Samuel Perry Curry
Chief Master Sgt. Samuel Perry Curry, U.S. Air Force retired, age 82, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Feb. 7, 2002, after a long illness.
He spent over 30 years of devoted service to the United States of America in the Air Force at various bases as NCOIC of Security Police, retiring in 1972. He then worked at Okaloosa-Walton Community College, retiring after 10 years.
He was born in Duncanville, Ala., on Nov. 15, 1919. Mr. Curry and his wife have lived in Niceville since his retirement.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Harriet Curry of Niceville; four daughters, Bridget and her husband Hank Allen, Josie and her husband Steve Howard, Melissa and her husband Richard Fragale, and Bonnie and her husband William Wright; and seven grandchildren, Dee, Laura, Justin, Amber, Cynthia, Will, and Kyle.
Visitation will take place on Sunday, Feb. 10, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., with a memorial service at 10:30 a.m. at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Heritage Gardens, with military honors.
Floral tributes or donations to Hospice of Niceville are welcome.
Eunice E. Mason
Eunice E. Mason, age 79, a resident of Niceville, Fla., for 54 years passed away in a local hospital Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002.
Eunice was born on Jan. 1, 1923, in Crestview, Fla.
Eunice is survived by her caregiver and longtime friend of 13 years, George Rushing; sister, Almeda Lanier of Cambridge, Calif.; Flossy Lingerfeld of Mobile, Ala.; and brother, Loyd Edge of Crestview, Fla.
Visitation for family and friends will be held at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home on Sunday, Feb. 10, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted on Monday, Feb. 11, at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home at 11 a.m., with visitation one hour before the service. Brother Ken Boller will officiate. Interment will be in Black Oak Cemetery in Portland, Fla.
Arrangements entrusted to McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville.
Sally Patterson
Sally Patterson, age 67, passed away Feb. 5, 2002.
Sally was a longtime resident of Grayton Beach, Fla., and attended Walton County ARC for many years.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Wilhelmina Miller Patterson; and father, W.L. Patterson.
She is survived by her siblings, Shirley P. Sahlie, Malcolm L. Patterson and Linda P. Eyer of Grayton Beach, and Susan P. Hood of Tallahassee, Fla.; 14 nieces and nephews; and 16 great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Point Washington United Methodist Church, 1290 North Highway 395, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., with the Rev. Tonya L. Elmore officiating, assisted by the Rev. Harry Houseman. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery.
A time of visitation will be on Saturday from noon to 1 p.m. at Point Washington United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Walton County ARC, P.O. Box 813, DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435; or to Point Washington United Methodist Church, 1290 North Highway 395, Point Washington, FL 32454.
Clary-Godwin Freeport Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Helen H. Wilson
Helen Hodnett Wilson of Mary Esther, Fla., died Feb. 7, 2002, in a local hospital.
She was born in Kingston, R.I., and graduated from Pembroke College of Brown University in 1938.
She is survived by her husband of 60 years, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph G. Wilson, with whom she traveled the world during 35 years of military service, making homes in Okinawa, Canada, Japan and Italy, and in many places in this country, including Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. They lived in Mary Esther since 1982.
Their first child, Air Force Lt. Joseph G. Wilson III, was an F-4 pilot killed in Vietnam in 1969. Surviving children include Robert Wilson of Manassas, Va., and Laurie Kelly of Destin, Fla. She is also survived by seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach. Burial will be later at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Williamsburg, Va.
The family asks that memorial donations be made to the St. Jude's Children's Hospital in Memphis.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Helen E. Morris
Helen Elizabeth Morris
(nee Mayo) passed away
Feb. 5, 2002, in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Born on Feb. 19, 1909, in Schenectady, N.Y., "Honey," as she was known to her family and friends, grew up in nearby Scotia. Having graduated from Scotia High School in 1926, she was honored last year as the oldest class member to attend her 75th high school reunion. She received her teaching degree at New Paltz State Teachers' College and taught kindergarten in Albany, N.Y., until marrying John Cedric Morris in 1936.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Jane Pedersen of Fort Walton Beach; son-in-law, James Joseph O'Hare III and wife Sally; grandchildren, Erick Pedersen, John Pedersen, Paige Barlow and husband Keith, Sarah Sage and husband Jim, Megan Josephson and husband Mark, James O'Hare IV and Susan O'Hare; and great-grandson, Kevin Hunter Barlow. She was preceded in death by her husband, J.C. Morris; and younger daughter, Karen Scott O'Hare.
Amongst all her friends, Helen was known as a generous, outgoing woman who enjoyed getting to know everyone who crossed the path of her long, prosperous life.
