Teodora Perez
Teodora Perez, age 80, of Navarre, Fla., passed away Monday, Feb. 28, 2000.
She was born on May 17, 1919, in the Republic of Panama. She was a homemaker and of the Roman Catholic faith.
Mrs. Perez was a loving wife, mother and friend.
Teodora is survived by her husband, Juan Perez; children, Raymond, Doris and Lidija; brothers and sisters, Elias, Debora, Jaime and Raquel; grandchildren, Lois, Doris, Eric, Tony, Eloy, Bernie and Juan Jr.; and many great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her son, Eric; and sister, Elida.
The family would like to thank the many friends who have expressed their deepest sympathies.
They are extremely grateful to the doctors and nurses of Baptist Hospital MINU and to the staff of Gulf Breeze Hospital for their care and concern.
At Teodora's request, no services will be held.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Kidney Foundation.
National Cremation Society is in charge of arrangements.
Gregory Allen Bryan
Gregory Allen Bryan, 6-year-old son of Olin and Brenda Bryan, passed away Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, in Children's Hospital of Miami after a short illness.
Gregory was born on Oct. 9, 1993, in Pensacola, Fla. He was a student at Maude Saunders Elementary School and a member of Mrs. Willcox's kindergarten class. This freckled faced blue-eyed boy loved the things all six-year-old boys love - Pokemon, Scooby Doo, the Cartoon Network, video games, his family and friends. But of all things, he loved "helping" his Dad with auto mechanics. His mother and brothers and sister knew him as "Olin's Shadow."
Greg is survived by his parents, Olin and Brenda Bryan of Glendale, Fla.; brothers, Doug Bryan, John Roberts and wife Jessica, and Chris Bryan of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; sister, LaDawn Bryan and fianc� Brad Marce; and maternal grandmother, Emma Roberts of Freeport, Fla.
Pallbearers will be Danny Dukes, Joe Paternal, Ken Johnson and Ron Bryan. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Richards and Al Lyles.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, March 2, at Jerry Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Ike Bird officiating. Burial will follow in Cluster Springs Cemetery.
Jerry Evans Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Orlene Cox Gillespie
Orlene Cox Gillespie, Islander Court, Longwood, Fla., died of cancer Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, at Winter Park Vitas Inpatient Hospice Unit.
Mrs. Gillespie was born on Oct. 31, 1921, in Dallas, Texas, to Orla Irl and Jo Eddy Cox. In the late 1920s her family moved to central Florida. Orlene attended Memorial Junior High and graduated from Orlando High School in 1939, where she was class secretary and voted most beautiful in her class.
She graduated from Florida State College for Women in 1943 with a degree in home economics. She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. In 1944 she met and married Joe Gill Gillespie, a major in the U.S. Air Force stationed at Orlando Air Base. After World War II they lived in Gainesville, Fla., Toyko, Japan, Ann Arbor, Mich., and Bedford and Arlington, Mass. In 1960 they moved to Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., and in 1967 retired in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. They returned to central Florida in 1996. Orlene was active in the Air Force Officers' Wives Club. She enjoyed her crafts group, bride, poker club, golf and tennis. During their retirement, she and Joe enjoyed travel. Joe preceded her in death.
She is survived by a daughter, Gail Gillespie-Rogers and son-in-law Dwight Rogers of Carrboro, N.C.; daughter, Donna Gillespie of San Francisco; daughter, Jo Ann Jackson and son-in-law Tim Jackson of Longwood; and son, Gill Gillespie and daughter-in-law Tammy Gillespie of South Glastonbury, Conn.; grandchildren, Amy Rogers, Nora Rogers, Tessa Jackson, Alexis Jackson, Carly Jackson, Taylor Gillespie and Jake Gillespie; sister, Mary Ruth Henline of Colfax, Ill.; and many dear nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be at Baldwin-Fairchild Altamonte Springs Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, March 2.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, March 3, at Sanlando United Methodist Church, Longwood, with interment at Highland Memory Gardens, Apopka.
In her memory, the family welcomes donations to The National Breast Cancer Coalition, 1707 L. St., N.W., Suite 1060, Washington, DC 20036. Phone: (202) 296-7477.
Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Home, Altamonte Springs, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Karen Mae Owen
Karen Mae Owen, affectionately known as "Mama O" to hundreds in the Twin Cities softball community, went home with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Thursday, March 2, 2000, in Pensacola, Fla.
Bill's wife and best friend for 31 years of marriage was totally committed to God and family. Throughout 27 years working beside Bill as team mom, scorekeeper and assistant coach, Mama O showered the Lord's blessing of love, hope and encouragement upon players of the over 60 softball and basketball teams.
