U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014
Roland Arthur Nicholas
Roland A. "Rod" Nicholas of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away on Thursday, July 31, 2001, at Ochsner Hospital in New Orleans, where he had undergone several transplant procedures over the last seven months.
Rod was born at Walter Reed Army Hospital on June 10, 1950, to Capt. Walter U. and Bette Jeane Nicholas, the third of four children. He attended grade school at Holy Redeemer Catholic School in Kensington, Md., and high school at Walter Johnson in Bethesda, Md. Rod lived and worked in the Washington, D.C., area until 1964 when he moved his family to Seattle, where he established a small floor covering business. Over the next 18 years that business grew to over 150 employees and became the floor covering provider of choice to many of Seattle's building contractors.
In 1992, once again Rod moved his family to Fort Walton Beach, where he enjoyed semi-retirement, continuing to be involved in the management of his floor covering company and investing in local real estate. Rod loved the water as an avid fisherman and scuba diver. But his love was his wife, six children and his single granddaughter. He was a devoted husband and father who always placed his family first.
In spite of his business success and wealth Rod had achieved, he was a very unpretentious person who derived his greatest pleasures in life from spending time with his family and giving to others.
In addition to his friends and family, Rod touched the lives of many through his generous support and contributions to various local and national charities, St. Judes Children's Hospital, March of Dimes and numerous others. He also established and funded the Benevolence Fund through the Cornerstone Church of Christ to provide for the needy, especially for the elderly of Fort Walton Beach.
Rod is survived by his loving wife, Susan M. Nicholas; six children, Eric A. Nicholas, Jeromy O. Nicholas, Kyle R. Nicholas, Katy M. Nicholas, Michelle S. Nicholas and Brittney B. Nicholas; granddaughter, Mekensie A. Nicholas; mother, Bette J. Reed; and brothers, Walter U. Nicholas, Robert B. Nicholas and Richard A. Nicholas.
Memorial services will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4.
Ageless spirit transcends time, and reflects in those who are left behind. Rod Nicholas has passed on, but his reflection is never gone. He will always be with us in spirit!
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Patricia Ann Edwards
Patricia Ann "Pat" Edwards of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Tuesday morning, July 31, 2001.
Pat was born in Las Vegas on Jan. 18, 1951, to Norma and George Weldon. Pat, the last of three children, was blessed with a beautiful singing voice, which brought enjoyment to all who had the opportunity to hear her throughout the years.
Pat dedicated her life to her family. She looked upon parenting as a high calling to rival that of any profession. She came to understand that having a handicapped daughter was a special blessing from God and met every challenge with love and hard work. This was a lesson that she passed on to her son, who has shown the same compassion and understanding as his mother had.
Pat was diagnosed with an inoperable cancer late last year. She decided to pursue every course of action available to be with her family for as long as possible. She displayed a fierce determination and unequaled courage every day in battling this disease. Hers was a philosophy that celebrated life and the simple pleasures of the family. She will be greatly missed here on earth, but will no doubt be welcomed as an angelic addition to a heavenly choir.
She was preceded in death by her father, George Weldon, and her brother, Danny Weldon.
Pat is survived by her husband, Hal Edwards; her children, Tina and William "Billy"; mother, Norma Weldon; sister, Ruby Tincher; nieces, Michele Maksymyk, Kimberly Tincher, Jamie Tincher and Rebecca Weldon; and nephew, David Weldon.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday at Little Chapel Funeral Home with Hospice Chaplain Frank Dole officiating. Friends may also call one hour prior to the service. Following services, burial will be in Rocky Memorial Cemetery in Niceville.
Floral tributes are acceptable and will be received at the funeral home.
The family would like to express a special heartfelt thank you to the caring staff of Hospice of Northwest Florida.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Helen T. Drake
Helen T. Drake of Niceville, Fla., entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, July 31, 2001, at The Manor at Bluewater Bay. She was 86 years old.
The daughter of the late Walter O. and Mary Victory Brocker Tyler, she was born on Dec. 13, 1914, in Mobile, Ala. An Emerald Coast resident since 1979, she was a member of St. Jude's Episcopal Church of Niceville.
