Garvis G. Fincher
Garvis "Gene" Fincher, age 60, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away at his residence Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999.
He was born on Sept. 24, 1938, in Newell, Ala., and was a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. He worked for and later retired from Sprint Communications.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Babala and husband Jerry Denyes of Baker, Fla.; and grandson, Josh Greene of Baker.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Childersburg Cemetery in Alabama. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. at Curtis and Son Funeral Home, 1099 First St. N.W., Childersburg, AL 35044, prior to graveside services.
Funeral services in Alabama are under the direction of Curtis and Sons Funeral Home in Childersburg.
Local arrangements under the direction of Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
J.C. Taylor
J.C. Taylor, age 73, of Chipley, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 15, 1999, at Northwest Florida Community Hospital in Chipley.
He was a lifelong resident of Chipley. Mr. Taylor was a Mason; a member of Wausau Lodge 39 in Wausau, Fla.; a Shriner; and a member of Scottish Rites of Panama City, Fla.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Dale Hagan officiating. Burial will follow in Hard Labor Creek Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Brown Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife, Sybil Taylor of Wausau; sons, A.J. Taylor of Memphis, Tenn., and A.C. Taylor of Crestview; daughters, Janis Shirley of Huntsville, Ala., and Denise Fleming of Crestview, Fla.; sisters, Flossie Dean Robinson of Wausau, Ann Sowell of Bonifay, Ala., and Louise McCullough of Southport, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Brown Funeral Home, Chipley, is in charge of arrangements.
Shirley Alice Carpenter
Shirley Alice "Mom" Carpenter, age 60, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 14, 1999, at her residence with her family around her.
Mrs. Carpenter was born on Sept. 29, 1938, in Fort Collins, Colo., to the late Herbert Harold and Dorothy Mary Lesher. She had been a resident of Fort Walton Beach since July 1966 when she and her family moved here from Biloxi, Miss. She was an original member of Covenant Community Church from its beginning in 1976 and her life evolved around her church and grandchildren. She was a very active volunteer with the Family Life Center Maternity Home.
Mrs. Carpenter was preceded in death by her sister, Geraldine Harrouff, and her grandchild, Nathan Carpenter. She is survived by her husband, Robert W. "Dad" Carpenter of Fort Walton Beach; sons, Warren D. Carpenter and wife Angela of Jackson, Miss., Robert W. Carpenter Jr. and wife Linda, Steven E. Carpenter, Randy A. Carpenter and wife Sharon, and David J. Carpenter, all of Fort Walton Beach; brother, Duane G. Lesher and wife Carolyn of Englewood, Colo.; sister, Jeanette Quigley of Aurora, Colo.; grandchildren, Alanna, Daniel, Krista, Jonathan, Jesse, Timothy, William, Stefanie, Ryan and Caitlin; numerous nieces and nephews; and many other extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Covenant Community Church with Pastor Jim Grabo officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18.
Flowers will be accepted, but those who wish may make donations to the Family Life Center Maternity Home in memory of Mrs. Shirley Alice Carpenter.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Marjorie Mae Wilkinson
Marjorie Mae Wilkinson, age 79, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Thursday morning, Sept. 16, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Wilkinson was born on March 18, 1920, in Kingfisher, Okla., to the late Roy E. and Mable Fielder. She was a secretary for Carbide Chemical Co. in Texas City, Texas, and was a resident of Fort Walton Beach for 10 years, moving here from Mesa, Ariz. She was a member of Fort Walton Beach Church of Christ and attended the Tuesday morning Ladies Bible Class. She enjoyed listening to country music and reading.
Mrs. Wilkinson was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Wilkinson; sister, Neva Hall; brother, Lewis Fielder; and niece, Charlotte Waltrip. She is survived by her sister, Lucile Laird of Woodward, Okla.; brother, Robert Fielder and wife Lorraine of Fort Walton Beach; sister, Dorothy Wittington and husband Sanford of Hope, Ark.; many nieces and nephews; and other extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Minister Ross Mitchell officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Flowers will be accepted, but those who wish may make donations to Fort Walton Beach Church of Christ Library in memory of Mrs. Marjorie Mae Wilkinson.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Sarah Graham Kelly
Sarah Graham Kelly died very peacefully on Sept. 17, 1999. A member of the First Presbyterian Church in Fort Walton Beach, she was born on March 18, 1918, in Birmingham, Ala., to John Wagner Graham and Lila Smith Graham.
She has been a resident of Shalimar since 1966 and was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, Marsden G. "Mugs" Kelly.
A graduate of the University of Alabama, she married Mugs and began a life of world travel with her family. She always put her family first and during his military absences was often called upon to play the many roles needed to make her active family thrive. Travels included assignments in Germany, Japan and all part of the United States.
A member of the DAR, she was also a volunteer for many years with the American Red Cross. She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her children and grandchildren. In her younger days, she was an avid gardener, golfer, water skier and camper.
Grandma will be remembered for her sweet smile, for always having a kind word for all, and her genuine delight at seeing old and new friends alike. She could be counted on for spontaneous sundaes, picnics and evening walks to the Longwood park with her friends Betty and Linda. She openly shared her joy with all she met.
Sarah is survived by her four children and their families, including Lila and William Mendel of Lansing, Kansas, Carol and Don Karlson of Shalimar, Fla., Mike and Gena Kelly of Georgetown, Texas, and John and Kitty Kelly of Monument, Colorado; grandchildren include Graham and Thomas Mendel, Kelly and Allan Karlson, Kimberly Keele, Cheyenne and Miles Kelly and Angela Klaassen and Robin Kelly. Great-granddaughters include Kylie Keele, Gretta Klaassen and Cameron Kelly Swab.
