Arthur E. Harrelson
Arthur E. Harrelson, age 91, of Crestview, Fla., died Monday morning, Oct. 5, 1998, in a local hospital following a brief illness.
Mr. Harrelson served in the U.S. Navy at Pearl Harbor during World War II. He also worked as a Greyhound bus driver and a plumber during his lifetime. He had been retired for many years.
Mr. Harrelson was preceded in death by his mother; father; three brothers; and one sister. Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Vera E. Harrelson of Crestview, and Vivian Harrelson of Niceville, Fla.; nieces, Elaine H. Burgess of Crestview, and Vickie H. Keider of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; nephews, Bobby Harrelson of Houston, and Dickie Harrelson of Valparaiso, Fla.; and several nieces, nephews and great-nephews.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Larry Batson officiating. Burial will follow in Live Oak Memorial Park Cemetery.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Lillie Vickery
Lillie Vickery, age 84, of Crestview, Fla., died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, at Crestview Nursing and Convalescent Home in Crestview.
Mrs. Vickery was born in Covington County, Ala., on June 1, 1914, to Oscar and Idell Bedsole Simpler, and had resided in Northwest Florida since moving here from Mobile, Ala., in 1984. She was a loving mother, sister, and grandmother and will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. She was a member of Welcome Baptist Church in Crestview.
Mrs. Vickery was preceded in death by her husband, Curtis Vickery in 1966; and by a son, Caroel, in 1972.
Survivors include sons and daughters-in-law, Donnie and Stella Vickery of Mobile, Ala., Derward and Melba Vickery of Downsville, La., and Bobby and Gail Vickery of Mobile; sisters, Bertha Cauley of Crestview, Clydie Bulger of Crestview, and Rosa Matthews of Panama City, Fla.; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be conducted at Whitehurst Funeral Home on Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel of Whitehurst Funeral Home at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, with the Revs. Jerry Everage and Wendell Wright officiating. Interment will follow in Cotton Cemetery, Escambia Farms, Fla.
Floral tributes will be accepted at the funeral home.
Arrangements and services under the direction of Whitehurst Funeral Home, Crestview.
Ralph Norman Buckley
Retired Maj. Ralph Norman Buckley, age 87, of Navarre, Fla., died Oct. 1. 1998.
He was born in Hershey, Mich., on July 18, 1911, and grew up in Wisconsin. Mr. Buckley was a resident of Northwest Florida for 37 years. While in the U.S. Air Force he served as a pilot in World War II, the Korean conflict and Vietnam. Prior to his military career, Ralph was a W.T. Grant store manager.
Maj. Buckley was preceded in death by his fraternal twin. He is survived by his wife, Belle S. Buckley; son, Richard N. Buckley; sisters, Alice Caldwell and Muriel Wagner; brother, Richard Buckley; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10, at St. Augustines Episcopal Church, 7810 Navarre Pkwy., Navarre, with the Rev. Nan Adams officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please make a contribution to Navarre Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 5459; or to Hospice of Northwest Florida.
Bayview Fisher-Pou Chapel, Pensacola, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Gayle Frances Smith
Gayle Frances Sulfridge Smith, age 48, of Escondido, Calif., passed away Monday, Oct. 5. 1998.
She was born in Detroit on Dec. 15, 1949.
Survivors include her son, Jody Lee Fraley of Escondido; brother, Gary Lee Sulfridge of Taylor, Mich.; and parents, Leon (Jack) Franklin and Norma Jean Sulfridge of SantaRosa Beach, Fla.
Her wish was to be cremated.
The family asks that donations be made to Elizabeth Hospice, 150 W. Crest St., Escondido, CA 92025; or to your favorite charity.
Myrtis Walton Allen
Myrtis Allen, age 78, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Oct. 7, 1998.
Ill for a long time, she died peacefully at home in the company of her loving family.
She was born and grew up in rural Alabama, but had lived in Fort Walton Beach for over 45 years. Myrtis was preceded in death by her first husband, Robert L. Walton; by her parents, Ovie and Lula Hodges; and by her brother, Jesse Hodges.
She is survived by her husband of 15 years, Herbert Allen, formerly of Blackpool, England; and by her three children, Jean Gray and husband David, Bobby Walton and wife Beverly, and Jim Walton and wife Sharon, all of Fort Walton Beach. She is also survived by five grandchildren, Royal "Bo" Melvin and wife Yvonne, Scott Melvin, Skip Walton and wife Nancy, Genevra Walton, and Jimmie Walton. And she is survived by five great-grandchildren, Chimera, Chris and Royal Melvin, and Robby and Aubrey Walton.
The eldest of eight children, she is further survived by three sisters and three brothers, Merfie Hunt and husband Paul of Montgomery, Ala., Mildred Marsh and husband Alton of Camp Hill, Ala., Pat Mason and husband May of LaFayette, Ala., Charlie Hodges and wife Hester of Macon, Ga., O.C. Hodges Jr. and wife Dot, and Ben Hodges and wife Louise, both of Camp Hill; as well as many, many nieces and nephews.