Survivors include her son, Thomas T. Sheffield of Mobile; daughter, Michael S. Baugh of Niceville; brother, Robert E. Tyler of Bay Minette, Ala.; sister, Betty T. Sims of Montgomery, Ala.; grandchildren, Tommy (Susan) Shieffield Jr. of Mobile, Thamie (Tim) Maynard of Mobile, Charles G. Baugh of Niceville, Diane (Kevin) Fraser of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; and five great-grandchildren, Amy Hawkins, Cameron and Casey Sheffield, Sarah and Catherine Fraser.
Visitation will be held on Friday, Aug. 3, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the church. Funeral services will follow at 1:30 p.m. at St. Jude's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Marty Conner officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in Helen's name to St. Jude's Church, 200 N. Partin Drive, Niceville, FL 32578; or to the American Heart Association, 222 Hospital Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
Arrangements under the direction of McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville.
Ruby Hogans
Funeral services for Ruby Hogans, age 79, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., widow of Robert Hogans Sr., will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Beulah Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach with the Rev. Scott Thigpen officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The remains will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services.
Survivors include a sister, Jewel Vaughan of Fort Walton Beach; and many other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Hogans died on July 28, 2001, in the Medical Center.
Cooper Funeral Home in Chipley, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Melvin Lee Hagler
Melvin Lee "Mel" Hagler passed away quietly on July 31, 2001, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Mel was born on Dec. 22, 1921, in Spartanburg, S.C., to Annie and Jesse Lee Hagler. He attended Spartanburg High School and Wofford College prior to joining the U.S. Navy, where he attained the rank of LT (jg) as a U.S. Navy pilot. While an instructor at NAS Whiting Field in Milton, Fla., he met and married Edwina Whittle, daughter of Edna and Jay Whittle. Mel was very active in community affairs in Milton, serving in Scouting, Red Cross disaster chairman, member of the City Council, a trustee of the Santa Rosa County Hospital, on the building committee of the First Baptist Church of Milton, president of Milton Kiwanis Club, and Milton Navy League, and secretary/treasurer of Milton Merchants Association.
Since 1959, while living in Fort Walton Beach, he was active in school affairs, served on the City of Fort Walton Beach Firemen's Retirement Pension Board, president of Fort Walton Beach Rotary Club, Rotarian of the Year for 1998-99 and was a Paul Harris fellow.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach. Mel retired after 25 years as an investment broker and executive vice president of A.G. Edwards and Sons Inc. of Fort Walton Beach, and was Broker of the Year for that office in 1988. Mel had a beautiful voice and did much solo and choir singing, both in Milton and Fort Walton Beach. Mel was a "people person" and looked forward to each day, always smiling.
His mother, father and brother Benny preceded him in death.
Mel leaves to mourn his passing his wife of 56 years, Edwina; children, Rebecca Hagler and husband Robert Eichelberger of Atlanta, Denise Hagler Erwin and husband Gary of Gainesville, Ga., Melvin Lee Hagler Jr. "Chip" and wife Janice of Tallahassee, Fla.; grandchildren, Joey Riley and fianc�e Wendy Malanowski of Atlanta, Victoria Hagler Jackson and husband Danny of Mize, Miss., Teddy Cotter of Utah, Shea and Pete Tolbert of Mauldin, S.C., and Ashley Lynn Erwin of Gainesville, Ga.; great-grandchildren, Amber Cotter, and Max and Madalyn Tolbert. Mel also leaves his brother, Carl Hagler of Coral Gables, Fla.; sister, Dorris Goodyear of Charlotte, N.C.; and his brother, Bill Hagler and wife Betty and their children of Huntsville, Ala.; several cousins of South Carolina and Florida; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Boots and Ralph Tate of Winter Haven, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Peggy McBride of Hawaii, JoAnn Dunn of Milton, Fla., and Dot Whittle of Gainesville, Fla., and their families; and extended families, Jack and Mui To and son, Tommy, of Fort Walton Beach; and other members of the Nims family.
