Edna Simmons
Mrs. Edna Simmons, a long-time resident of Freeport, expired Saturday, Jan. 27, 2001, at St. Andrews Health and Rehabilitation Center.
She was born June 13, 1905, in Bruce, and was of the Methodist Faith.
Survivors include two daughters, Faye Clemmons Burkett of Simmons Bayou and Joanne Davis Yates and husband Dewey of Panama City; grandchildren William A. Davis IV, and wife Teresa, Beth Davis, Bobby Burkett, Pat Burkett Johnson and husband Jimmy Johnson, Glenda Burkett Kennedy and husband Rev. James Kennedy, Mike Burkett and wife Peggy, and Gregg Burkett; 13 great-grandchildren, 11 great-great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, John Wesley Clemmons and James Simmons; two sons-in-law, Rev. William A. Davis III, and G. Lawrence Burkett, and one great-grandson, Brian Burkett.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30,2001, at the Black Creek United Methodist Church with Pastor T.C. Moon officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29, 2001. Asked to serve as pallbearers are grandsons, Bobby Burkett, Mike Burkett, Gregg Burkett, William A. Davis IV, Rev. James Kennedy and Jimmy Johnson.
Kent-Forest Lawn is serving the family.
Frankie L. Duke
Mrs. Frankie L. Duke, age 65, of Fort Walton Beach, passed away in a local hospital on Friday, Jan. 26, 2001, with her family at her side.
Mrs. Duke was preceded in death by her husband, Charles E. Duke, on Dec. 23, 1999, and is survived by her mother, Ruth Mason of Fort Walton Beach; a son, Doug Duke and his wife Julie, of Lynn Haven; daughter Robin Rucker and her husband Daniel of New York; daughter Janice Rogers of Fort Walton Beach; grandchildren Trevor Duke, Taylor Duke, Wade Rucker, Jimmy Rogers, Nicholas Rogers and Sarah Rogers.
Mrs. Duke was tireless in her devotion to her family. She unconditionally loved and welcomed everyone into her home.
The family will receive friends at Emerald Coast Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m., Monday, Jan. 29, 2001.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Tuesday, Jan. 30, 2001 in the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with rev. Randy Duke officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Barbara Abshire
Barbara Abshire, age 56, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Friday morning, Jan. 26, 2001, at her residence.
She was born on Dec. 8, 1944, in Pittsburgh to Frank and Anna Aubel. She moved to Fort Walton Beach 23 years ago and was a member of St. Peter's Catholic Church in Mary Esther, Fla. She enjoyed bowling and boating as a hobby.
Mrs. Abshire was preceded in death by her mother, Anna Aubel; brother, Frank Aubel III; and grandson, Joshua Dale Abshire.
She is survived by her husband, Daniel Abshire of Fort Walton Beach; father, Frank Aubel of Navarre, Fla.; son, Daniel Abshire Jr. and wife Ronda of Gulf Breeze, Fla.; son, Eric Abshire and wife Amy of Fort Walton Beach; grandson, Eric Abshire Jr. of Fort Walton Beach; grandson, Daniel Abshire III of Gulf Breeze; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Raymond and Esther Powell of Mary Esther; and many dear friends.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 2, at St. Peter's Catholic Church with Father Joseph Callipare officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Florida Division, P.O. Box 13300, Tampa, FL 33681-3300, in memory of Mrs. Barbara Abshire.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
George French Horner
George French Horner, age 78, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Sunday, Jan. 28, 2001, in a local hospital.
He was born in Enid, Okla., on Aug. 19, 1922, to Clifford and Minnie Horner, and lived in this area for the past 24 years. He was a member of the Seventh-day Adventist and Elks Lodge 1795 of Fort Walton Beach; past president of the Fort Walton Beach Community Chorus; and past president of the Emerald Coast Concert Association.
He is survived by his loving wife, Ida Doris Horner of Mary Esther; sons, George French Horner Jr. of Los Angeles, and Donald Baxley Horner of Mary Esther; daughters, Llyn C. French of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Annette Horner of Brooksville, Fla.; and grandchildren, Caitlin, Tara, Justin, Donald, Brandon and Brian.
A visitation will be held at McLaughlin Mortuary from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at McLaughlin Mortuary Chapel. Interment will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., at 1:15 p.m., with military honors.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
Victory S. Smith
Victory Sidney Smith, a lifelong resident of Baker, Fla., went home to be with his Lord and Savior and his loving wife, Perry Lee Smith, on Jan. 28, 2001.
He was born on June 28, 1919, and was 81 years old.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Doc and Cynthia Jane Smith. Survivors include his three children, all of Baker: Betty J. Ward and husband Michael Ward, Vicky Robinson, and Donnie L. Smith and wife Gloria; seven grandchildren; one great-grandchild; brother, Durell Smith of Washington, D.C.; sister-in-law, Marian Sturrup; a brother-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mr. Smith was a member of Milligan Baptist Church.
We will truly miss our Dad and the stories he always told.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, and funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. David Van Zandt and Ted Jernagin officiating. Burial will be in Griffith Cemetery.