In addition to husband Bill, Karen is survived by her precious children, Jason of Dallas, Texas, Jamie and Jordyn of Niceville, Fla.; mother and father, Clarice and James Harris of Richardson, Texas; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Doris and William Owen of Owosso, Mich.; sisters, Sherrie Knox of Richardson, and Jimmie VanHiel of Ontario, Calif.; brother, Jon Harris of California; brothers and sisters-in-law, Jackie and James Newport of Corunna, Mich., Marcia and Bruce Owen of Schwartz Creek, Mich., and John Owen of Owosso; and several nieces and nephews.
Guests are invited to a visitation Sunday, March 5, from 3 to 5 p.m. at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Monday, March 6, at Rocky Bayou Baptist Church, 2401 N. Partin Drive, Niceville. They will include a special tribute to Mamo O from her softball children. Interment will follow in Heritage Gardens, Niceville.
To honor the life of this special lady, in lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the "Mama O" Softball Scholarship Fund, Vanguard Bank, Niceville. This fund will provide support to one athlete each year from Niceville and Choctawhatchee high schools - athletes who display exemplary sportsmanship and Christian integrity.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, is in charge of arrangements.
Esther Pearl Reinker
Esther Pearl Reinker, age 92, of Valparaiso, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2000, in a local nursing home.
Mrs. Reinker was born on Jan. 25, 1908, in Akron, Ohio, to the late Peter and Maria Kolesar. She was a resident of Valparaiso since 1978, moving here from Kent, Ohio. She was also a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar, Fla., and had a special love for gardening and nature.
Mrs. Reinker was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Sylvester R. Reinker. Esther and "Syl" operated the Reinker's Crestbrook Market in Kent for over 30 years.
She is survived by her son, George Reinker and wife Brooks of Valparaiso; son, Leonard Reinker and wife Nancy of Kent; daughter, Phyllis Gaines and husband Milton of Orinda, Calif.; brother, Carl Kolesar and wife Patti of St. Thomas, Pa.; brother-in-law, C.G. Reinker of Wadsworth, Ohio; 10 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday morning, March 11, at Faith Lutheran Church in Kent.
A memorial service will be conducted at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar.
Esther would wish to express special thanks for the excellent love and care given over almost eight years by the staff of Bay Heritage Nursing Center.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Scholarship Fund or Building Fund, One Meigs Drive, Shalimar, FL 32579, in memory of Mrs. Esther Pearl Reinker.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Louis Pittenger Slater
Louis Pittenger Slater, age 80, of Destin, Fla., died Monday, Feb. 28, 2000, due to complications arising from a heart attack.
A native of Indiana and longtime Florida resident, Lou Slater is survived by his wife, Sheila K. Slater of Destin; daughter, Laura Jones of Okeechobee, Fla.; son, Brian K. Slater of Destin; daughter, Didi Jones of Coconut Grove, Fla.; grandchildren, Jessica Buxton, Ian Glunz, Stefanie Slater, Taylor Jones, Bristol Jones and Destin Jones; and great-grandchild, Morgan Buxton.
He was a World War II pilot, flying PBYs on sea patrols. He was a 1951 University of Miami graduate, after first attending Purdue University prior to the war. Mr. Slater was a SAE member; past commodore of Key Biscayne Yacht Club; and a very active fundraiser for Hospice of Madison County, N.C.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, March 10, at McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel with the Rev. Sumner Ferguson officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla., beginning at 2 p.m. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Madison County, 170 Carl Eller Road, Mars Hill, NC 28754.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., entrusted with arrangements.
Dolores Holshouser Rieger
Dolores Holshouser Rieger, 69, died on March 2, 2000.
Mrs. Rieger resided in Glen Carbon, Ill. She was born July 10, 1930 in Granite City, Ill. to William and Margaret Holshouser. Mrs. Rieger was a billing clerk in the water department of the Village of Glen Carbon for 21 years and retired in 1993. She was a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church in Edwardsville, Ill. She was an avid bowler and bowled in many leagues at Montclair Bowl and Camelot Bowling Alley.
She is preceded in death by her husband Joseph Rieger, who passed away Jan. 24, 1996, one brother Robert Holshouser, one sister, Kathryn Cimiotta, and an infant son.
