, 1922, in Shamrock, Okla., to the late Reysen Wade and Lula May Norton. He had been a resident of Fort Walton Beach since 1971, moving here from Shreveport, La. Mr. Norton served in the U.S. Air Force for 30 years as a pilot. While in the Army Air Corps and the Air Force he received the Air Force Commendation Medal, Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying Cross among his many medals and recommendations. He was a past member of the Elks, Daedalions, CBIs and the Flying Sergeants.
Mr. Norton was preceded in death by his brother, Wade Norton. He is survived by his wife, Selma Norton of Fort Walton Beach; son, Kenneth Norton and wife Deborah of Sedalia, Mo.; son, James Norton of Dallas; grandchildren, Wade and Angie of Sedalia, and Drew and Zoe of Dallas; and brother, Rupert Norton and wife Pauline of Broken Arrow, Okla.
A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at the Church of the Resurrection in Shalimar with the Rev. Canon Michael G. Carr officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a charity of your choice in memory of Mr. James B. Norton.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Kathryn Dovel Early
Kathryn Dovel Early, age 80, a retired CIA registry clerk, of Fredericksburg, Va., died May 11, 1999, in Fredericksburg.
She was born in Bridgewater, Va., on April 20, 1919, and was a member of New Hope Methodist Church in New Hope, Va.; Trinity Methodist Church, Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; AARP Seniors Center in Fredericksburg. She was born and raised in the Bridgewater/Mount Crawford area and later moved to northern Virginia and Fort Walton Beach.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Samuel and Mary Dovel; and her husband, Frank Alexander Early.
Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Richard and Wandra Early of Fluvanna, Va., and Stephen and Linda Early of Woodbridge; sister, Grace Feagans of Fort Walton Beach; special friend, Rosemary White of Fredericksburg; grandchildren, Ramona E. Jeffries, Susan M. Riley, John R. Early, Thomas M. Early, and S. Diron Early; grandchildren, Ashley N. Riley, Joshua E. Early, Dillon M. Riley, Kyle A. Jeffries, Austin N. Early, and Nicole M. Jeffries; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, May 15, at New Hope Methodist Church with the Revs. Wayne Rickman and Sherri Thomas officiating. Inurnment will follow in New Hope Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Mary Washington Hospice, 2217 Princess Anne St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401.
Johnson Funeral Home, Locust Grove, Va., is in charge of arrangements.