Funeral services will be conducted on Friday, Aug. 3, at First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach at 4 p.m. with Dr. Howard Gates, Dr. Wes Yates and Dr. Joe Bamberg officiating. There will be a visitation period beginning at 3 p.m. in the church sanctuary. Burial will be conducted at the Fort Walton Beach Cemetery on Beal Parkway immediately following the service.
Those serving as pallbearers are John Beard, Ted Shaw, Edmond Waters, Toopie Work, Bill Pryor, Dale Karnes, Ray Campbell and Bill Howard.
Flowers or donations to the building fund of First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach in memory of Mel will be appreciated.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
Mark T. LaHaye
Mark T. LaHaye, age 44, of Stone Mountain, Ga., died Monday, July 30, 2001.
He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Michelle LaHaye of St. Simons Island, Ga.; parents, Tom and Mary LaHaye of Gulf Shores, Ala.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Lori and Patrick Clark of Bedford, Texas, Kathy L. and Kevin Walsh of Columbia, S.C., Diane and Maj. Erik Simonson of Waconia, Minn.; brother and sister-in-law, Michael and Lori LaHaye of Alpharetta, Ga.; and three nieces.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, in the chapel.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Jennifer M. LaHaye Trust Fund, c/o IAM P.O. Box 923086, Norcross, GA 30010; or to the American Heart Association.
The family requests no flowers be sent.
Louis E. Jones Funeral Home, Alpharetta, is in charge of arrangements.
Marie A. Bell
Marie A. Bell, age 59, of Niceville, Fla., passed away July 30, 2001, at Emerald Point Nursing Home.
Mrs. Bell was born on May 6, 1942, in Niceville and worked as a cashier until she retired. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Niceville.
Survivors include her sons, Ricky Wilkerson and Johnny Wilkerson, both of Niceville; daughters, Camellia Floyd and husband Jimmie of Dothan, Ala., and Cece Franklin of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; brother, Johnny C. Bell; sister, Miriam Owens, both of Niceville; seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at Rosemont Baptist Church of Niceville at 10 a.m. Thursday with the Rev. S.W. Smith officiating.
Brackney Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Larry Michael O'Brien
Larry Michael O'Brien, E-6, U.S. Navy retired, 643 Alysheba Drive, Crestview, Fla., died Monday, July 30, 2001, at his residence.
He retired from the U.S. Navy and was employed with Modern Tech Inc. in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., until ill health caused his retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Lori Wise O'Brien; daughters, Shannon, Jennie and Katie O'Brien; mother, Martha Riley O'Brien, all of Crestview; sister, Deborah Allen of Tallahassee, Fla.; niece, Tamara Allen; and nephew, Brien Allen.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Aug. 3, at the funeral home chapel with Father Mike Kerin officiating. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Musgrove Chapel Cemetery.
Miles Funeral Home, Winfield, Ala., is in charge of arrangements.
Linda L. Adams
Linda L. Adams, age 58, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Monday, July 30, 2001, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Adams was born on Oct. 26, 1942, in Midland, Ohio, and moved to Crestview in July 1973.
Survivors include her husband, Richard Adams of Crestview; sons, Richard Lee Adams and Chad Allen Adams; daughters, Polly Mae Macke, Jonitta Vanhoose and Darlene Wright; brother, Sonny Long; sisters, Jean Stratton, Helen Kalawski, Mary Long and Delores Painter; two granddaughters; and six grandsons.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Brackney Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements.
Mary E. Brown
Mary E. Brown, age 57, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Friday, July 27, 2001, in a local nursing facility.
She was born in Palm Beach, Fla., to Hubert and Meda Carver on Dec. 18, 1943. She was a retired RN and a Hospice volunteer.
Survivors include her sons, Michael W. Rogers of San Diego, and Tommy Rogers of Crestview; brother, James Carver; sister and brother-in-law, Meda and Cody Trent of Crestview; three nephews; and a niece.
Mary loved life. She fought a terminal disease for 30 years. No more pain for Mary. She is with her heavenly father. Mary gave a hug to those in need. She will shine on in our lives forever. She was proud of her two sons as they were her pride and joy. They were in her thoughts and prayers daily. We will miss you dear loved one. You will always be in our memories.
The family has requested memorialization by cremation and there will be no additional services.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is entrusted with arrangements.