The family requests that any flowers that friends may send be of the artificial type.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, 492 E. Pine Ave., Crestview, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Alma E. Demyanovich
Alma E. Demyanovich, age 69, of Freeport, Fla., passed away Jan. 28, 2001.
She was born on March 22, 1931, in Deerfield, N.H., and lived in Freeport since 1993.
Survivors include her husband, George Demyanovich; sisters, Betty Cole of Freeport, and Laline Androlewicz of Montana; daughter, Francine Walker of Deerfield; sons, Brian, Shawn and Scott Demyanovich of New Hampshire; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Alma was a member of First Baptist Church of Freeport and of the Lions Club of Freeport.
A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Freeport.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to either the American Cancer Society or First Baptist Church of Freeport.
Donald J. Rollins
Donald J. Rollins, born in Santa Rosa, Calif., on Oct. 7, 1931, gave up a long battle with cancer and arrived to meet his Lord on Jan. 29, 2001.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Cyrus M. and Ora Rollins. Mr. Rollins grew up in the Sierra Mountains, attending elementary school in Camptonville, Calif., and graduating in 1949 from high school in Nevada Union High School near Grass Valley, Calif. Don was foreman of Baker's Ranch in California from 1949 to 1951.
He volunteered for the U.S. Air Force in 1951, graduated from California Flyers School of Aeronautics and served at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Alaska through 1954. Meeting Marianne Colvert, schoolteacher in Alaska, they were married in Little Rock, Ark., in 1955.
Completing Mississippi College with a bachelor's degree in psychology, he and Marianne went to Ruby, Alaska, and taught in a two teacher school, and then Don worked at Long Creek Gold Mine until he entered Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1959. Graduating with a Masters of Divinity, Don and Marianne were appointed by the North American Mission Board to Alaska Missions. They served together in the villages of Fort Yukon and King Salmon. Don established missions in Venetie, Chalkyitsik and Ekwok, Alaska. In 1980, Don returned to Anchorage/Eagle River, reopening the Alaska Baptist Native School of Theology. During his time as director of this school he established the Alaska Native Mission and also pastored First Native Baptist Church. Don used his flat bottom river boat to reach other villages and fish camps, ministering there as well as flying the mission Super Cub to surrounding villages.
Running the rivers of the Yukon increased his avid love of fishing and hunting, providing moose, caribou and fish for his family and others. This love of fishing and his association with First Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., led the Rollins' to retire in Shalimar, Fla., in 1993. His association with his neighbors, fishing buddies, his beloved First Baptist Church enriched his life and his love for the beauty and spirit of Northwest Florida.
He is survived by his beloved wife, Marianne, to whom he was married for 45 years. He is survived also by his precious children: his son and daughter-in-law, Stephen and Donna Rollins of Seaside, Calif., his daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bryan Simmons of Stafford, Va., his son, Bryan Rollins of Austin, Texas. He is also survived by his brothers and sisters-in-law, Acea and Marge Rollins of Ninilchik, AK., and Cy and Diane Rollins of Goodyear's Bar, Calif.; his sister and brother-in-law, Leora and Frank Ellis of Santa Rosa; his sister, May Bray of Grass Valley, Calif.; and sister-in-law, Ann Colvert of Houston.
Also dear to his heart were his three grandsons, Jonathon, Braden and Benjamin Simmons of Stafford; and 14 nieces and nephews.
Mr. Rollins' remains will lie in state at McLaughlin Mortuary. The visitation will be from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the family residence. Memorial services for Mr. Rollins will be at First Baptist Church on Thursday, Feb. 1, at 1:30 p.m. with Dr. Howard Gates officiating, assisted by Dr. John DeFoore of Boerne, Texas. A private burial will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery.
Honorary pallbearers will be Brentwood Bryan, Bruce Garner, Horace Lucas, Joe Gilmer, Walt Taylor, Bernard Murray, Robert Bennett, Ralph White, Charles Wimberly, Charles Nelson, Joe Telford, Stan Shaneyfelt, Robert Dougan, Myron Howell, George Stone, Lewie Tidwell, Michael McVay, Trent Sorrells, Don Setterberg and J.R. LeBlanc.
Memorial contributions may be sent to First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach for Missions Outreach, Alaska Baptist Native School of Theology, Hospice of Northwest Florida, or the American Cancer Society.
McLaughlin Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Herbert Weinstein
Herbert Weinstein, age 93, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Jan. 29, 2001, at his home.
He was born on Dec. 3, 1907, in Bayonne, N.J., son of the late Harris and Gussie Weinstein. He was a resident of Shalimar since 1977, moving here from New Jersey. Mr. Weinstein was a retired pharmacist and a member of Temple Beth Shalom.
Mr. Weinstein is survived by his daughter, Yvette Litwack and husband David of Shalimar; grandchildren, Mark Litwack and wife Mary of Virginia Beach, Va., Norman Litwack and wife Dana of Atlanta, and Samuel Litwack and wife Ronit of Ellicott City, Md. He is also survived by his great-grandchildren, Alex, Lauren, Zachary, Alina and Rebecca.
