Horace M. Franklin
Horace M. "Frank" Franklin, age 86, born Dec. 29, 1912, in Greene County, Tenn., to James H. and Grace Bible Franklin, passed away Oct. 29, 1999, in Crestview, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret McHatton, in 1996; his parents; and brother, Isaac.
He is survived by his daughter, Sue Grace of Lexington, Ky.; sisters, Nancy M. Tucker of Crestview, and Lockie Jo Adams of Greenville, Tenn.; brother, Minnis B. Franklin of Lakeland, Fla.; 10 nephews; and five nieces.
Frank operated and owned the Ford tractor equipment franchise in Powhatan, Va., for approximately 30 years. He was a sergeant in the U.S. Army during World War II and a member of Powhatan Methodist Church. He was a life member of American Legion Post 201 and VFW in Powhatan.
No memorial service will be held in Florida, but one is planned in the spring in Powhatan.
The family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society.
Joseph Donald Driver
Joseph "Joe" Donald Driver, age 65, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away peacefully early Friday morning, Oct. 29, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Driver was born on Feb. 23, 1934, in Kuttawa, Ky., and was a graduate of Lyon County High School. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1972 after serving in Korea and Vietnam. He also retired from Keltec in Fort Walton Beach, where he was an electronics technician. He was first stationed at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., in 1955, and returned with his family to the area in 1970 and has been a resident ever since.
Joe was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church. He will be best remembered for his easy smile, quick sense of humor, gentle way with animals, and his skill, craftsmanship and love of working with wood.
Mr. Driver is survived by his wife, Alma Driver of Fort Walton Beach; son, Joseph Daniel Driver of Live Oak, Fla.; sister, Joyce Deegan and husband Eddy of Adelphi, Md.; cousin, Neal Sexton of Kuttawa.
Funeral services will be conducted at 1 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Paul D. Wolfe and Ashley Pogue officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The family will greet friends from 11 a.m. until service time on Monday morning.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Florida Sheriffs Boys Ranch, Box 2000, Live Oak, FL 32064; or to Trinity United Methodist Church, 403 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Martha E. Cotton
Martha E. Benton Cotton, age 74, of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., "Marti" as she was known by all her friends and family, was called to be with our Lord and Savior on Oct. 28, 1999.
She is survived by her loving husband of 33 years, Henry Carl Cotton; son, John E. Simmons of Freeport, Fla.; daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and Jimmy Douglas of Freeport, and Brenda and Gary Nelson of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; daughters-in-law, Linda Simmons of DeFuniak Springs, and Julie Hall of Lowell, Mass.; nine grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Marti also has many sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews and a family of friends who loved her and will miss her.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John J. and Rosa Lee Benton; infant brother, Marvin Benton; and oldest son, Roy Gene Simmons. Marti enjoyed fishing, traveling and socializing with family and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lewis Taunton officiating. Burial will follow in Campground Cemetery in Holmes County, Fla.
A time of visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home chapel.
Pallbearers will be her grandsons and great-grandsons, Nicholas Nelson, Jeremy Nelson, Randy Simmons, Allen Palmer, Greg Spires, Jerry Highers, Jefferey Schofield and Zack Foreman. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons, John E. Simmons Jr. Micheal James Simmons, Brian Gene Simmons and friends Felton Stafford, Benny Helms, Buck Driggers, Truett Senterfitt Jr. and Gerald White.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Joyce Carole Hamm
Joyce Carole Guy Hamm, age 51, passed away Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999, following a brief illness.
She was born on Nov. 18, 1947, in Alabaster, Ala., and was a 1966 graduate of Thompson High School in Alabaster. She lived in Destin, Fla., since 1989.
She was preceded in death by her father, John Thomas Guy of Alabaster. She is survived by Sam Hamm, her husband of 32 years, of Destin; daughter, Victoria Hamm of Gainesville, Fla.; son, Sam Hamm Jr. of Buffalo, N.Y.; mother, Christine Guy of Alabaster; sisters, Pat Dennis and Sue Gay of Alabaster; best friend, Peggy Tillery of Jemison, Ala.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Joy was a devoted and loving wife and mother and took her greatest happiness and pride from the love and closeness of her family. She was a longtime advocate of The Gorilla Foundation and various other animal and wildlife protection organizations.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to The Gorilla Foundation, Box 620530, Woodside, CA 94062-0530, which may also be contacted at .
In lieu of a memorial service, family and friends are invited to visit her Destin home during the weekend of Oct. 30 and 31 to share remembrances with all who knew and loved her.
Clyde Owen Lokey
Clyde Owen Lokey, age 76, of Crestview, passed away unexpectedly at home Oct. 29, 1999, surrounded by his family.
Dad was born in Palestine, Texas on Nov. 16, 1922, to Leonard and Nora Lokey, one of six children. Born and raised in Texas, a Texan he remained during his life.
SMS Ret. Lokey served his country in the Air Force from 1941 to 1973.
