Sarah Elna Hudson
Sarah Elna Brown Hudson, age 86, of Baker, Fla., passed away Monday, June 22, 1998.
Mrs. Hudson was born in Heath, Covington County, Ala., on April 14, 1912. She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Morgan Brown and Julie Ann Josephine Cockcroft Brown; sister, Florence Brown; and brothers, Jesse, Aaron, James and Gerald Brown.
Survivors include her husband of 59 years of marriage, Hoyt Hudson of Baker; sister, Nelle Hall of Jacksonville, Fla.; brother, Lehn E. Brown of Pensacola, Fla.; sisters-in-law, Ruby Brown of Niceville, Fla., Nettie Mae Brown of Pensacola, Fla., and Louise Brown of Melbourne, Fla.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Mrs. Hudson was a member of the Okaloosa County Retired Teachers Association. She began teaching in 1931 in Okaloosa County, Fla., and retired in 1967 after 36 years of teaching. She received her teaching degree from Florida State College for Women in Tallahassee, now Florida State University. She was a member of Pilgrim's Rest Baptist Church in Baker, where she served faithfully, as long as her health permitted.
She was a member of the Baker Order of Eastern Star; Delta Kappa Gamma; Crestview Garden Club; and Baker Blossom Club.
A time of visitation will be conducted at Whitehurst Funeral Home on Tuesday from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
The funeral service will be conducted at Pilgrim Rest Baptist Church in Baker on Wednesday, June 24, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Don Smith officiating. Interment will follow in Liveoak Park Memorial Cemetery in Crestview. Mrs. Hudson will lie in state at the church one hour prior to services.
Active pallbearers will be nephews and great-nephews.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, 436 W. James Lee Blvd., Crestview.
Sharon Stebbins
Sharon Stebbins, age 56, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Sunday, June 21, 1998, at her home.
Mrs. Stebbins was a native of Fort Wayne, Ind., and moved to this area in 1989 from Metairie, La. She was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and the Legion of Mary.
Survivors include her sisters, Cynthia Stebbins of Fort Walton Beach, and Pamela Moore of Hawaii; and several cousins.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home, with a rosary prayer service being conducted at 7 p.m.
A funeral Mass will be conducted at St. Mary's Catholic Church on Wednesday, June 24, at 10 a.m. with Father Sean Garrett as celebrant. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Education of Future Priests, 110 St. Mary's Ave. S.W., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Donald David Neal
The former four-term mayor of the city of Niceville, Fla., Donald David Neal, passed away Monday, June 22, 1998, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. He was 83 years old.
Mr. Neal served as a member of the board of directors of the Okaloosa County Gas District from 1953 to 1955 and manager of the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer Department from 1969 to 1986. He was a member of the 333 Club, which organized the charter for the city of Niceville; and a member of Okaloosa Masonic Lodge 312 F&AM. He also held memberships in the Pinelake Church of Christ in Niceville and the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 366 in Pensacola, Fla. Mr. Neal was a lifelong resident of this area.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Rosa Lee Neal; son and daughter-in-law, David Lee and Shirley Neal of Pensacola; daughter and son-in-law, Oma Lee and Robert Thompson of Lumberton, Miss.; grandchildren, Donald Ainsworth, Leigh Cox and Melissa Neal; three great-grandchildren, Anna and Brook Ainsworth and Kathleen Cox; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home in Niceville from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be held at Pinelake Church of Christ in Niceville on Thursday, June 25, at 10 a.m. with Mr. Terry Hanna Jr. and Mr. Scott McCown officiating. Interment will follow in Early Cemetery in Niceville. Mr. Neal will be moved to the church one hour prior to services.
Active pallbearers will be Clay Elliott, Danny Shiver, Otis Chapman, John Havard, Basil Queen and Lannie Corbin. Honorary pallbearers will be elders and deacons of Pinelake Church of Christ.
Floral contributions are accepted or memorial contributions may be made to the Mission Trust Fund of Pinelake Church of Christ, 801 John Sims Pkwy., Niceville, FL 32578.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Myrtis M. Eshelman
Myrtis M. Eshelman, my precious wife and half of my life, went to be with our heavenly father, on Monday evening, June 22, 1998.