Viewing hours will be at Jones Funeral Home in Schenectady on Friday, Feb. 15, from 2 to 4 p.m.
Funeral services will be held at Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church on Saturday, Feb. 16, at 11 a.m.
Memorial donations may be made in her name to Saint Stephen's Episcopal Church at 1229 Baker Ave., Schenectady, NY 12309.
Walter E. Durham
Master Sgt. Walter Eugene Durham, U.S. Air Force retired, age 71, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away Thursday, Feb. 7, 2002.
He was born in Gaffney, S.C., on Sept. 26, 1930, to the late John and Florence Durham. Walter was a 27-year retired Air Force veteran, having served in the Vietnam War and Korean conflict. He was a member of the "Red Horse Squadron" and enjoyed working on lawnmowers.
He was predeceased by his parents and two sisters, Willena Steinbach and Sandra Jones.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Vivian "Robbie" Durham; sons, Robert E. and Mark W. Durham, both of Fort Walton Beach; sister, Edith Abernathy of Spartanburg, S.C.; brother, Charles Durham of Annison, S.C.; grandson, Shaun Durham of Shalimar; and special friend, Sharon Durham of Crestview.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Pastors Joey Rogers and Gueary Clendening officiating. Burial will follow in Live Oak Memorial Park in Crestview, with full military honors.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 10, at the funeral home.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Jessie Mae Dorsey
On Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002, God called Jessie Mae "Mama Jessie" Dorsey home.
She was a resident of Florala, Ala., up until December 2001. She moved to Fort Walton in December 2001 because of her illness to be with her daughter, Jo Ann Hobbs.
A time of visitation will be on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Kirk's Funeral Chapel in Florala, Ala.
Funeral service will be Monday at 11 a.m. at 6th Avenue Baptist Church in Florala, Ala.
Verlie Barton
Mrs. Verlie Barton, age 88, died Feb. 7, 2002 in Destin, Fla. Mrs. Barton was born Jan. 14, 1914 in Lucedale, Miss. She was a former resident of Pascagoula, Miss., before moving to Destin, and was a sales clerk for a number of years at Brumfield's Department Store. She was predeceased by her husband, R.L. Barton, and son, Jimmie Ray Barton; five sisters, Myrtie, Eva, Grace, Odessa and Allie; four brothers, Curtis, Homer, Earl and Clarence; and her mother and father, J.E. and Frances Hudson.
Survivors are one sister, Alberta Hawkins of Lucedale, Miss.; a number of nieces and nephews and a daughter-in-law, Valerie Barton of Destin. She is also survived by a grandson, David Barton, and his wife Amy and their four children, Cara, Ben, Emily and Sydney, of Destin; a granddaughter, Teri, and her husband, Pat Foley, and their four children, Chelsea, Patrick, Ryan and Ashleigh, of Reno, Nev.
Funeral services for family and friends will be at Barton Baptist Church on Monday, Feb. 11, 2002 at 2 p.m. with interment in the church cemetery. Sigglar Funearl Home in Lucedale, Miss., will be in charge of services.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.
Vernon L. Riner Jr.
Vernon L. Riner, age 62, of Niceville, Fla., passed away at his home after a courageous bout with cancer, on Friday, Feb. 8, 2002.
Vern was born in Albuquerque, N.M., on April 4, 1939, graduated high school in Greenville, Miss., then joined the United States Air Force in July 1957, where he proudly served for 28 years before retiring in August 1985. Vern also served as OCBA secretary for Okaloosa County Bowlers Association since April 1988 and was voted into the Bowlers Hall of Fame in 1997.
Vern is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Lee Riner; his sister Flo Burfor; his three children, Debi, Donna and Frank; a granddaughter that he raised, Tena Jones, along with five other grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held on Eglin Air Force Base at Chapel 2 at 3 p.m. Monday, Feb. 11, 2002.
In lieu of flowers, the family request donations to be made to Covenant Hospice or to the family.
Joseph Anthony Bushka Jr.
Joseph Anthony Bushka, 48, of Mary Esther, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 after a lengthy illness.
He was predeceased by his parents, Connie and Joseph A. Bushka Sr., of Escalon, Calif., and a sister, Mary Bushka.
Joe is survived by his wife of 22 years, Cindy; son Tony Bushka; and daughter Clarissa Bushka. He is also survived by his sister, Franci Bushka-Luna; and caregiver Lila Lloyd.
Memorial services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, family suggests donations be made to the Post Polio Syndrome Society of Pensacola, Fla.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Rd., N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
