Dorris Jean Lowe
Dorris Jean Lowe, age 57, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away suddenly Sept. 17, 2001.
She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church.
Dorris is survived by her husband, Mike; daughter, Lisa; and sons, James, John and Robert. She is also survived by four grandsons, Jami, Kyle, Kevin and Danny.
Funeral services will be private.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
James W. Sasser Sr.
James W. Sasser of Niceville, Fla., entered into eternal rest on Monday, Sept. 17, 2001. He was 77 years old.
The son of the late John D. and Fannie Lou Helms Sasser, he was born on Feb. 13, 1924, in Valparaiso, Fla. James, a lifetime resident, was a member of Rosemont Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for over 20 years. He was also an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed the fishing and hunting along the Emerald Coast.
Survivors include his wife of many years, Mary Ethel Sasser of Niceville; sons, James Sasser Jr. and wife Terri of Montgomery, Ala., and John Sasser and wife Wanda of Patterson, Ga.; daughter, Mary Kirkland and husband Eddie of Blackshear, Ga.; 10 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 20, at Rosemont Baptist Church in Niceville with the Rev. Scharber Smith officiating. Burial will take place in Sunset Cemetery.
Arrangements under the direction of McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville.
Douglas C. Kipp
Douglas C. Kipp, age 85, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at his residence.
Mr. Kipp was born on Sept. 16, 1916, in Springfield, Mass., and was a resident of this area since 1985. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of dedicated service to his country and was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He was a member of VFW and will be remembered for his love of gardening and nature.
Mr. Kipp is survived by his wife Nita Kipp of Mary Esther; sons, Thomas W. Balance III of New Bern, N.C., James R. Balance of Greensboro, N.C., Archie D. Balance of Charlotte, N.C., and William H. Balance of Winston-Salem, N.C.; seven grandchildren; and his very close and dear friends, James Stewart of Mary Esther, and Glen Yost of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Memorial services will be held at noon on Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the chapel of McLaughlin Mortuary. Inurnment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
Willie N. Ward
Willie N. Ward, age 89, of Bruce, Fla., passed away Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, in Walton County Convalescent Center.
Mr. Ward was born on Oct. 29, 1911, in Bruce, the son of J.J. and Florence Burke Ward. He was a lifelong resident of Bruce and was employed at Eglin Air Force Base for a number of years. He loved to fish and spent his time in retirement, farming and raising farm animals as a hobby.
Mr. Ward was a member of Bruce United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Rigdon Ward; and daughter, Mazie Jo Carter.
Survivors include his daughter, Opal Godsey and husband Earl of Red Bay; son, Bill Ward and wife Faye of Bruce; brother, Joseph Guy Ward of Bruce; grandchildren, Kenny, Dewey, Josh, Julie, Donna and Karen; and 12 great-grandchildren.
Flowers are being accepted.
A time of visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Bruce United Methodist Church with the Revs. Bill Young and Mike McVay officiating. Burial will follow in Dead River Cemetery.
Jerry Evans Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Mary L. Pruitt
Mary L. "Aunt Doodie" Pruitt, age 87, of Navarre, Fla., died Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, at her home. She was led by a host of angels to her home in Heaven.
Doodie was the daughter of Robert Chanler and Martha Cecelia Tolbert, born on Aug. 27, 1914. She was employed by her father at the Jot-un-Down store. She later accepted a job at Hurlburt Field and retired after 26 years. She was a charter member of Holley Assembly of God Church and taught the Beginners Classes for 40 years, retiring in 1985. Mrs. Pruitt loved the Lord and wanted to spread his love to everyone she met. She was an avid fan of the Milton Panthers, attending games with her special friend, Annette Wells.
She leaves to cherish her memory her husband of 65 years, Sim of Navarre; daughter, Lois Ann and husband James T. Lewis; grandson, Matt Lewis; granddaughters, Trudy Lewis and Bob Duncan; great-granddaughter, Ceceliah Paige Lewis, who was her greatest joy; brother and sister-in-law, Ray and Bobbie Tolbert; sisters-in-law, Leatha Tolbert, Ruth Halstead, Mae Coleman, Gertrude Herman, Margaret Tolbert, and Sue and Howard Bernard.
Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Holley Assembly of God with the Rev. Greg Coleman officiating. Burial will be in Holley Point Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be nephews and great-nephews; and members of NYSA will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Lewis Funeral Home, Navarre Chapel, is in charge of arrangements.
Ida M. Green
Ida M. Green of Valparaiso, Fla., entered into eternal rest on Saturday, Sept. 22, 2001. She was 82 years old.
The daughter of the late Felton and Minnie Simmons Wallace, she was born on Oct. 14, 1918, in Waldoboro, Maine.
Ida was preceded in death by her husband, Robert S. Green, who died in May 2001. Survivors include two sons, Allen Winchenbach of Hillsboro, Ohio, and Gerald Winchenbach of Niceville, Fla.; sister, Inez Braiz of Waldoboro; six grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A visitation will take place from 3 to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at McLaughlin Twin Cities chapel. Funeral services will begin at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Dale Julio officiating.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent in Ida's name to Rocky Bayou Baptist Church, 2401 N. Partin St., Niceville, FL 32578.
Interment will take place on Saturday, Sept. 29, in Sweetland Cemetery in Waldoboro.
Arrangements under the direction of McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville.
Nora Johnson
Nora Dell Gainey Johnson went to be with the Lord on Sept. 23, 2001, in Crestview, Fla.
She was born in Crestview on June 1, 1939, and was a lifelong resident of Walton County, Fla. She loved to play bingo, fishing, and country cooking. Spending time with her children and grandchildren brought joy to her.
Mrs. Johnson was preceded in death by her father, Charlie W. Gainey; and mother, Saddie Hudson Gainey. She was a member of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in DeFuniak Springs, Fla., and was attending Mossy Head Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband of 41 years, Grady E. Johnson of Mossy Head, Fla.; sons, Donald Johnson and wife Judy of Kinston, N.C., Ronald Johnson of Mossy Head, Jimmy Johnson and wife Tammy of Mossy Head, and Roy Johnson and wife Caroline of New Harmony, Fla.; daughter, Barbara Johnson of Mossy Head; brother, Wilbur Gainey of Crestview; sisters, Norma Carver and husband Sanford of Crestview, Willie Corbin of Crestview, and Eula Mae Broxton of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; grandchildren, Krystal Whatley, Ashley Johnson, Ryan Johnson, Megan Johnson, Taylor Johnson, Rebecca Johnson and Jacob Johnson. She was also survived by numerous nieces and nephews; and two special friends, Judy Wingate and Linda Wells.
A time of visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, at Comander Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Duffey officiating. Burial will follow in Mossy Head Cemetery.
Comander Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Charles S. Kneeland Jr.
Charles Stevenson Knee-land Jr., age 62, of Destin, Fla., died Sept. 20, 2001, while enjoying an Italian vacation with his wife of 43 years, Catherine Pilley Kneeland.
Mr. Knee-land was born on May 19, 1939, in Dallas to Charles Stevenson and Dorothy Bedwell Kneeland. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1957, obtaining his accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1963. He built an illustrious career in the mattress industry, beginning with Simmons Mattress Co. in 1959. In 1968 he joined the sales force of Sealy Mattress Co., serving as its president from 1986 until his retirement in 1989. He was called out of retirement in 1995 when asked by the Restonic Mattress Co. to become its chairman and CEO, a duty that he fulfilled until 2001.
Steve was an active golfer and world traveler.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine of Destin; son, Charles "Chuck" Kneeland III of Dallas; daughter, Nancy Woodall and husband Larry of Bartonville, Texas; daughter, Jeanie Kneeland of Denver; son, William "Bill" and wife Laurie Kneeland of Plano, Texas; granddaughters, Lauren and Katelyn Woodall; three nieces; one nephew; and several cousins. He was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth "Betty" Kneeland Thomas.
There will be open visitation on Thursday, Sept. 27, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Church of the Incarnation, 3966 McKinney Ave., Dallas. Interment will follow at Restland Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hillsdale College, attention Ann Lewis, Moss Hall, Hillsdale, MI 49242. Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, Dallas, is in charge of arrangements.
Douglas C. Kipp
Douglas C. Kipp, age 85, of Mary Esther, Fla., passed away Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at his residence.