Born in Andalusia, Ala., she had lived in this area for the past 29 years. She was a faithful member of New Life Tabernacle Church in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Survivors include her husband of 28 years, Bill Eshelman; daughters, Betty Vosburgh of Fort Walton Beach, and Joann Nixon of Chattanooga, Tenn.; sisters, Agnes Craddick, Ella Pate, Gertrude Nelson, Linda Gorum, all of Andalusia, and Pauline Carter of Guntersville, Ala.; brothers, Wallace Edson and Eddie Edson, both of Andalusia; grandchildren, Beverly Hudson, Shane Vosburgh, Lisa Owens, Cami Owens, Tracy Owens, Richard Nixon and Georgie Nixon; stepchildren, Cynthia Spafford, Debby Valentine and Carolyn Eshelman; eight stepgrandchildren; and a large number of nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Little Chapel Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Little Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Charles Sansom Sr. and Bennett Luke officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to New Life Tabernacle Church.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Ernest Halbert Allen
Ernest Halbert Allen, a resident of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., since 1964, passed away Sunday, June 21, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mr. Allen was born in Louisville, Miss., on Aug. 8, 1921, and was Baptist by faith. He honorably served his country through the U.S. Air Force for 24 years. After retiring, he worked for various fire protection agencies, the last being Advanced Fire Protection Services, which he truly enjoyed until his retirement.
Mr. Allen is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mavis Allen; daughter and son-in-law, Donna and Bert Colwell; a loving and caring grandfather and father figure to Stacy M. Baker, Kimberly E. Baker and William "B.J." Baker. Other surviving family members include three sisters, Christine Bazell, Nelda Thornburg and Ruth Miller; one brother, Chester Allen; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Allen will be Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Rummage officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery at 2 p.m. with Chaplain Weurffel officiating.
Those who wish may make donations to the American Cancer Society, 114 N.W. Beal Parkway, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, in memory of Mr. Ernest Halbert Allen.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Sharon Blankenship King
Sharon Blankenship King, age 42, of Orlando, Fla., died June 21, 1998, at ORMC-Orange Division, Orlando.
She was born on Dec. 30, 1955, in Amarillo, Texas, and had resided in central Florida for 15 years. She was Protestant by faith. Mrs. King was a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband, Rodney King, of Orlando; daughter, Amanda Crumpler; granddaughter, Ashley Crumpler, both of Eufaula, Ala.; father, Jack Blankenship; mother, Mary Blankenship, both of Crestview, Fla.; sisters, Carter Jacque of Panama City, Fla., and Terri Pender of Mary Esther, Fla.
Banfield Funeral Home, Winter Springs, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
James Steven Cranford
James Steven Cranford, age 38, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died unexpectedly on Friday, June 12, 1998.
James was born on June 11, 1960, in Little Rock, Ark., and lived in Fort Walton Beach most of his life. He was a graduate of Fort Walton Beach High School class of 1980 and attended Florida State University.
James was preceded in death by his grandparents, Esther Pace and Mable and Everett Knickerbocker.
Survivors include his parents, James R. Cranford of Fort Walton Beach, and Barbara Kay Cranford of Tallahassee, Fla.; brother, Ronald L. Cranford of Fort Walton Beach.
Graveside services will be conducted Friday, June 26, at Beal Memorial Cemetery at 2 p.m. with Dr. Howard Gates officiating.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Rosette Dujardin Shipman
Rosette Dujardin Shipman passed away peacefully after a full and contented life on June 23, 1998.
A former French national, Rosette was born on Flag Day 1920 in Berne, Switzerland. She was a true citizen of the world and loved and tried to understand all God's children.
This is not an end. She believed in eternal life through her children, Joyce Van Mater and John Shipman; her grandchildren, Michelle McCormick, Nicole McCormick and Jennifer Rose Shipman; her in-laws, Blinn Van Mater and Myra Shipman; and her friend and daughter by choice, Jackie Fleming. Rosette will be reunited with her dear husband, Jerry Shipman, who has been waiting for her since 1987.
In her memory, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Juvenile Diabetes Association.
To her family and friends: Enjoy and celebrate life!
A time of visitation will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at the funeral home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, June 29, at Little Chapel Funeral Home with Jamie Sanders officiating. Inurnment services will follow at a later date in Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Fla.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Anna Catherine Wills
Anna Catherine Wills, age 85, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away on to be with her Lord and Savior at a local nursing home Wednesday, June 24, 1998.
Mrs. Wills was born on March 7, 1913, to William and Catherine Barrett Wible of Philadelphia. She had been a resident of Northwest Florida since 1982. She was Baptist by faith and a member of East Baptist Church of Philadelphia.
Anna was a loving housewife, mother and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Guy J. Wills Sr. in 1994. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in-law, Guy and Kimi Wills of Shalimar, Fla., Ronald and Evelyn Wills of Bossier City, La., and Richard and Michelle Wills of Plano, Texas; daughters and sons-in-law, Shirley Hildebrand of Sewell, N.J., and Margaret and Michael Tarasiewicz of Philadelphia; 11 grandchildren; and 13 great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be from noon until the funeral service at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 27, at Little Chapel Funeral Home with Dr. Mickey L. Hawkins officiating. Graveside interment services will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
George Raymond Morris
George Raymond Morris, age 67, of Shalimar, Fla., died Wednesday evening, June 24, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mr. Morris was born on Oct. 31, 1930, in Slocomb, Ala., to the late William Alexandra and Melinda Irene Morris. He moved to the Shalimar area in 1992 from Columbus, Ga.
