William Thomas Mavracic
William Thomas Mavracic, age 40, died Aug. 29, 2000, in Niceville, Fla.
He was born on May 1, 1960, in Uniontown, Pa., the son of the late Thomas Mavracic and Barbara Barker Mavracic. He spent most of his life in the Freeport, Fla., area and attended Freeport High School, where he played football and graduated in 1978. He was Methodist by faith and a member of First United Methodist Church of Freeport.
Survivors include his mother, Barbara Wertz of Freeport; brothers, Mark Andrew Mavracic and wife Sandra of South Bend, Ind., Thomas A. Mavracic and wife Jeannie of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Larry Mavracic of Michigan; and sisters, Michelle Garrison of Sherman, Texas, and Christine Mavracic of Virginia.
Memorial services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at First United Methodist Church of Freeport.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First United Methodist Church of Freeport.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home, Freeport Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Esther Holland Webster
Esther Holland Webster, age 88, of Gulf Breeze Fla., and formerly of Milford, N.H., died Sunday, Aug. 27, 2000, at the Gulf Breeze Hospital.
She was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary Holland of Milford. Esther was born in Milford on March 15, 1912, and lived in Milford for over 60 years. She worked at Boulter's Pharmacy, formerly Coleman's Rexall Drug Store, for over 40 years. She was a member of Saint Patrick's Catholic Church of Milford all of her life until moving to North Carolina and then Florida in 1984 to live near family. She gave everyone the precious gift of unconditional love.
She is survived by two daughters, Mary Lou Kroeger of Palm Harbor, Fla., and Peggy Ann Soucy of Ocala, Fla.; and one son, Frank Stoddard of Nashua, N.H.; and an adopted son, James A Gillis of Gulf Breeze, Fla., who has been an intricate part of her family for the past 65 years. Also surviving are seven grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; six nieces; and a nephew.
The family deeply appreciated Dr. Anita S. Westafer who honored our mother's wishes, and the staff of Bay Breeze Nursing Home in Gulf Breeze, Florida, who graciously enabled us to lovingly care for our mother for 18 months prior to her entering the Gulf Breeze Hospital before she passed away.
May the Lord bless you and keep you and give you peace. The journey has just begun.
Memorial Services at this time are pending and will be announced just as soon as possible. Esther will have a Memorial Mass at Saint Patrick's Catholic Church in Milford and a graveside service at Riverside Cemetery in Milford and then will be laid to rest with her late husband, Johnny Stoddard.
Rose Lawn Funeral Home in Gulf Breeze is in charge of all of the arrangements.
Norman Molvar
Norman "Nasty" Molvar - 1947 to 2000 - beloved husband of Barbara Molvar passed away Aug. 28, 2000, at 12:17 p.m.
He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and a lifetime and very active member of VFW.
He leaves behind seven children, Stacie, Michelle, Michael, Marcia, Nancy, Jayson and Chad; nine grandchildren, Ashton, Joey, Elicia, James, Erica, Devyn, Jorge, Kathryn and Jayson. Unfortunately, he never got to meet his two unborn grandchildren, but they will know of him and love him as well. He is also survived by his brother, David Molvar and family.
There is no man on earth with a bigger heart than "Nasty." He will be sorely missed by all of his family and his countless friends.
A "party on the beach" will be held in his memory at a later date.
Jarren Ishmael Tellis
Jarren Ishmael Tellis, age 10, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 30, 2000.
Jarren was born on March 9, 1990, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla. He attended the fifth grade at Bob Sikes Elementary School in Crestview. Jarren was starting his first year of football, a sport he loved and excelled in. He dearly loved people and had a strong faith in God. Jarren attended the House of Praise in Crestview.
His favorite words to his family and friends was always, "I'll be all right."
