Fredric N. McLaughlin
Fredric Nelson McLaughlin died Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000. Known to his friends as "Freddie Falstaff," it is doubtful that few knew his real name.
He was born on June 23, 1937, in Tarentum, Pa.
Sports fans knew him via Little League coaching, softball player, coach and sponsor, golf, bowling, pool and foosball. He was an avid FSU fan. His transportation was his trademark - a Falstaff truck he drove for a living. Fair play and generosity were his benchmarks. He became a faithful witness of Jehovah God.
Survivors include his wife, Margarete McLaughlin; son, Ricky Winthurst; daughters, Natalie Hall, Susie Kimbrough and Tammy Gasiorowski; five grandchildren; sister, Bonnie Wilson and husband "Buz"; and brother, Patrick McLaughlin.
A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witness, 216 Jonquil Ave., Fort Walton Beach.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be accepted at Kingdom Hall for the worldwide preaching work.
Donna Painter Nivens
Donna Painter Nivens, wife of loving and devoted husband Richard Victor Nivens, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 11, 2000.
She was preceded in death by her father, William Painter.
Survivors include her mother, Mary Charles Faulkner of Niceville, Fla.; sisters, Doris Sue Littrell of Columbia, Mo., and Mary Louise Maze of Florence, S.C.; children, Meredith and Shannon Allred of Slidell, La., Melissa Nivens of Breckenridge, Colo., and Morgan Nivens of Jacksonville, Fla.; granddaughter, Madeline Allred; several nieces and nephews; numerous relatives, friends and business associates.
Donna graduated from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. She was the co-owner of Gulf South Distributors Inc. Your Kitchen Design Center in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. She was an active participating sustainer and 1991 past president of the Junior League of Fort Walton Beach. She was instrumental in bringing Kaleidoscope to this area and nurturing the Child Clothing Project.
Donna had a love for and was a patron of the arts. She was a docent at the gallery of Okaloosa-Walton Community College and supported the Northwest Florida Symphony.
She will always be remembered and cherished for her love of life.
A celebration of her life will be conducted at First United Methodist Church of Niceville on Friday, Jan. 14, at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in memorial to "Donna's Kids," c/o Junior League of Fort Walton Beach, Child Clothing Project, P.O. Box 531, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549-0531 (phone number (850) 862-2665).
Funeral arrangements are being handled by McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville.
Virginia Harris Fero
Virginia Harris Fero, age 63, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2000, at Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville after a brief illness.
She is survived by her husband of 43 years, Richard G. Fero of Niceville; son and his wife, Rick and Kathleen of Columbus, Ohio; daughter Wendy and husband Abdulla of Tampa; and grandsons, Michael and Joseph.
Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 15, at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home.
Interment will take place in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Frederick R. Siegmund Jr.
Lt. Col. Frederick R. Siegmund Jr., U.S. Air Force retired, age 65, of Niceville, Fla., went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Jan. 13, 2000.
He was born in Mobile, Ala., to Frederick R. and Nell Erwin Siegmund. He graduated from U.M.S. High School in Mobile and attended the University of Alabama for two years before joining the Air Force and attending officer cadet school at Lackland Air Force Base. During his 30-plus-year career, he had logged over 10,000 hours in the EC121 Constellation, nicknamed "Connie," as a navigator.
His numerous awards and commendations include the Distin-guished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, the Combat Readiness Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the Air Force Longevity Service award with five oak leaf clusters, the Vietnam Service Award with five bronze service stars, the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with "V" device and four oak leaf clusters, The Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross and Campaign Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.
After retiring to Niceville in 1984, Fred remained active in many church, civic and community activities. He was a member and longtime Sunday School teacher at the First Baptist Church in Niceville. He was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, was an N.R.A. instructor and was also an instructor with the Hunter Education Program of the State of Florida Fish and Wildlife Association. He was most importantly, however, a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and son. Fred will be dearly missed by everyone whose lives he has touched through his compassion and caring for others.
Survivors include his wife of 42 years, Joan Siegmund of Niceville; his mother, Nell Siegmund of Point Clear, Ala.; his children, Teresa J. Fry of Bonney Lake, Wash., Randy L. Siegmund and wife Cathy of Lodi, Calif., Diane Michelle Siegmund of Mobile, Ala., Steven Frederick Siegmund and fianc�e Barbara J. Powell of Milton, Fla. and Debbie Vickery and husband Scott of Birmingham, Ala.; his sister, Mary Lou Cameron of Point Clear and his grandchildren, Jeffrey Arntzen, Phillip James Siegmund, John W. Crane II, Shawn Aaron Crane, Kayla Michelle Vickery and Kendall Marie Vickery.
The Family will receive friends at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville on Monday, Jan. 17, 2000, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church in Niceville on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, at 10 a.m. with the Rev. Gerald Reeves officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola beginning at 2 p.m. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.
Lt. Col. Siegmund will be moved to the church one hour prior to services.
Floral contributions are accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the "Love Offering for Jesus" mission fund of First Baptist Church, 622 Bayshore Drive, Niceville, FL 32578.
Thelma E. Higdon
Thelma E. Higdon, 85, of Pensacola, Fla., died Jan. 14, 2000, following an extended illness. She was born in Baker, Fla., in 1914 and lived and worked in Pensacola most of her life. Mrs. Higdon was a nurse at Baptist Hospital for about 12 years. She was an active member of Ensley First Baptist Church and served many years as a Sunday school teacher.