Mr. Morris swerved his country in the U.S. Air Force until medical retirement and then was employed in civil service. He was a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church; a devoted volunteer at the Armament Museum at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla.; a lifetime member of the Air Force Sergeants Association; member of Disabled American Veterans, Mount Hermon Masons Lodge F&AM; and past member of AARP.
Mr. Morris is survived by his wife, Imogene Morris of Shalimar; daughter, Gwen Chambers and husband Steve of Shalimar; granddaughters, Melinda and Martha Chambers; brother, James S. Morris and wife Betty of Slocomb; and sister, Jewel Peters and husband Steve of Columbus, Ga.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 27, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. William Tyson officiating.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday.
The family is accepting flowers, or donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 222 N.E. Hospital Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, in memory of Mr. George Raymond Morris.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Paul Charles Temple
Paul Charles Temple, age 73, of Destin, Fla., died Tuesday evening, June 16, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mr. Temple was born in Buffalo, N.Y., on Sept. 7, 1924, to the late Benjamin and Onlee Edna Temple. Mr. Temple owned and operated WESCO Inc., a welding equipment supply company in Birmingham, Ala. He moved to the Destin area about four years ago from Birmingham. Mr. Temple was a member of the Kenmore Lodge No. 1132 F&AM in New York; and a member of Eglin Yacht Club in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
Mr. Temple is survived by his wife, Doris M. Temple of Destin; daughters, Sharron Carrico of South Bend, Ind., Sandra Weaver and Deborah Breasseale, both of Birmingham; son, David Brodie and wife Jennifer of Atlanta; 10 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
The family of Mr. Temple will greet friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 4 to 6 p.m.
A memorial service will be held in Jefferson Memorial Gardens in Trussville, Ala., at a later date.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Daniel Harrison Paul
Retired U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Daniel Harrison Paul, age 66, of Navarre, Fla., passed away in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital on June 26, 1998, after an extended illness.
He was born in Jellico, Tenn., on May 8, 1932, to Grover Cleveland Paul and Nora Anderson Paul and moved to the area in 1977. He retired from the U.S. Air Force with over 32 years service to his country and was a member of the Woodmen of the World.
Chief Master Sgt. Paul is survived by his wife, Mildred Pope Paul, of Navarre, Fla.; sons and daughters-in-law, Dean and Joanne Hurst, of Mary Esther, Fla., Steve A. Paul of Destin, Fla., and Dale and Brenda Paul, of Montgomery, Ala.; daughters and sons-in-law, Beverly and Paul Tidwell, of Smithfield, Va., and Anne and Dave White, of Crestview, Fla.; brother and sister-in-law, Howard and Shirley Paul, of Jellico, Tenn.; sisters and brother-in-law, Barbara and Richard Booth, of Lexington, Ky., and Druecilla Thomas, of Lexington, Ky.; 11 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 30, 1998, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, 1998, in the Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with a U.S. Air Force chaplain officiating. Graveside Services and interment, with military honors, will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery in Fort Walton Beach.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 N.E. Racetrack Rd., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Gwendolyn Melvin Shaw
Gwendolyn Melvin Shaw, 72, of Destin, Fla., passed away Saturday, June 27, 1998, at her home.
Mrs. Shaw was born on Sept. 7, 1925, in Destin. She was the daughter of Odom T. and Ellen Melvin and the great-granddaughter of Leonard Destin, the founder of Destin. She was a life-long resident of Destin and was the owner of Gwen's Fashions of Destin.
She is survived by her husband, Theo Shaw of Destin; daughter and son-in-law, Ellen and Roy Simmons of Rockledge, Fla.; granddaughter, Treg Corrigan and her husband, Kevin Corrigan of Louisville, Ky.; brother and sister-in-law, O.T. and Beulah Melvin of Larose, La.; sister, Bennie Margaret Quinn of Tampa, Fla.; and sister and brother-in-law, Carolyn and Louis Vagias of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
The family will be receiving friends from 9 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. Tuesday at McLaughlin Mortuary with Drs. Howard L. Gates and James Monroe and the Rev. Wes Yates officiating. Interment will follow in Marler Memorial Cemetery in Destin.
Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Fort Walton Beach Building Fund or to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with the arrangements.
