Billy Harris
Retired Maj. Billy J. Harris, age 64, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 1, 2000, at a local hospital.
He was born on Oct. 1, 1936, in Hereferd, Texas, son of the late Melvin and Billie Jean Harris.
Mr. Harris retired from the U.S. Air Force Duke Field 728th Maintenance Squadron on 1988 where he was chief of maintenance. He served his country honorably for 29 years and was a veteran of Vietnam. After retiring from the Air Force, Mr. Harris worked at Pryor Middle School as a science teacher for 13 years. He also coached the track team and the girls softball team.
Mr. Harris was also very instrumental in the development of the Valparaiso/Niceville Girls Softball Association, having developed the complex into what it is today. He served as its president from 1985 until 1999.
Survivors include his wife, Dianne Harris of Shalimar; three daughters, Stephanie Rivera and husband Rick of Shalimar, Laurie Mooneyham and husband Ben of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and Jodie Beane and husband Joseph of Shalimar; brother, Mike Kelly of Tulsa, Okla.; and grandchildren, Gabriele Rivera, Leyah and Alexis Mooneyham and Alana Beane. Mr. Harris is also survived by his mother-in-law, Rachael Althouse of Shalimar; and an aunt, Mary Fraser of Hereferd, Texas.
Memorial services were conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with the Rev. Jamie Sanders officiating.
Flowers are gratefully accepted, or those wishing may make a contribution in Mr. Harris' memory to the Valparaiso/Niceville Girls Softball Association for the development of a new field.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Cecil W. Brenton
Cecil W. Brenton, age 84, of Navarre, Fla., passed away Oct. 25, 2000, in Monroe, Mich.
He was born on May 14, 1916, in Burlington, Wis.
Mr. Brenton was an active, hardworking man, devoted to his 10 children and to his faith. He was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church of Mary Esther, Fla., and enjoyed many years active in the parish choir. His neighbors at Colonial Pines Mobile Home Park and his friends at Hurlburt MWR will fondly remember the many boat adventures, potluck suppers and bowling nights that Cecil so enjoyed.
He will be remembered dearly by all those whose lives he touched and will be sadly missed by his family.
Mr. Brenton was preceded in death by his wife, Lenore; and his son, Paul. Survivors include his sons, David Brenton of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., Patrick and wife Joji of Gaithersburg, Md., Donald and wife Sally of Bury Saint Edmonds, Suffolk, England, Charles and wife Cindy of Eagle River, Alaska, Daniel and wife Lynn of Mary Esther, Kenneth Brenton of Monroe, Mich., and Phillip and wife Penny of Fort Walton Beach; daughters, Gretchen and husband Dave Davison of Luna Pier, Mich., and Laura and husband Mark Prusaitis of Garden City, Mich.; brother, Kenneth Brenton of New Baunfells, Texas; 24 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
A funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, Dec. 9, 2000, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Kansasville, Wis.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial donations be made to St. Peter's Catholic Church Building Fund, 100 Francis St., Mary Esther, FL 32569, in memory of Cecil W. Brenton.
Ethel Cady Smith
Ethel Cady Smith, wife of retired USAF Maj. Gen. Howard Persons Smith, died at their Bluewater Bay home near Niceville, Fla., on Thursday, Nov. 2, 2000 after an extended illness.
Ethel was born on June 25, 1920, in Festus, Mo., and grew up in Shreveport, La., where she attended Byrd High School.
She graduated from Centenary College of Louisiana (the oldest U.S. College west of the Mississippi River) in 1941 with a bachelor of arts degree. She was a member of the Maroon Jackets and Student Senate, was co-editor of the 1941 Yonkopin yearbook, and was named Outstanding Woman Athlete of Centenary after winning the Louisiana State Women's Archery championship.