Mr. Kipp was born on Sept. 16, 1916, in Spring-field, Mass., and was a resident of this area since 1985. He retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of dedicated service to his country and was a survivor of Pearl Harbor. He was a member of VFW and will be remembered for his love of gardening and nature.
Mr. Kipp is survived by his wife Nita Kipp of Mary Esther; sons, Thomas W. Balance III of New Bern, N.C., James R. Balance of Greensboro, N.C., Archie D. Balance of Charlotte, N.C., and William H. Balance of Winston-Salem, N.C.; seven grandchildren; a loving cousin, Dorothy Powers of Connecticut; and his very close and dear friends, James Stewart of Mary Esther, and Glen Yost of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Memorial services will be held at noon on Wednesday in the chapel of McLaughlin Mortuary. Inurnment will follow in Arlington National Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary is entrusted with arrangements.
Betty Jane DeGroat
Betty Jane DeGroat, age 40, passed away unexpectedly in her Portland, Fla., home early Sunday morning, Sept. 23, 2001.
She was the daughter of the late Wallace "Tom" Hamilton and Ruth Hamilton of Portland. Betty was a member of Christ the King Mission Catholic Church in Freeport. She will be terribly missed by many friends and family. She was the life of every party.
She is survived by her husband of nine years, Brian DeGroat of Portland; mother, Ruth Hamilton; daughter, Megan Ruth Hamilton, both of Portland; brothers, Thomas Richard Hamilton of Choctaw Beach, Fla., and John David Hamilton of DeFuniak Springs, Fla.; sister, Colleen Davis of Severen, Md.; aunt, Marion Callen of Oswego, N.Y.; and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 28, at Christ the King Mission Catholic Church in Freeport with Monsignor James Flaherty officiating. Burial will follow in Hatcher Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Don Alford, Michael Hamilton, James Hamilton, A.J. Hamilton, Steve Wilkerson and David Callen.
A time of visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at Clary-Godwin Freeport Chapel.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Covenant Hospice, formerly Hospice of Northwest Florida, 101 Hart St., Niceville, FL 32578.
Clary-Godwin Freeport Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
June Marie Rigney
June Marie Rose Rigney (Garner) was called home to our heavenly father Monday, Sept. 24, 2001, after a short battle with cancer.
June died at home surrounded by her family and friends. Born in London, England, on June 20, 1936, to William and Sarah Garner, number 12 of 13 children, June met and married Hugh J. Rigney on July 4, 1956 during his assignment with the U.S. Air Force.
She is survived by six children, Thomas Rigney (Kenna) of Salt Lake City, Cheryl Fontenette of Slidell, La., Linda Campbell of Mandeville, Hugh Rigney Jr. of Hammond, La., Dale Rigney (Donna) of Alexandria, and Melanie Patterson (Tony) of Houston. A brother, Dennis Garner of Christchurch; and sister, Janet Garner of Southampton, England; and 13 grandchildren. She is also survived by loving families in England; and special friends, Andrew, Adelle and little Andrew Service.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral services at 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home chapel. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until time of service. Interment will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
E.J. Fielding Funeral Home, Covington, La., is in charge of arrangements.
James L. Williams
James L. Williams of Niceville, Fla., entered into rest on Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, at his home. He was 58 years old.
The son of William L. and Mary Cox Williams, he was born on July 16, 1943, in Hattiesburg, Miss. A resident of the Emerald Coast for 35 years, James was the owner of "Jim's and Marti's Trophies." He was also a member of Shriners and Masonic Lodge 380. He will be deeply missed by both his family and many loyal friends.
Survivors include his parents, William and Mary Williams; wife, Marsha "Marti" Williams at home; sons, Jeffrey C. Williams of Niceville, and Duncan L. Williams and wife Stacy of Washington, D.C.; and sister, Beth Winter and husband Greg of Gulf Breeze, Fla.
Visitation will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at the funeral home. Funeral services will follow at 4 p.m. with the Rev. Lou Wilder officiating. Burial will be in Heritage Gardens Cemetery in Niceville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations in Jim's name be made to the Uniform Firefighters Association, 204 E. 23rd St., New York, NY 10010, attention Widow and Childrens Fund.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, is entrusted with arrangements.
