Ewel Kirksey Hagan
Mr. Ewel Kirksey Hagan, age 60, of Altamonte Springs, Fla., died Saturday June 12, 1999, in an Altamonte hospital of respiratory/arrest/failure after a prolonged illness.
Ewel grew up in the Gaskin community and attended Gaskin School, where he achieved high academic excellence. He graduated from Walton High School in 1955 with high scholastic honors. He attended the University of Florida and graduated from the University of the State of New York.
His working career was with the defense contractors Boeing, Raytheon, Control Data, Gearheat and Geosource. His work carried him to many states in the U.S. and various foreign counties along the Pacific Rim. In 1985, he moved to Central Florida and began work as an engineer with Lockheed Martin Corporation where he worked until January 1999.
Ewel was a member of the Church of Christ and attended the Mid Florida church in Winter Springs, Fla. He was also a member of the National Rifle Association and the Sons of Confederate veterans, Camp 1709, Geneva, where he served as the adjutant in 1998.
Ewel is preceded in death by his father, Felix Hagan, and his mother, Lela Belle Peters Hagan.
Surviving him are his wife Betty Kirk Hagan of Winter Springs; his son Major Aaron Hagan and wife Melissa; two grandchildren Kirksey and Kiley Hagen of Lynn Haven; sister Fannie Hagan Wilkerson of Gainesville; brothers, Russell Curren of Mossey Head and James Hagan of Liberty; and many nieces, nephews and cousins throughout the Southeast.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at the Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel with Minister William Tucker Aplin, a high school friend, and Dr. Dallas Burdette, Oakwood Hills speaking.
Visitation will be held from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. Monday, June 14, 1999.
Pallbearers will be James King, Royce Griffith, Arnie Pryor Jr., Jerry Peters, Gary Hagan and Greg Hagan.
Burial will be at the Lime Springs Cemetery in Samson, Ala.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Louise W. Wood
Louise W. Wood, age 86, of Fort Walton Beach, passed away Saturday, June 12, 1999 at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Louise was born in Greenwood, S.C., and moved to Fort Walton Beach in 1943. She was a charter member of the First Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach where she belonged to the Joy Sunday School Class. She was also a charter member of the Fort Walton Beach Order of the Eastern Star.
Louise was preceded in death by her husband, John T. Wood, and her grandson, John Steven Morris.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law Joan and Steve Morris of Valrico; brother Marion Whatley of Hodges, S.C.; sisters Katherine Morrison and husband J.W. of Fort Walton Beach, Genell Wright and husband the Rev. Willie Wright of Hodges, S.C., Doris Brady of Havlock, N.C., Georgia Martin and husband John of Abbeville, S.C., Rebecca Luker and husband Talmadge of Hodges, S.C., Ann Cox and husband John of Greenwood, S.C.; grandson Kevin Michael Morris of Valrico; and her nephew and his wife Bill and Patricia Morrison of Fort Walton Beach.
Funeral services will be held at the McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel in Fort Walton Beach on Tuesday, June 15, 1999, at 11 a.m. with Dr. Wes Yates and the Rev. Willie Wright officiating.
Internment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach.
Floral contributions are accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the New Sanctuary Fund of the First Baptist Church, P.O. Box 2199, Ft. Walton Beach, FL 32549.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with the arrangements.
Richard Oates
Richard Oates, age 55, died peacefully at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, June 13, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Oates was born in Memphis on Oct. 27, 1943. He attended Columbia Military Academy and graduated in 1961. He then attended Georgia Tech, where he studied aeronautical engineering and received a bachelor's degree in 1965. Richard was very interested in aviation and after graduating he received an Air Force commission in 1966.
He was then stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., where he was assigned to a weapons test group involved in advanced weapons testing. He traveled extensively in the United States and abroad while in the service.
Richard returned to civilian life after four years of service and was involved in many phases of aerial gun development. During this period, Richard returned to school and was awarded a masters of public administration. In 1985, Richard began his own marketing concern, Oates Marketing and Consulting and for 14 years operated this business from his Mar Walt office.
Richard is survived by his wife, Jeanne; brother, Robert; sister, Mary; nephews, Keith and Karl, and niece, Allison Roberts.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Asked to serve as pallbearers are Bob Conlan, Brock Fisher, Keith Hall, Dave Price, Greg Artabassy, Herb Tinsley, Robert Oates and Jim Whatley. Asked to serve as honorary pallbearers are Cliff Long, Charlie Rodgers, Greg Risch, Ed Veech, Rocky Stone, John Kidd, T.D. Moeller, Frank Fisher, Larry Roesler and Herb Brown.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles G. Stevenson Jr.