Ethel was an oil well map draftsman with Arkansas Fuel Oil Co. of Shreveport for eight years before marrying Capt. H.P. Smith in August 1950. She was stationed with him in Omaha, Neb., Lake Charles, La., Washington, D.C., Honolulu, Hawaii, San Antonio, Texas, and Stuttgart, Germany. Ethel was active in the Officers' Wives Clubs at each base, and contributed illustrations for several Strategic Air Command training manuals. She and her husband lived in Honolulu for 15 years after he retired from the Air Force in 1976, then moved to Niceville in 1991.
Ethel was known for her cheerful, optimistic, and enthusiastic disposition and her artistic talent, and recently celebrated her 80th birthday and their 50th wedding anniversary. Always an avid traveler, in recent years she came to love ocean cruising.
She is survived by her husband; son, Leslie Alan Smith, wife Karen, and their children, Lauren and Michael, of Richmond, Va.; daughter, Kimberly Dunbar and husband, retired Lt. Col. Ralph "Ed" Dunbar of Bluewater Bay; son, Brian Rockly Smith of Honolulu; daughter, Wendelin Smith and children, Kenneth, Katrina, and Marissa, of Pasadena, Md.; sister, Willa May "Billie" Cady May and husband, Francis Marion Way and their children, Mike and Frances, of Lepanto, Ark.; aunt, Mrs. Wilma P. Seifert, of Hot Springs, Ark., and her son, John; and brother-in-law, Dr. Robley Dunglison Smith III, M.D., and wife, Ann of Tifton, Ga., and their children.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her stepmother, Neva Seifert Cady; and an older brother.
Memorials to Centenary College in Shreveport, the Arthritis Foundation in Atlanta, or a local Hospice organization are suggested in lieu of flowers.
After a morning visitation at Bowen Donaldson Home for Funerals from 9 to 10 a.m., graveside services will be held in the Oakridge Cemetery at Tifton, Ga., at 11a.m., on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, with the Rev. Dr. Robert H. Culpepper officiating. Bowen Donaldson is in charge of arrangements.
Don Euans
Don Euans, age 77, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Friday afternoon, Nov. 3, 2000, at his home. Mr. Euans was born on May 1, 1923, in Ohio and had moved to Crestview in 1997 from Jacksonville, Fla., where he had lived most of his life. Mr. Euans attended the First Assembly of God in Crestview.
He is survived by his wife, Eileen Euans, of Crestview; one son, Steven Euans; four stepdaughters, Shirley Milligan, Sheila Ritteman, Linda Martin, and Julia Carter; one stepson, Johnny Regans; nine grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at the funeral home.
The graveside service will be held at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000, at the Greenlawn Cemetery in Jacksonville with the Rev. Mark English officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to Hospice of the Emerald Coast.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of the arrangements.
Sybil K. Brooks
Mrs. Sybil K. Brooks, age 76, of Baker, Fla., passed away Friday, Nov. 3, 2000, at home surrounded by those who love her and by the many hearts of those she touched with her teachings.
Born on Jan. 8, 1924 in Opp, Ala., she became a much-loved resident of Baker and member of Shady Grove Assembly of God Church. Mrs. Brooks was a retired U.S. Postal Service employee.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Woodrow Brooks; her parents, Ivey and Estelle Kirkland; her brother, George Kirkland; and her sister, Annie Riley.
Survivors include her son and daughter-in-law, Ronald and Jean Brooks of St. Marks, Fla.; her daughter and son-in-law, Jerry and Addie Johnson of Crestview, Fla.; five grandchildren, Johnny Spicer and wife, Katie, of Baker, Jennifer Brooks of West Palm Beach, Fla., Dustin, Robert, and Rachel Brooks of St. Marks; two great-grandchildren, Ashley and Danny Spicer; her brother and sister-in-law, James and Vera Kirkland of Villa Rica, Ga.; five sisters, Ruth Harrell of Crestview, Jeanette and husband, Stanley Harlson of Holt, Fla., Kathleen and husband, Dalton Hutto, of Rome, Ind., Beth and husband, Buddy, Youngblood of Laurel Hill, Fla., and Betty Bright of Holt; sister-in-law, Rosia Ellis of Baker; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jim and Selma Brooks of Crestview; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Brooks was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She has always been a dedicated church worker, serving as mission's secretary and Sunday school teacher.