Survivors include his parents, Willie and Vynita Tellis; brothers, Xavier Tellis and Larzares Tellis; sister, Natalia Tellis; maternal grandparents, Bessie Battle, all of Crestview, and Jimmy and Cassie Battle of Huntsville, Ala.; paternal grandparents, Helen Jeanette Tellis of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., and Willie Paul Tellis Sr. of Detroit; maternal great-grandparents, Catherine and Bernice Burnett, Cora Mac Battle, all of Huntsville, Ala.; uncles, Jerome (Ann) Tellis of St. Petersburg, Fla., Beasker Campbell of Atlanta, and Alvin Battle of Crestview; aunts, Beverly (Bernard) Smith of DeFuniak Springs, Helen Tellis, Tracy Campbell of St. Petersburg, Fla., Rhonda Drake of Crestview, Renee Battle, and Wanda Battle of Huntsville; and numerous other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 2, at New Beginnings Church in Crestview with the Rev. Sammie Radford Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Springhill Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Jarren will lie in state at the church one hour prior to funeral services.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Marcia Mae Houston
Marcia Mae Houston, age 74, of Navarre, Fla., died Thursday, Aug. 31, 2000, at her home.
She was the wife of Charles Houston and moved to Navarre from Michigan in 1989. Mrs. Houston was a lifelong member of Pontiac First Free Methodist Church and attended Nazarene of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., since moving to Navarre.
She left behind her loving husband, Charles; daughters, Pamela and husband Charles Brannon of Navarre, Dawn and husband Lyle McCoon Sr. of Michigan, Tanya and husband Charles Kline of Arizona, Juana and husband Jay Wells of Arizona, Heather and husband Richard Freeman of Navarre; sons, Garth and wife Lynn Houston of Gulf Breeze, Fla., and Vance and wife Stephanie Houston of Navarre. Three sons preceded her in death: Lance Lamont, Shawn and Kyle Houston. Sixteen grandchildren and stepgrandchildren; eight great-grandchildren;
__ stepgreat-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by her parents; one brother; and one sister.
Funeral services will be conducted at 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, at Lewis Funeral Home Navarre Chapel with the Rev. J.R. Deetz officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday.
Pallbearers will be sons and sons-in-law.
Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Robert G. Powless
Robert G. Powless, age 67, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away suddenly at his residence on Aug. 31, 2000.
He was a retired aeronautical space engineer, having worked for NASA for 30 years. Bob was a former member of Piney Branch Country Club Golf Association in Maryland. He was a member of Shalimar Pointe Country Club Men's Golf Association and the Moose Lodge.
He is survived by his wife, Jo Powless of Shalimar; daughter, Jacquelyn Szymanski and husband Ted of Maryland; stepsons, Ronald Hess and wife Susan of Bradenton, Fla., and Randy Hess and wife Kym of West Virginia. He is also survived by two grandchildren, Trisha and Robby; stepgrandchildren, Teresa and Jesse; brother, Glen and wife Carolyn of Charleston, S.C.; and several nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 3, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home. Prayer services will take place at 3 p.m. Sunday with the Rev. Jerry Hollis officiating. Burial will take place next week in Hillsboro, Va.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of local arrangements.
Eldridge P. Wright
Mr. Eldridge P. "Ridge" Wright, 83, a lifetime resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Friday, Sept. 1, 2000, in Fairhope, Ala.
He was preceded in death by a son, Michael D. Wright Sr.
E.P. Wright was an electrical contractor who was instrumental in establishing electrical code and licensing procedures for Okaloosa County. He was a lifetime member and past Commodore of Fort Walton Yacht Club and a lifetime member of BPOE 1795.
As a World War II Navy veteran, he continued to attend reunions of the U.S.S. Converse with the "Little Beaver" squadron and the U.S.S. Tracy.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Catherine B. Wright of Fairhope; two daughters, Sharon (Thornton) Garth of Lillian, Ala. and Laurie (Kenny) Middlebrooks of Robertsdale, Ala.; two sons, Craig Wright of Gulf Shores, Ala. and Airman Michael D. Wright Jr., U.S. Navy, stationed on the U.S.S. John F. Kennedy; and one grandchild, Kelly Johnson of Lillian. He is also survived by Carol Ann Schofield of Crestview, Fla.; one sister, Bobelle Harrell of Pensacola, Fla.; and one brother, J.T. (Tommy) Wright of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
The family will receive friends on Sunday, Sept. 3, 2000, at Wolfe Funeral Home in Fairhope, from 1 to 2 p.m.
On Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000, a memorial service will be held at McLaughlin Funeral Home, Fort Walton Beach, at 6 p.m. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5 to 6 p.m.
Interment will be in Beal Memorial Cemetery, Fort Walton Beach.
Arrangements are by Wolfe Funeral Home, 329 S. Greeno Road, Fairhope, Ala.
John William Scott
Mr. John Williams Scott, age 40, of Crestview, Fla., died Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at the North Okaloosa Medical Center in Crestview.
John was born in Fort Ord, Calif, on Feb. 3, 1960, to Walter Glenn and Jo Ann Timberlake Scott and had been a resident of the Crestview area for the past 12 years. He was the service manager for James Lee Motors in Crestview, a member of Woodlawn Baptist Church, a past mamber of the B.P.O.E. and an avid outdoorsman.
Survivors include his wife, Judy Scott, of Crestview, parents Walter and Jo Ann Scott of Shalimar, Fla., son J.T. Scott, daughters and son-in-law Keisha and Jason Cadenhead, Crystal Barnes and Sharlee Scott, all of Crestview. He is also survivied by sister and brother-in-law Pam and Dr. Bernie Dietz of Humbodlt, Tenn., and by grandchildren Marissa Folsom, Trevor Cadenhead and Michas Folsom.
A time of visitation will be conducted from the Whitehurst Funeral Home on Monday, Sept. 4, 2000, from 5 to 7 p.m. A memorial service to celebrate the life of John W. Scott will be conducted from the Woodlawn Baptist Church in Crestview on Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Dr. Billy Joy officiating and Rev. Donnie Cadenhead assisting.
Arrangemnets and services are under the direction of the Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 West James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
Nancy Beth Sobelman
Nancy Beth Sobelman, age 44, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Saturday, Sept. 2, 2000, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
She was employed at the Emerald Lounge for over ten years. Nancy was very much loved and will be missed greatly by all of her many family and friends.
She is survived by her mother and step-father, Joan and Louis Totoro of Ridge Manor, Fla., a very special friend, Michael Paulman of Fort Walton Beach, and a brother, Glenn Sobelman of Sarasota, Fla. She is survived by three step-brothers and three stepsisters.
Memorial services will be held Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000, at 10 a.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Chruch with the Rev. Brian Runge officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hepatitis C Research Foundation, R.R. 2, Box 12, Verbank, New York, 12585.
Arrangements are under the direction of McLaughlin Mortuary of Fort Walton Beach.
George Chandler Mapes
George Chandler Mapes, Jr., of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., formerly of Birmingham, Ala., died Sept. 2, 2000.
He is survived by his wife Esther S. Mapes, daughters Claire Mapes Henninger of Santa Rosa Beach and Georgia Mapes Woody of Annandale, Va. He is also survived by son Frank Graham Mapes of Birmingham, and sisters Claire M. Nice and Betty M. Kilham of Birmingham, and Mary M. Cox of Boston, Mass.
He attended Sewanee Military Academy, Marion Military Institute, University of Alabama, and he graduated from Auburn University School of Aeronautical Engineering and the U.S. Naval Post-Graduate School in Monterrey, Calif. He was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon Fraternity at the University of Alabama.
He was a retired U.S. Navy Commander and served in the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets during World War II and the Korean and Vietnam conflicts. He was a Naval Aviator graduate of NAS Pensacola, Fla. He was a member of the Santa Rosa Beach Community Church and the Santa Rosa Golf and Beach Club.
A memorial service will be Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2000, at 10 a.m. at the Santa Rosa Beach Community Church.
Burial will be in Elmwood Cemetery, Birmingham, John Rideout Valley Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, or the Santa Rosa Beach Community Church.