He served in WWII, the Korean War and the Vietnam War with many honors for his service. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he and his wife Melmer settled in the Fort Walton Beach, Crestview area in 1979.
He leaves his loving and devoted wife of 54 years, Melmer, of Crestview; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Mark Bean of Crestview; granddaughter Crystal of Crestview; son and daughter-in-law, Les and Wanda Lokey of Albuquerque, N.M.; grandsons Brian and Randy Lokey of Albuquerque, N.M.
Dad never met a stranger. He always had a warm smile and a cheery greeting for those he knew and those he encountered. He may not have remembered a name but he never forgot your face.
But most of all he was a loving husband, caring dad and a soft touch as a grandpa. He will be missed dearly by all who knew and loved him.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly request donations be made to the Crestview Library for the purchase of new Westerns of which dad was an avid reader.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, Nov. 2, at the McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home in Crestview at 10 a.m.
James Richard Malone
James Richard Malone, age 79, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, in a local hospital.
Mr. Malone was born May 18, 1920, in Russellville, Ala., and moved to this area 33 years ago from Madison, Wis.
He proudly served his country as a master sergeant in the United States Air Force for over 30 years and was a veteran of WWII, the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam era.
Mr. Malone was a member of the Pearl Harbor Survivor Association, lifetime member of the 11th Bomb Group and the 5th Bomb Group and the Hurlburt Field Chapel. He retired from Vitro and RCA at Eglin Air Force Base.
Survivors include his loving wife, Mary "Vi" Malone of Fort Walton Beach; sons, James Malone of Nampa, Idaho, Harold E. Sells of West Palm Beach, Fla., Michael L. Sells of Colorado Springs, Colorado, Robert W. Sells of Gulf Breeze, Fla; cousin, Salina Kern of Jacksonville, Fla.; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Family will receive friends Monday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted from McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 1999, at 10 a.m. with a U.S. Air Force Chaplain officiating. Interment will follow at 2 p.m. at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with the arrangements.
William Leroy "Roy" Robison
William Leroy "Roy" Robison, age 88, of Navarre, passed away Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, at Gulf Breeze Hospital.
Mr. Robison was born in Anna, Ill., on April 28, 1911, to Willie Mack and Mary Ann Shelton Robison. He was married to Edith Mary Hails on May 18, 1935, in Woodlawn, Ill. They were sweethearts for 71 years and married for 64 years.
Surviving are his wife Edith; daughter, Mary R. Howard of Navarre; son, William L. Robison Jr. of Virginia Beach, Va.; and brothers, James Troy of Lake Ridge, Va., and Floyd (Lillian) of Mt. Vernon, Ill.; grandchildren, Steven L. Howard (Terra), Carol Lynne Howard Dombeck (Mark), Mary Leigh Howard Kirschbaum (Jim), Aura Lee Robison Sheffield (Norman), William Mack Robison (Brandi), and Heather Robison; great grandchildren, Alex, Kevin and Tim Howard; Brian and Jessica Dombeck; Nicholas and Mark Robison and expected son of Mary and Jim Kirschbaum. Also surviving are sisters-in-law Evelyn Robison of Bay Village, Ohio, Mildred Robison Zigler of Fairfield, Ill., Ruby Savage of Navarre, Ruth Harlow of Woodlawn, Ill., brother-in-law Clarence Hails of Centralia, Ill., and several nieces and nephews.
Mr. Robison graduated from Southern Illinois University with a B.S. in education, earned the master of divinity from Southwestern Seminary, received an M.S. in education administration from the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, and did post graduate work in educational administration at the University of Virginia. He was a school administrator in Illinois and an assistant superintendent of schools in Norfolk, Va., until his retirement in 1974. During World War II he served on the battleship Massachusetts in the Pacific. He returned to active duty during the Korean War, remained in the Naval Reserve for many years, and retired with the rank of commander.
Mr. Robison was a member of the First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach, and formerly of the Freemason Street Baptist Church of Norfolk. He was a mason for 63 years, having achieved the 32nd degree. A Kiwanian for over 50 years, he was a member of the Milton Club, and was a charter member and president of the Navarre Club. A longtime camellia grower, he was a member of the Pensacola Camellia Club and the American Camellia Society. He enjoyed traveling and was a member of the Airstream Campers Association, and the Mystic Springs Camping Club. He was also a member of the Woodmen of the World, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Disabled American Veterans.
Preceding him in death were his parents and three brothers, John C. Robison, Ralph E. Robison and Clyde L. Robison.
Visitation will be at the McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 31, and the funeral service will be at the First Baptist Church, Fort Walton Beach, at 11 a.m., Monday, Nov. 1. Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Foundation.
H. Harper Kerr, M.D.
Dr. Harper Kerr of Shalimar, Fla., died Oct. 28, 1999.
He was born on Aug. 7, 1916, and raised in Akron, Iowa. He was the only son the town's country doctor, J.H. Kerr and his school teacher wife, Carolyn.