Her beloved husband of 52 years suffered a severe stroke 12 years prior to his death. She unselfishly and tirelessly took care of him all of those years, the last three of which he was totally bedridden.
At 71 years of age, she became a volunteer at Baker School, devoting many, many hours to elementary school children and those who needed special help. They all loved her dearly. At the age of 75, she fulfilled a lifetime dream by becoming a substitute teacher.
Mrs. Brooks always put others first, never thinking of herself. She was truly a model for any wife or mother to follow. All who knew her respected, trusted, and loved her. She will be greatly missed by her many relatives, friends, and co-workers. She was truly a woman from Proverbs 13.
Funeral services will be conducted from Shady Grove Assembly of God Church on Sunday, Nov. 5, 2000, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Paul Esminger officiating. Burial will follow at the Pyron Chapel Congregational Christian Church Cemetery in Baker. Mrs. Brooks will lie in state one hour prior to the service. Floral tributes may be accepted or the family suggests contributions to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
Whitehurst Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Fanny Fleischer
Fanny Fleischer was born on June 4, 1913, in Stryj, Poland, and died on Oct. 31, 2000, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Mrs. Fleischer obtained her D.D.S. degree from the University of Strausbourg, France, in 1937 and practiced in France before WWII. She spent the war years with the Polish Resistance Army and immigrated to the United States in 1946, living in Washington, D.C. She was active in the National Council of Jewish Women and Family Service of Maryland.
Mrs. Fleischer is survived by her son, Leslie Fleischer, and his wife, Pamela; and two grandchildren, Gillan, 19, and Darcy, 16.
Private family funeral services were conducted with Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in charge of arrangements.
Harvey L. Bryan
Mr. Harvey L. "Sonny" Bryan, age 63 of DeFuniak Springs passed away at his residence Saturday, Nov. 11, 2000. Mr. Bryan moved with his wife to DeFuniak Springs in 1996 after his retirement from Vitro Services in Fort Walton Beach where he was employed as an engineer for 37 years. Because of his love for hunting and fishing, Mr. and Mrs. Bryan chose this area to build their retirement home.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Bryan of DeFuniak Springs; two sons, Jerry Bryan and wife, Kristen of Tallahassee, and Dennis Bryan of Fort Walton Beach; one daughter, Cindy Bell and husband, Russ of DeFuniak Springs; a brother, Jack Bryan and wife, Bonnie of Anniston, Ala.; a sister, Linda Bryan Thompson of Neenah, Wis.; eight grandchildren, Katryna, Ashlee, Callie, Kendra, Seth, Shelby, Madeline, and Caleb also survive.
Flowers are being accepted. Pallbearers will be Richard Cannon, Randy Gilmore, Rex Kirkland, Joe Steele, and E.L. Westbrook. A time of visitation will be Monday evening, Nov. 13, 2000, from 6 until 8 p.m. in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, at 2 p.m. in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. J.C. McLendon officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery with Jerry Evans Funeral Home of DeFuniak Springs in charge of arrangements for Mr. Harvey L. "Sonny" Bryan, age 63, of DeFuniak Springs.
Ruth D. Donnar
Ruth D. Donnar, 81, of Mary Esther, Fla. passed away on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2000. She had moved to this area while in the Air Force from Maine. Ruth was a retired RN, having worked in the Fort Walton Beach area since the mid 1940's.