Charles G. Stevenson Jr., age 61, a resident of Florala, Ala., passed away Sunday, June 13, 1999, in a Florala hospital.
A native of Clayton, Ala., he was the son of the late Charles Gordon Stevenson and Ruby Gene Spires Stevenson. He was an educator with 37 years, serving first as a football coach and then as principal of Florala High School, where he dedicated many extra hours to assure quality education for his students. In 1998, he retired as principal because of his health, but continued serving in the school system county office on a part-time basis.
He was a member of First Baptist Church of Florala and served on the board of deacons. He was very active in the civic life of Florala, having served on the Florala City Council, Cemetery Board and the Industrial Board.
Survivors include his wife, Diane Daniel Stevenson of Florala; son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Charles G. Stevenson III and Jill Evans Stevenson of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; daughter and son-in-law, Suane Stevenson Evans and Joey Evans of Florala; grandchildren, Robby Evans, Emily Evans, Betsy Stevenson, Charlie Stevenson and John Stevenson; and mother-in-law, Rena Mae Daniel of Midland City, Ala.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in Florala with the Revs. Teddy Avery and Tonya Elmore officiating.
Active pallbearers are Ronnie Driver, Dale Odom, Terry Holley, Billy Revel, George Lancaster, Lamar Mitchell, Larry Woodham and Harry "Shot" Geoghagan.
Interment will be in Florala Greenwood Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Charles Stevenson Scholarship Fund, South Trust Bank, P.O. Box 367, Florala, AL 36442.
Evans Funeral Home, Florala, is in charge of arrangements.
Edward F. Schroeder
Edward F. Schroeder, age 69, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away unexpectedly Sunday, June 13, 1999, at his residence.
He was born in St. Louis on Sept. 15, 1929, to the late Robert C. and Katherine Schroeder, foster parents, Frank T. Schilling and Ann E. O'Flaharty of St. Louis. He was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force. In October 1951, he went into Aviation Cadets and received his commission and pilot wings in March 1953. He flew F86s and C130s during his Air Force career, spanning the Korean War and the Vietnam conflict. Ed retired in January 1975 as a lieutenant colonel.
He enjoyed membership in the Order of Daedalians, Seagull Flight 61 in Fort Walton Beach, and Lake Verne Hunting and Fishing Club in Homerville, Ga. Ed was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church since 1969. He also attended services at Dolores Hope Chapel in Shalimar, Fla.
Ed was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and a good friend to many people. He will be deeply missed.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Hazel Schroeder of Fort Walton Beach; sons, Mark and wife Tamara Schroeder of St. Louis, Robert and wife Donna Schroeder of Florence, Ala., James Schroeder of Fort Walton Beach, and John Schroeder of Atlanta; daughters, Ann and husband Jim McLaughlin of St. Louis, and Mary Schroeder of Fort Walton Beach; grandchildren, Dylan, Allie, Hannah, Jennifer, Sarah and Emily; and his beloved aunt, Marjorie Schroeder of St. Louis.
A visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 16, from 12:30 to 2 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel. A funeral service will follow the visitation at 2 p.m. Interment will take place in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Mary's School or to the Daedalians Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 122, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
Walter Ray Roberts
Walter Ray Roberts, age 57, of Navarre, Fla., died Saturday, June 12, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Roberts lived most of his life in Vacaville, Calif. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service and was a veteran of Vietnam. He had resided in Navarre for seven years and was a very active resident, enjoying fishing and making people laugh. We love him and will miss him very much.
Survivors include his loving wife of 33 years, Yoshiko Roberts of Navarre; son, Bobby Roberts and wife Penny of Fairfield, Calif.; daughter, Jo Ann Bourque and husband Jesse of England; grandsons, Jacob and Christopher; mother, Orphia Roberts; brother, James Roberts and wife Tammy; sister, Linda Dyer; aunt, Laura Henderson; niece, Christina Bloodworth; nephews, Stephen and Chad Dyer, all of Waurika, Okla.; uncle, Billy Roberts of Shreveport, La.; aunt and uncle, Betty and Mack Roberts of Yuma, Ariz. He was preceded in death by his father, Stanley Roberts.
