Frances Anita Neel
Frances Anita Neel, age 74, of Crestview, Fla., died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, at Columbia Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
A native of Crestview, she had lived most of her life in the Cypress community. She was a 1943 graduate of Crestview High School; a homemaker; and member of Cypress United Methodist Church. She was also a member of the Marianna Chapter Order of the Eastern Star No. 129.
She was the widow of Chris C. Neel.
Mrs. Neel is survived by her sons, William Paul Neel of Niceville, Fla., and Thomas Neel and wife Cynthia of Milton, Fla.; grandsons, Jared Neel and Justin Neel and wife April, all of Milton; and great-granddaughter, Abbie Nicole Neel of Milton.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at Maddox Chapel with the Rev. Dean McCory officiating. Burial will follow in Cypress Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
James and James Funeral Home, Maddox Chapel, Marianna, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
James Albert Shamburger
James Albert "Butch" Shamburger, age 55, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, in a local hospital after a lengthy illness.
Mr. Shamburger was born on Oct. 19, 1943, in Shreve-port, La., to the late James Adolph and Floy Aycock Shamburger. He retired three years ago from Lucent Technologies, formerly AT&T, after 29 years of service as an accounting spe#####t. Mr. Shamburger was a resident of Fort Walton Beach for the past three years. He resided in Greensboro, N.C., for two years, and Shreveport, La., for 50 years.
Mr. Shamburger was a member of Shalimar United Methodist Church and had just joined the "Care Team" and the "Prayer Chain" at the church. He was a past member of Miracle Strip Bass Club; past member of AT&T Bass Club; and a member of Shalimar Point Country Club. He enjoyed fishing and golfing.
Mr. Shamburger was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Arthur Shamburger. He is survived by his wife, Judy A. Shamburger of Fort Walton Beach; daughter, Rebecca Ann Lockhart and husband Randy of Bedford, Texas; daughter, Tammy Ivey of Fort Walton Beach; sister, Sue Todd and husband Frank of Lake Charles, La.; sister-in-law, Carol Shamburger of Hilo, Hawaii; three grandchildren, Amy and Marsha Lockhart and Marissa Ivey; many dearly loved nieces, nephews and other extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. David Chunn, John Collins and Jerry Hollis officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Pallbearers are Terry W. Wallace, James Todd, Dennis Todd, Larry Todd, Chip Browning, James Shamburger and Bill Shamburger. Honorary pallbearers are the Thursday evening 6 p.m. Disciple II Class.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
Flowers will be accepted, or those who desire may make donations to Shalimar United Methodist Church, in memory of Mr. James A. Shamburger.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
James Charles Nichols
James Charles Nichols, age 77, of Chattahoochee, Fla., died Wednesday, Oct. 13, 1999, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Services will be conducted at 2 p.m. EDT on Friday at First Baptist Church in Chattahoochee. Burial will follow in Cypress Cemetery, Jackson County, Fla.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Okaloosa Public School Foundation Inc., 120 Lowery Place, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
Mr. Nichols was a native of the Hardaway community, Gadsden County, Fla., and had lived in the Chattahoochee area all his life. He was a retired U.S. Postal Service employee with the Havana and Chattahoochee post offices. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, where he received many awards; past president of Chattahoochee City Council; past chairman of zoning and planning for the City of Chattahoochee; served as chairman of the Selective Service Board in Gadsden County; member of Chattahoochee American Legion Post 51; member of First Baptist Church in Chattahoochee; and other religious and civic groups.
He is survived by his wife, Dorothy S. Nichols of Chattahoochee; daughter and son-in-law, Gayle and Richard Grimes of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; sister, Elsie Mae Nichols of Marianna, Fla.; and grandsons, Hunter Jamison Grimes and Heath Nichols Grimes of Fort Walton Beach.
Lanier-Andler Funeral Home, Chattahoochee, is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Roy Sharpe
Robert Roy Sharpe, age 88, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away early Wednesday morning, Oct. 13, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Sharpe was born on June 23, 1911, in Pittsburgh to the late Roy and Julia Sharpe. He was a resident of Fort Walton Beach since 1990, moving here from California. Mr. Sharpe was senior quality assurance spe#####t with United Airlines for 30 years. He was a member of the Senior Center and enjoyed both golfing and HAM radio.
Mr. Sharpe is survived by his wife of 59 years, Ruth Sharpe of Fort Walton Beach; son, Larry Barren Sharpe of Shalimar, Fla.; son, David Roy Sharpe and wife Helen of Vancouver, Wash.; daughter, Linda Sharpe Taylor and husband Joseph of Fort Walton Beach; grandchildren, Craig and wife Jennifer of Sandy, Ore., Debbie from Los Angeles, Christy from the West Indies, and Jolyn of Fort Walton Beach; and great-grandchildren, Melisa, Robby and Amy of Sandy, Ore.
Funeral services for Mr. Sharpe will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the funeral home one hour prior to services.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
James Donald Hood
James Donald Hood, age 27, 206 Ann Circle, Destin, Fla., passed away Sept. 27, 1999, as the result of an auto accident.
He is survived by his parents, Bruce and Vikki Hood of Corbin, Ky.; grandmother, Elsie Tye of Destin; and grandfather, Hershel Taylor of Corbin. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Bill and Mabel Hood.
A memorial service will be held on Sunday, Oct. 17, at 3 p.m. at the Church of the Resurrection, Miramar Beach Drive, Hwy. 98, Sandestin, Fla.
Phyllis Theresa Murphy
Phyllis Theresa Murphy, age 65, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Saturday, Oct. 9, 1999.