Ruth was a member of the Fort Walton Beach Power Squadron and was the first female commander. She was also a member of the Fort Walton Yacht Club and Elks Lodge, and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
She is survived by her husband, William of Mary Esther; two sons, Daniel T. Hails of Niceville and John D. Hails of Destin; four daughters, Peggy Johnson of Ackworth, Ga., Barbara Cantu of Lorraine, Ohio, Deborah Pierce of Lorraine, and Tracy Doyle of Elizabeth, Pa. She is also survived by many grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, at 2 p.m. at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with the Father Sean Garrett officiating. Family will receive friends on Monday, Nov. 13, 2000, from 5 to 7 p.m. with a rosary service at 6 p.m.
Burial will take place in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Rd., Fort Walton Beach, Fla. is in charge of arrangements.
Wilfredo Soto-Milan
Wilfredo Soto-Milan, age 51, of Fort Walton Beach passed away in a local hospital and went to join his father on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2000. He was born on Sept. 16, 1949, in Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. He had been a resident of the local area for the past 15 years, when he moved here from a military tour in Turkey. He was Presbyterian by faith.
Wilfredo was a wonderful loving dedicated husband and father. He honorably served his country in the U.S. Air Force for 24 years, retiring as a master sergeant. He loved to fish and garden. He had many, many friends that he loved and they loved him because of the thoughtful person he was and the funny things he did.
He was preceded in death by his father Luis A. Soto.
Survivors include his loving wife, Carmen Soto-Milan; mother, Carmen Milan of Puerto Rico; son, Luis A. Soto, a student at FSU in Tallahassee; daughter, Leemarie Soto of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; sister, Nilsa Soto of Puerto Rico. Funeral services with visitation will be held at Little Chapel Funeral Home on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2000, from 6 to 8 p.m. with service beginning at 7 p.m. with Pastor L.M. Thorne officiating, following services further services will take place in Puerto Rico.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. entrusted with the arrangements.
James J. Tringas
Mr. James J. Tringas, 81, of Fort Walton Beach, founder of First National Bank and Trust and the Tringas Theatres, passed away Saturday, Nov. 11, 2000 at 4:04 p.m. at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
He was surrounded by his family as he slipped peacefully from this world.
He was born in Pensacola, on Sept. 23, 1919, to Greek immigrant parents John Konstantine and Helen Stavros Tringas.
In 1940, after borrowing $700 from his father, he moved to Fort Walton Beach and opened a movie theatre.
The Tringas Theatres remained open for 59 years. Their last theatre, Cinco Cinema, closed in 1999.
In 1956, Jimmy co-founded First National Bank and Trust. He remained Chairman of the Board until he recently retired. The bank continues to be family owned and operated.
Jimmy loved the people and the City of Fort Walton Beach; therefore, he lived his life involved in community, local business, and military affairs.
He was a member of Quiet Birdman (a pilot's organization), charter member of the Fort Walton Beach Yacht Club, the Masonic Order, Order of Shriners and a life-long member of St. Markella and Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church.
He served this country in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
He was preceded in death by his brother, C.J. (Deno) Tringas and his beloved grandson, James Travis Tringas, who died Feb. 5 of this year.
A beloved husband and father, he is survived by his wife, Linda McCullough Tringas, son and daughter-in-law, John Tringas and Pat; son and daughter-in-law Alex Tringas and Susan; daughter and son-in-law Lark Tringas-Bostick and John; grandchildren Jason and Darren Sneed, Katrina and Alexis Tringas, and Mrs. Travis (Allyson) Tringas; great granddaughters, Parker and Preslee Tringas; step-children RaJane Hampton and Husband Mark, Kim Carter, Stacy Bishop and husband David; step grandchildren, Ali and Chad Hampton and Will Carter.
A time of visitation will be held Monday, Nov. 13, 2000, from 5 until 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary. Funeral services will begin at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Saint Simon's On the Sound Episcopal Church, with Fr. Dean Gigicos (of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Orlando) and the Rev. Fr. Jim Spencer officiating.
Interment will follow at Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach.
The family suggests, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the James Travis Tringas Memorial Foundation benefitting children's charities, care of First National Bank and Trust, P.O. Box 1327, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32549, or dropped off at any branch.
McLaughlin Mortuary, of Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