Mrs. Higdon is survived by her children, Stella Henry and husband J.C. of Cantonment, Fla., Carol Williamson and husband Frank of Crestview, Fla., and Carlotta Garrett and husband Thomas of Baker, Fla.; six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Friends may call at Cedar Hill Chapel Funeral Home from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 16, 2000. A special visitation will be held at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker Monday, Jan. 17, from 10 to 11 a.m. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. from Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church with the Rev. J.W. Dubose officiating. Burial will follow in Pilgrim Rest Cemetery.
John Noble Laycock, Jr.
Mr. John Noble Laycock, Jr., age 78, of Wells, Maine, died Tuesday evening, Jan. 11, 2000, in a local hospital.
Mr. Laycock was born Aug. 26, 1921, in Charleston, S.C. He was the son of John Noble Laycock and Eva Mildred Laycock. He has resided in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., during the winter months for the past five years. Mr. Laycock served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and saw action in the Pacific Theater including the Allied Invasion of Okinawa. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire in 1947 with degree in business administration. He retired as an accountant in 1986 from the Ratheon Service Company in Burlington, Maine.
Mr. Laycock is survived by his wife, Edith Washburn Laycock; three daughters, Gail McGowan of Miami, Fla., Pam Lavoie of Sandown, N.H., and Jean Heslin of Navarre, Fla.; a son, James W. Laycock of Gulfport, Miss., and five grandchildren, Bryan McGowan, Erin McGowan, Jason Lavoie, Nicole Heslin and Samantha Heslin.
Memorial services and burial for Mr. Laycock will be held at a later date in Salem, N.H.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Salvation Army in memory of Mr. John Laycock Jr.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547.
Joshua "Josh" Dean Pettis
Mr. Joshua "Josh" Dean Pettis, age 21, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Friday, Jan. 15, 2000.
Josh was born Aug. 20, 1978, in Cherry Point, N.C. He has been a resident of Fort Walton Beach for the past two years, moving here from Napa, Idaho. Josh was employed by the D&B Tree Service. He enjoyed being in the outdoors, hunting, fishing and playing sports, such as football and baseball. Josh attended the Family Community Church in Fort Walton Beach.
Josh had a big heart that was good as gold and would help anyone in need of help. He was the light in our darkest moment when life seemed unbearable here. He is the song and whistle in our hearts and we'll always feel his presence near. The sweet smiles and songs he brought into our lives were immeasurable and most dear. God, all we ask is to love him and keep him. For someday we'll see and be with him again. As Josh our hero would say "No Fear."
Josh is survived by his father, Randall "Rand" Pettis and friend Elaine Fraser of Fort Walton Beach; mother Elli Bradburn of Napa, Idaho; paternal grandfather, Don Pettis of Fort Walton Beach; paternal grandmother Martha Wilkins and husband Bob of Chipley, Fla.; maternal grandmother, Barbara Bradburn of Rubard, Idaho; step-brother Ryan Combs of Riverville, Fla.; step-sister, Jessica Combs of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; many uncles, aunts and other extended family and friends.
Services for Josh will be at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, in the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with his uncle, the Rev. Louie Dee Pettis, officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the funeral home Monday, Jan. 17, 2000, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547 is in charge of the arrangements.
Rose J. Lewis
Rose J. Lewis of Shalimar, Fla., died Jan. 3, 2000, after an extended illness. She was predeceased by her husband, Col. Melford W. Lewis, United States Air Force, retired.
Mrs. Lewis was a member of the Catholic faith. She was an accomplished tournament duplicate bridge player, having attained the rank of Silver Life Master.
She is survived by her sons, Jerry D. Lewis of Monroe, La., James B. Lewis of Anza, Calif., and Jeffrey A. Lewis of Shalimar; sister, Lena Gefroh of Fort Collins, Col.; and four grandchildren.
Private services were conducted at Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla.
Dean Metcalf
Dean Metcalf, 79, of Holt, Fla., passed away Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000, at his home.
He was a native of Ariton, Ala., and had lived in Milton, Fla., most of his life, before moving to Holt 11 years ago.
He is survived by his two sons and their wives, Wayne and Ann Metcalf of Holt, and Myrlan and Cindy Metcalf of Allentown; grandchildren, Jamie Tindell of Pace, Fla., Amanda Metcalf of Pensacola, Fla., and Theresa and Joe Guilford of Crestview, Fla.; one great-grandson, Justin Powell; special sister-in-law Bill Getchel of Milton and numerous other relatives.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2000, at 10 a.m. from the chapel of Brackney Funeral Service with the Rev. Raymond Williams officiating. Burial will follow in the Serenity Gardens in Milton.
The family will receive friends Monday, Jan. 17, 2000, from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of the arrangements.
Florence D. Thompson
Florence D. Thompson, 93, of Niceville, Fla., passed away in a Niceville hospital Saturday, Jan. 15, 2000.
She was born Jan. 9, 1907, in Carroll County, Ga. She had been a resident of the local area for the past 13 years, moving here from Mobile, Ala. She was Baptist by faith.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Harold G. Thompson.
Survivors include her sons, Harold M. Thomspon of Hawkinsville, Ga., and Harlin Joe Thompson of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; daughter, Mary (Evie) Hawkins, of Niceville; six grandchildren; nine great- grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
The family will receive friends at a visitation Monday, Jan. 17, 2000, from 5:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. at the Little Chapel Funeral Home.
A funeral service will follow the visitation at 7 p.m.
Additional graveside services will be held Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2000, at 2 p.m. at the Pinecrest Cemetery in Mobile.
Officiating at the Little Chapel Funeral Home will be Stephen Olivier, with Pastor Ranny Cockrell officiating at the graveside service.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with the arrangements.