Graveside services will take place in Barrancas National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions will be graciously accepted by the family.
Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Loretta T. Scheffer
Loretta T. "Mema" Scheffer, age 81, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., went to be with the Lord on Monday, June 14, 1999, from Destin Healthcare facility.
She was born in Bridgeport, Pa., to the late Frank and Malvina Kedris Tarlecki. Loretta participated in the Miss America pageant from 1933 to 1935, before marrying and becoming a U.S. Army Air Corps wife. She worked as a riveter in an airplane factory during World War II and worked for many school systems as a secretary while traveling with her husband.
After moving to the Fort Walton Beach area in 1956, she established Eglin Realty and was Realtor of the year in 1974. Loretta was a former member of the board of directors of PAWS; was active in the Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce; and was a member of the Pilots Club International.
Loretta was an active member in the Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus, which, in her words, "was the greatest group in town," and was a member of the Sweet Adelines singing group. Loretta loved cooking, music and animals and will be greatly missed.
Survivors include her daughters, Vina Lee LeBlanc and husband Tom of Longwood, Fla., and Cynthia K. Townley and husband Glen of Fort Walton Beach; brother, Henry Tarlecky; sisters-in-law, Florence and Dottie Tarlecky, all of Pennsylvania; brother-in-law, Malcolm Scheffer of Mesa, Ariz.; grandchildren, Kenneth Mitchell, Loretta Heilman, Teresa Norton, Jessica Townley, Glen Townley Jr., Renee Roerhick and Randy LeBlanc; great-grandchildren, Celeste Heilman, Miles Heilman, Matthew Townley and Tiffany Townley; and her beloved cat, Boots.
Funeral services will be conducted at McLaughlin Mortuary at 11 a.m. Friday, June 18, with the Rev. L.M. Thorne officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at the funeral home.
Floral tributes are accepted.
Loretta often sang "Hello Dolly" as she went about her daily tasks. She would want you to remember this: "Cry a little, but don't mourn too much because I'll be happy with my blessed Lord."
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Alice Pauline Gist
Alice Pauline Gist, age 85, of Destin, Fla., passed away Monday, June 14, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Gist was born on Nov. 19, 1913, in Russellville, Ohio, to Joseph Henry and Anna Carr Taylor. She moved to this area in 1983 from Dayton, Ohio, and was Baptist by faith. Pauline will always be remembered for her kindness to others and her gracious nature.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Montie Gist. Survivors include her son, George E. Puryear of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Daniel Puryear, Debbie Sayer, Tina Greene and David Perkins; and great-grandchildren, Kelsey, Meghan and Kristropher.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at McLaughlin Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, June 18 at McLaughlin Mortuary with Chaplain Joel Underwood officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Aristide Gagnon
Aristide Gagnon, age 89, passed away at Fletcher Allen Medical Center in Burlington, Vt., on June 10, 1999.
A native of ste-Clothilde, Quebec, Canada, Aristide moved to Burlington in the late 1940s and lived there until his death. He retired from farming and was an avid hunter, fisherman and gardener. In his later years he loved to play cards.
He was predeceased by his wife, Lucette; three brothers, Bertrand, Boniface and Jean-Marie. He is survived by a brother, Benoit Gagnon of Asbestos, of Quebec; sister, Claude Rock of Pittsfield, Mass.; son, Norman and wife Judi Gagnon of Burlington; son, Denis and wife Carolyn Gagnon of Destin, Fla.; three granddaughters; two grandsons; and four great-grandchildren.
There will be a memorial service in September to honor Aristide's life.
Harold Arthur Kegebein
Harold Arthur Kegebein, age 83, went to be with Jesus in Heaven as having trusted him as his savior on June 14, 1999.
Harold was born in La Port County, Ind., on Oct. 14, 1915, to George and Lena Kegebein. He had been living in this area since 1981 and was a member of Grace Lutheran Church; the Air Force Association; 5th Air Force Memorial Association.
He is survived by his loving wife, Edna Kegebein of Destin, Fla.; daughter, Judith L. McCullock of Gloucester, Mass.; brother, Clifford Kegebein of La Port; one grandchild; and one great-grandchild.
A visitation will be held on Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary.
A graveside service will be conducted in Kankakee, Ill., on Monday, June 21.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