Graveside services and burial will be held in Staten Island, N.Y., under the direction of Menorah Chapels. Flowers are gratefully declined, and those wishing may make a contribution in his memory to Temple Beth Shalom.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of local arrangements.
Dionisio Rios Nieves
Dionisio Rios "Santo" Nieves, age 74, passed away in a local hospital Monday, Jan. 29, 2001.
He was born on Sept. 20, 1926, in Bayaney, Puerto Rico. He was a native of New York and had returned to Puerto Rico. Three years ago he moved to this area to be near his daughter. He was Catholic by faith.
Mr. Nieves loved life, being around people, and loved to sing. He also enjoyed flowers and gardening.
He is survived by his loving wife, Juana Lucena Rodriguez, of 38 years; sons, Raymond Morales and Edward Morales, both of Fairfax, Va.; daughter, Ruth Rosario of Navarre, Fla.; brother, Ramon Rios Nieves; sisters, Anna Marie Candelaria, and Rosa Rios Nieves, all of Puerto Rico.
A memorial prayer service with visitation will be held on Wednesday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Little Chapel Funeral Home. The prayer service will begin at 7 p.m. with Father Sean Garrett officiating.
Following local services "Dionisio" will return to his homeland of Puerto Rico for further services and burial. Funeral services in Puerto Rico will be under the direction of Funeral Capilla Gonzales, Santa Cruz Cementerio, Caterrera 129, Kilometro 3.3, Arecibo Puerto Rico 00612. Floral tributes may be made in Puerto Rico through the flower shop: Floreseteria Abacoa (787) 878-0550 or after 6 p.m. (787) 878-0081.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with local arrangements.
Flora Bell Jones
Flora Bell Jones, age 72, of Laurel Hill, Fla., passed away Monday afternoon, Jan. 29, 2001, in a local hospital.
She was born on June 18, 1928, in Jasper, Fla., and lived in Okaloosa County for the past 43 years. Mrs. Jones was a member of South Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband of 49 years, Henry Jones of Laurel Hill; son, Ewell Jones of Liberty, Fla.; daughter and husband, Joyce and Phillip Anthony Snipes of Laurel Hill; brothers, Oliver Trotter of Jasper and Roland Trotter of Linden, Ala.; and grandchildren, Steven Edward Jones, Jessica Ann Snipes and Chad Anthony Snipes.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at South Ebenezer Baptist Church. Burial will follow in Almarante Cemetery. Mrs. Jones will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Norma Jean Moye
Norma Jean Moye, wife of 51 years, mother and nannie was perfectly healed by her Father on Jan. 30, 2001.
She spent her final days at home surrounded by her loving family.
Throughout her courageous battle with cancer she remained a lady of perfect dignity. Through her pain she worried about the wellbeing of those she loved with all her heart.
Norma Jean was born on May 29, 1931, to Pasco and Eva Raybon. She was preceded in death by her parents and a brother, Millard Raybon. She is survived by her devoted husband, Kenneth Moye; daughter and son-in-law, Marsha and Mitchell Norman; granddaughters, Tisha Melton and Tippi Mendes; great-granddaughters, Baylee and Grace; sister and brother-in-law, Tom and Mary Lee Merritt; brother and sister-in-law, James and Betty Raybon; sister-in-law, Dorothy Raybon; and brother-in-law, Thomas Lamm; and her extended New Bethel Church family.
She devoted her entire life to loving her family and was the solid foundation upon which their strong love for each other was based. They anxiously await the day they will all be reunited.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 2, from New Bethel United Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery. Mrs. Moye will lie in state at the church one hour prior to funeral services.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 1, at the funeral home.
She so loved flowers and they will be very welcome; or a donation may be made in Norma's memory to New Bethel Methodist Church in Crestview.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Ilan Guyane Reed
Ilan Guyane Reed, age 85, of Mary Esther, Fla., died Jan. 30, 2001, at a local hospital.
She was born in Piedmont, Ala., daughter of the late John M. and Carrie M. Martin. She resided in Mary Esther since 1990, having moved here from Rockmart, Ga. Mrs. Reed was retired from the healthcare industry and was a member of Mary Esther Church of Christ. While living in Rockmart she was a member of Rockmart Church of Christ, having been a member there for over 60 years. Mrs. Reed was an avid gardener and enjoyed growing vegetables and raising dahlia.
Funeral services will be conducted at 4 p.m. Wednesday at Emerald Coast Funeral Home with Mr. Joey Rankin officiating. Visitation will be held from 3 p.m. until the hour of services. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery in Rockmart under the direction of Alvis Miller and Sons Funeral Home.
Those wishing to send flowers are asked to send them to Alvis Miller and Sons Funeral Home in Rockmart; or those wishing may make a contribution in Mrs. Reed's memory to the Diabetes Research and Wellness Foundation, P.O. Box 231, Shrub Oak, NY 10588-9910.
She is survived by two sons, Riley Edwin Reed and wife Patricia of Mary Esther, and Douglas Andrew Reed and wife Robbie of Marietta, Ga.; sister, Clara Gober and husband Ira of Rockmart; eight grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a sister, Evelyn Potts; and brother, Morris M. Martin.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