Her surviving sons are Joseph Rieger and his wife Laura of Springfield, Ill., William Rieger of Apple Valley, Calif., Ron Rieger and his wife Gail of Troy, Ill., Dave Rieger and his wife Yvonne of Troy, Ill., and Don Rieger and his wife Debbie of Hamel, Ill. Mrs. Rieger's surviving daughter is Sharon K. Tosovsky and her husband Tim of Edwardsville, Ill. Her surviving brothers are William Holshouser and his wife Margaret of RedBud, Ill., John Holshouser and his wife LaVerne of Niceville, Fla., James Holhouser and his wife Betty of Caseyville, Ill., and Edward Holshouser and his wife LaDonna of Glen Carbon, Ill. Her surviving sisters are Elizabeth Stevens of Fairview Heights, Ill., and Carolyn Lee of Troy Ill.
She is also survived by 12 grandchildren
Rieger's wake service will be held Sunday, March 5, 2000, at St. Jerome Catholic Church. Friends may call the Laughlin Funeral Home after 4 p.m. for visitation hours. Her funeral service will be held Monday, March 6, 2000, at 10 a.m. Pallbearers will be William Holshouser, John Holshouser, James Holshouser, Edward Holshouser, Evern Rieger, and John Rieger.
Bernice W. Watson
Bernice W. Watson, age 81 of Valparaiso, Fla., died Friday, March 3, 2000, at the Manor at Bluewater Bay. Bernice was born on April 1, 1918, in Pensacola, Fla., to Mae and Lovelace Whitmire. She had lived in Valparaiso for the past 51 years. She was retired from the Vanguard Bank and Trust with 28 years of service. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Niceville, Fla. She was proceeded in death by her husband of 57 years Albert A. Watson in May of 1996.
Survivors include her daughters Marsha Mulder of Niceville, Fla. and Sandra and her husband Edwin Bond of Chantilly, Va. Granddaughters are Wendy DeMayo of Fiarfax, Va., and Lisa Gorey and husband Duane of Panama City, Fla. Grandsons are Matthew Mulder of Los Angeles, Calif., and Robert DeMayo Jr. of Salt Lake City, Utah. Great-granddaughters are Mackenzie and Emily Gorey. She is also survived by her aunt Alma Massey of Mobile, Ala., and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Twin City Funeral Home, Monday evening from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Funeral service will be conducted from the First United Methodist Church in Niceville at 10 a.m., Tuesday, March 7, 2000, with the Rev. Ed Chandler officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Cemetery in Valparaiso, Fla.
Floral tributes are acceptable or memorial contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Niceville, Fla., 214 S. Partin Dr. in memory of Bernice W. Watson.
McLaughlin Twin City Funeral Home is entrusted with services.
Robert A. Beckett Jr.
Robert A. Beckett Jr., age 73, of Navarre, Fla., died Thursday, March 9, 2000, at his home.
Mr. Beckett was preceded in death by two sisters and a brother.
Survivors include his wife, Elizabeth Beckett of Navarre; son, Rob Beckett of Bellaire, Ohio; daughter, Jackie Teasdale (Jeff) of Phoenix, Ala.; stepsons, Scott and Drew Beckett of West Virginia; and six grandchildren.
Memorial services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Monday, March 13, at Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel, with the Rev. Richard Lohmeyer, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the American Heart Association; or to the American Lung Association.
Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Nelle Ruth Stokes
Nelle Ruth Stokes, age 96, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Thursday, March 9, 2000, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Mrs. Stokes was born in Andalusia, Ala., on April 12, 1903, to John Dunwoodie and Lillian McEachin Stokes and was a lifetime resident of the Northwest Florida area. She was retired with over 40 years of service as a school teacher and social worker. Mrs. Stokes attended Florida State College for Women. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Crestview; Methodist Women's Group; life member of Order of Eastern star; charter member of the Pilot Club; charter member of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority; Senior friends; and AARP.
She was a loving person who will be dearly missed by all who knew and loved her.
Survivors include her sister, Mary Eloise Stokes Simmons of Andalusia; sister-in-law, Annelle Stokes of Jacksonville, Fla.; nieces, Lillian Simmons Dickson and family of Andalusia, Grace Stokes and family of Grayton Beach, Fla., Evelyn Stokes and Porter Vaughan of Bradenton, Fla., Dorothy Stokes Griffin of Dadeville, Ala., Carole Stokes and Emmett Hines of Atlanta, Nancy Stokes and Charles Mills of Jacksonville; nephew, John Stokes; and Deborah and Joanna Hayslip of Destin, Fla.; and numerous great- and great-great-nephews and nieces.
A time of visitation will be conducted at Whitehurst Funeral Home from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Monday, March 13, with the Revs. Wesley Spivey and Al Harbour officiating. Interment will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in Andalusia at 2 p.m. Monday.
Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home, or for those who desire, the family suggests contributions to First United Methodist Church of Crestview, in the name of Nelle Ruth Stokes.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