Visitation is scheduled on Tuesday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary. A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 11 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach, followed by graveside services at Beal Memorial Cemetery and a fellowship reception at the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Fort Walton Beach, 134 Beal Parkway, S.W., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
Oliver J. (Pete) Smith
Oliver J. (Pete) Smith, 76, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Sept. 12, 1999, in Fort Walton Beach Medical Center after a brief illness.
Pete joined the Navy Dec. 13, 1941, serving in Hawaii and the Philippines. After WWII, he attended Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M. He was in business over 30 years in Clovis and Portales, as well as in Friona, Texas as a flight instructor and an agriculture pilot. Having moved to Florida in the early 80's, he was the chief pilot for Boomer Aviation in Navarre, Fla., having logged more than 20,000 hours towing banners. He was affectionately known as "the old man pilot." Pete professed his faith in Jesus Christ in 1953.
He was predeceased by one son, Douglas Wade Smith of California, and his parents, Wade and Novie Smith of Melrose and later Tucumcari, N.M.
Pete is survived by his "soul mate," Kathleen Gierke of Mary Esther; two sons, Dan Zane Smith of Springfield, Ore., and Ronald Smith of Vancouver, Wash.; three daughters, Jennifer (Todd) Hayes and Cathy Smith of Eufaula, Okla., and Diane Bradley of Ventura, Ca.; three sisters, Joyce Withers of Destin, Fla., June Pendell of El Paso, Texas, and Laura Kouba of Tucumcari, N.M.; one aunt, Ruth Louise Opton of Ada, Okla.; one uncle, Olen Smith of Missouri; five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, including Dennis Sparks, of Tucumcari, N.M.; and a host of cousins.
Lewis Funeral Home in Navarre is in charge of cremation with disposition as Pete wished, at Spring Mountain in Deming, N.M., where he and Kathy spent many happy winters.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice or the American Cancer Society.
Donald J. Clark
Donald J. Clark, age 66, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away at home on Sept. 13, 1999.
Donald was employed for 17 years and was a 20-year member of the Elks Lodge on Okaloosa Island. The lodge expresses sympathy to his friends and family.
Mr. Clark is survived by his wife, Dorothea P. Clark; daughter, Michelle and husband David Hawver; daughter, Yvonne and husband John Wilcox; grandchildren, Jamie and Lisa Hawver, and Jennifer, Venitia and Jason Wilcox.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 21, at Chapel No. 2, Eglin Air Force Base.
Florence D. Hanson
Florence "Flossie" D. Hanson, age 91, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Saturday, Sept. 18, 1999.
Flossie was born in 1908 in Washington, D.C. She lived in Bridgewater, Mass., before settling in Fort Walton Beach in 1987.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 53 years, Ralph Hanson; and is survived by several nieces and nephews and sisters-in-law.
Flossie was loved and cared for by her many friends. She was loving and generous to friends, relatives and many social and civic organizations such as the VA, Fort Walton Beach police, and cancer research.
Flossie will be greatly missed by all who loved her and appreciated her enthusiasm, her zest for life and her sense of humor. She will undoubtedly be missed by all who knew her over the radio as Flossie, an active participant in broadcast talk shows.
Mrs. Hanson will join her late husband Ralph in Massachusetts.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or to the Fort Walton Beach Police Department's "Are You Home" program.
James Carey Davis
James Carey Davis was born on Feb. 2, 1922, in Gainesville, Fla. He died on Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999.
He had resided in Crestview, Fla., for the past 70 years.
Mr. Davis is survived by his sister, Eloise Merritt; brother, Thomas H. Davis Sr., both of Crestview; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He retired from civil service at Eglin Field as a procurement officer in 1977. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and was in the 29th Army Division. He participated in the "D" Day invasion at Normandy in June 1944, and was wounded in action. Mr. Davis received many medals for his military service, including the Purple Heart. After active duty he was the commanding officer of the local National Guard unit.
He loved to play golf, fish and support the Florida Gators.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 22, in the chapel of McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, 492 E. Pine Ave., Crestview, at 3 p.m. Visitation will follow the service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to the Library Fund for children's books at First Baptist Church of Crestview.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Arthur C. Whittle Jr.
Arthur C. Whittle Jr., age 76, of Laurel Hill, Fla., died Monday, Sept. 20, 1999, at his residence in Campton, Fla., after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Whittle was born in Griffin, Ga., on Nov. 22, 1922, to Arthur C. Sr. and Lottie Moody Whittle and was a resident of the Northwest Florida area for the past 58 years. He was a retired truck driver with Okaloosa County. Mr. Whittle was a member of Campton Assembly of God Church and was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved him. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force and a veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his loving wife of 57 years of marriage, M. Ruth Whittle; son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Marva Whittle; daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Art Beauchamp, all of Laurel Hill; mother, Lottie Whittle of Griffin, Ga.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Anne and Paul O'Neal of Barnesville, Ga., Laurice and Winfred Trice of Madison, Ga., Dorothy and Clinton Vining of Barnesville, and Elsie and Junior Bishop of Griffin; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Whitehurst Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 22, at Campton Assembly of God Church with the Rev. John Kelly officiating. Interment will follow the service in Reeder Cemetery, across from the church.
Pallbearers will be Art Beauchamp IV, Jeffery Whittle, Jeremie Whittle, Chad Whittle, Allen Bridges and Creighton Adams.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