Like his father, Dr. Kerr's interest was in medicine. He graduated from the University of Nebraska with a bachelor of science degree and from the University of Nebraska Medical School with a medical degree. He interned with and did his surgical residency at Colorado General Hospital in Denver, Colo., and continued two more years of general and thoracic surgery as a preceptor at the University of Nebraska. His final two residency years in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery were spent at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. He then went into private practice and for 22 years enjoyed living and working in Pueblo, Colo. While there he served as chief of staff and chief of surgery at St. Mary-Corwin Hospital. He served on the Colorado Medical Society's Board of Trustees and on the Board of Directors of its Foundation committee.
After retiring from surgery, Dr. Kerr was appointed chief medical director of Social Security disability for the four state region which encompassed the states of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska. It was after serving in this capacity in Kansas City for eight years that he retired from the medical profession and moved to Shalimar in 1982.
During World War II, Dr. Kerr served his country proudly as a front line physician and surgeon for the 605th Field Artillery Battalion in the 10th mountain division of the U.S. Army, also known as the Ski Troops.
While living in Shalimar, Dr. Kerr was active in many causes. He worked with disabled veterans who were not receiving benefits and for Okaloosa Public Health. He was on the original committee that formed the Elderhostel Senior Center for Lifelong Learning. He was active with the Coast Guard Auxiliary and a Flotilla commander. He served as medical advisor to the Air Commando Association and the McCoskrie Foundation. He gave his services to the poor rural areas in the highlands of Guatemala.
His memberships include the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, of which he was a charter member, the John Alexander Society, the American College of Surgeons, the Military Order of World Wars, the National Association of the 10th Mountain Division, the Emerald Coast Lost Chord Club and St. Simons on the Sound Episcopal Church. He was also a 32nd degree mason and a member of the AL KALY Shrine Temple of Pueblo.
He is survived by his wife, Norma, and his daughter, Barbara Montenegro of Panora, Iowa, and his son, Paul, of Kansas City, Missouri.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 2 at St. Simons on the Sound Episcopal Church, Fort Walton Beach.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Canine Companions for Independence, P.O. Box 446, Santa Rosa, CA. 95402-0446.
In compliance with Dr. Kerr's wishes, his ashes will be scattered at sea.
Gene Neugin
July 7, 1924 - Oct. 29, 1999
Gene Neugin, a longtime resident of Valparaiso, Fla., friend to many and servant to the Lord, passed away peacefully Friday afternoon, surrounded by family and friends.
Services will be held at the Valparaiso Assembly of God Church, State Road 190 South, on Tuesday, Nov. 2, at 10 a.m. Burial in Sunset Cemetery will follow the church service.
Gene will be remembered for his service to local law enforcement, his dedication to Little League Baseball, his love of children and compassion for those in need. He watched over so many for so long, with genuine concern, and a talent for knowing when to "spare the rod," and protect us from ourselves.
He served his country, his community, and his God, earning the love and respect of those whose lives he touched.
Gene has joined his devoted son Lonnie in a heavenly round of golf, and is survived by his wife of 52 years, Virginia, his sister, Julia Boyd of Tahlequah, Okla., daughter, Lori and son-in-law Danny Nichols, son Neal and daughter-in-law Lee Ann Neugin, daughter Gwen and son-in-law Steve Cover of Woodbine, Maryland, grandsons Michael Smith, John Smith, Christopher Neugin, granddaughters, Rebecca Godwin, Julie Smith, Aimee Smith and great-granddaughters Erika and Heather Neugin.
"Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of Death, I will fear no evil, for though art with me."
William Monroe McNeal Jr.
William Monroe McNeal Jr., age 61, a native of Pritchard, Ala., and a longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and most recently of Mossy Head, Fla., died Friday, Oct. 29, 1999, at his residence.
He served in the U.S. Marine Corps and retired from Gulf Power Co. after 30 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Julie R. McNeal of Mossy Head; daughters, Gwendolyn (Jimmy) Black of Mary Esther, Fla., Shirley (Shawn) Riera-Gomez of Navarre, Fla., and Jamie McNeal Miller of Mobile, Ala.; brothers and sisters include Willie Louise Gardner of Semmes, Ala., Shirley E. Thompson of Semmes, Molly F. McVay of Eightmile, Ala., Thomas Gerald McNeal of Tyler, Ala., Gloria Jean Kiley of Semmes, and Dana C. Patrick of North Oxford, Mass.; seven grandchildren; nieces, nephews; other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 1, from the chapel of Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home. Interment will be in Mobile Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be on Sunday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arrangements by Mobile Memorial Gardens Funeral Home, Mobile.
Gena Moore
Gena Moore, age 36, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Thursday, Oct. 28, 1999.
She was born at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., to Anita and George C. Moore on Sept. 4, 1963.
She is survived by her mother, Anita Moore; and her brother, George C. Moore III.
She graduated from the University of Florida in 1985 and worked for some years in Gainesville, Fla., before returning to Fort Walton Beach.
Cremation arrangements under the direction of the National Cremation Society.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