She was born on Jan. 28, 1934, in Brooklyn, N.Y. Phyllis enjoyed her independence and lifestyle at Bob Hope Village with her club activities and friends. Prior to that she was a resident of Niceville, Fla., with her husband who preceded her in death, Richard H. Murphy.
Her surviving children are Maureen A. Babb of Enon, Ohio, Richard Tim Murphy of Germany, Steven M. Murphy of Felton, Dela., and Susan I. Murphy of Fort Walton Beach, Fla. Also surviving are five grandchildren, Dylan Murphy, Grant Babb, Adrienne Murphy, Christopher Murphy and Brittany Murphy.
There will be a memorial service at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bob Hope Village Chapel.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Fern L. Faulk
Fern L. Faulk, "a special lady," age 69, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999.
Fern was born in Presque Isle, Maine, to Leo and Bertha Simpson on July 30, 1930. She had been living in this area since 1972 and was a member of First Baptist Church of Niceville. Throughout her life she was a nurse for over 40 years and enjoyed helping and being around people. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Leo and Bertha Simpson; brothers, Hubert Simpson and Dana Simpson; nephew, Willard D. Simpson; and brother-in-law, Edwin Lathrop Jr.
She is survived by her sisters, Dorothy and husband Henry Ropke of Presque Isle, Harriet E. Simpson of Wheaton, Ill., Caryl Simpson of Niceville, and Sandra Lathrop of Panama City, Fla.; brothers, Willard and wife Jean Simpson of Avenel, N.J., Loren A. Simpson of Niceville, and Stuart Simpson of Presque Isle; and many nieces and nephews.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at First Baptist Church of Niceville.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Mary K. McDaniel
Mary K. McDaniel, age 82, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, in a local nursing home.
She was born in Dayton, Ohio, on March 3, 1917, to Willis and Lulu Sutton and had been living in this area since 1991. She was Methodist by faith and attended First Methodist Church of Niceville. Mrs. McDaniel was a loving mother and grandmother and a good friend to many people. She will be missed by all who knew her.
She is survived by her daughters, Roberta Adams of Mossy Head, Fla., Jane Williams of New Burne, N.C., and Cathryn Murray of Miami; 12 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
The family will have a private memorial service at a later date.
Donations may be made in the name of Mary K. McDaniel to the Okaloosa County Council on Aging or to the American Cancer Society.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, is entrusted with arrangements.
Robert E. Phelps
Robert E. Phelps, age 65, of Destin, Fla., passed away Thursday, Oct. 14, 1999, at his home.
Mr. Phelps was born on June 10, 1934, in New Hope, N.C., to John S. and Mary Elizabeth Casper Phelps. He moved to this area three years ago from San Antonio, Texas, and was a retired technical sergeant in the U.S. Air Force with over 20 years of service.
Survivors include his loving wife of 44 years, Kitty Phelps of Destin; son and daughter-in-law, Robert Edward and Angela of Chelmsford, England; brothers, John S. Phelps of Plymouth, N.C., and J.R. and Larry Hechler, both of Georgia; sister, Barbara Brackeen of San Antonio, Texas; and grandchildren, Nicola and Iain.
Memorial services will be conducted at McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel at 10:30 a.m. Sunday with Chaplain Joel Underwood officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is entrusted with arrangements.
Retired Lt. Col. Stewart H. Clawson
Retired Lt. Col. Stewart H. Clawson died of a heart attack at his home in Shalimar early Friday, Oct. 15, 1999. Born in Holdenville, Okla., in 1937, he retired from a 30 year U.S. Air Force career in 1989. Following his Air Force retirement, he was an active volunteer at St. Simon's On-the-Sound Episcopal Church.
Stewart was preceded in death by his parents, D.E. and Catherine Stewart Clawson, and two sisters, C. Irene Kopcak and Nedra Carter. He is survived by his wife, Linda Clawson; son, Lawrence "Rance"; daughter-in-law, Lisa Lynn-Clawson; three grandchildren, Kristina Lynn, Kayla Lynn and Jerry Lynn; and one step-grandchild, Joey Yahr. His mother-in-law, V. Gretchen Lowsley, still lives in Norman, Okla., where Stewart and Linda spent their childhood. They were married in the St. John's Episcopal Church in Norman in 1959. Stewart has 12 nieces and nephews with families in Florida, Ohio, Texas and Australia. In the Fort Walton Beach area, he was the adopted "Grandpa" to a number of children and young adults.
Stewart was a lifetime member of the University of Oklahoma Alumni Association and the Air Commando Association, Inc. He was a Vietnam veteran, a Blackspot crew member and an honorary member of the EOD Masterblasters.
A memorial service, followed by a reception, will be held at St. Simon's, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 1999, at 5 p.m. The family requests no flowers, but donations be made to St. Simon's Building Fund in Stewart's name.
Robert C. Johnson Sr.
Robert C. Johnson Sr., 62, of Pensacola, died Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Johnson was retired from the City of Pensacola as a maintenance foreman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Mr. Alton B. Johnson Sr. and Montiel Johnson of Milligan.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lydia; a son, Robert C. Johnson Jr. of Charlotte, N.C.; a daughter, Martha R. Jenkins; a grandson, Robert James Jenkins of Pensacola; sisters, Joyce Deaux and Jean Stratford, both of Jacksonville, Fla.; brothers, Alton B. Johnson Jr. of Milligan and James Acosta of Tampa, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Johnson's wishes were to be cremated and ashes distributed in Pensacola Bay. Waters and Hibbert Funeral Home of Pensacola is in charge of arrangements.