Myrtis was the former owner/operator of Walton's House of Beauty, for many years the largest beauty salon in Fort Walton Beach. She helped establish and was very active in the Okaloosa County Hairdressers Association. She was also a longtime member of Trinity United Methodist Church. She was a well-respected businesswoman, a compassionate and caring friend, and a loving and tender wife, mother and grandmother. Our world is a little less wonderful with her passing.
The family will greet friends at McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, between 6 and 8 p.m. Thursday.
A memorial service will be conducted by Dr. Thomas Lane Butts and the Rev. Paul Wolfe at Trinity United Methodist Church, 403 Racetrack Road N.W., Fort Walton Beach, at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9.
Visitation will be conducted at Roxana United Methodist Church in Roxana, Ala., at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. Stephen King at 11 a.m., with internment in the church cemetery. Her devoted grandsons will serve with honor as pallbearers.
Arrangements are entrusted to McLaughlin Mortuary in Fort Walton Beach and Langley Funeral Home in Camp Hill.
Floral tributes are welcome, or donations in memory of Myrtis Walton Allen may be sent to Trinity United Methodist Church; the American Cancer Society; or Hospice of Northwest Florida.
Vera Beerman Smith
Vera Beerman Ciana Smith, age 89, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Monday, Oct. 5, 1998, in Destin Healthcare Center.
Vera was a retired secretary and Methodist by faith. She was born and raised in Homestead, Pa., where she was a member of the Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 139. She had been a resident of Fort Walton Beach for the past 20 years.
She is survived by her three nephews, James Ciana of Westlake Village, Calif., Arthur Ciana of Pittsburg, and James Walters of Conneautville, Pa.
Funeral services and burial at Lebanon Church Cemetery in West Mifflin, Pa., will be held at a later date with Bell's Funeral Home, 1222 Muldowney Ave., Pittsburg, PA 15207 directing.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with local arrangements.
Blanche Inez Pritchard
Blanche Inez Pritchard, age 80, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Sunday, Sept. 27, 1998, in a local healthcare facility.
Mrs. Pritchard was a native and lifelong resident of Okaloosa County and a member of Liveoak Baptist Church in Crestview. She was preceded in death by her husband, Cecil O. Pritchard.
Survivors include her son, Thomas W. Pritchard of Pensacola, Fla.; daughters, Shirley A. McKamey of Panama City, Fla., and Jean Davidson of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; brother, John H. Harris of Crestview; sisters, Daisy Josey of Crestview, Alphis Garrett of Crestview, Hazel Hahn of Crestview, and Goldie McKinney of Valdosta, Ga.; grandchildren, Mary and Sarah Davidson, Eric, Shannon and Kevin McKamey, and Christopher, Dana and April Pritchard; and great-grandchildren, Madison, Brittany, Erica, Thomas Mitchell, Michael and Alicia.
The family received friends on Friday, Oct. 2, from 2 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home.
Funeral services were conducted at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Bob Brown officiating. Interment followed in Liveoak Baptist Church Cemetery in Crestview.
Pallbearers were Eric, Shannon and Kevin McKamey, Chris Pritchard, L.D. Meek and Joey Buerger.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, was entrusted with arrangements.
Louvinia Jane Burroughs
Louvinia Jane Burroughs, 90, of Crestview, Fla., passed away Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998 at her home. Mrs. Burroughs was a member of the New Mt. Zion Primitive Baptist Church.
Mrs. Burrough, along with her husband, William M. Burroughs Sr. who preceded her in death, owned and operated the Burroughs Blueberry Grocery in Crestview for many years.
Survivors are, two sons, Franklin D. Burroughs Sr. of Crestview and William M. Burroughs Jr. of Lake City, Fla.; one daughter, Lillie Mae "Tootsie" Garner of Leesburg, Fla.; and one brother, Fred Cryer of Ancoco, La.; and a number of grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998 at 11 a.m. from the Whitehurst Funeral Home Chapel, Crestview, with Rev. Weston Littles and Elder Johnny Rice officiating. Burial will follow in the Live Oak Park Memorial Cemetery, Crestview, with Whitehurst Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Friends may call at Whitehurst Funeral Home, today from 3 to 9 p.m.
Terry Miles Gainey
Terry Miles Gainey, age 51, of Valparaiso, Fla., died Oct. 9, 1998, in the Brimingham, Ala., VA Hospital due to complications of open heart surgery. He was born on Oct. 21, 1946, to Miles W. Gainey and Louise Sapp Gainey in Crestview, Fla. He was a graduate of Crestview High School class of 1964. He attended Barber College in Tallahassee and was a master barber.
He served in the U.S. Air Force. He was na elder in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He was also a Master Mason of Alpha Lodge 172, a member of Elks B.P.O.E. #2747, American Legion and past Royal Patron of the Order of the Amaranth of Eglin CT #53. He belonged to the DMV Chapter 112.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Gene Gainey. Survivors include, his loving wife of 25 years, Audrey; sister, Montez Gainey, of Niceville, Fla.; daughters, Sonya Courtoy, of Niceville, Lanora Sullivan, of Valparaiso, Fla.; step-daughters, Cynthia O'Byrne, of Cheaspeake, Va., Susan Bicther, of Brandon, Miss., Carole Styron, of Baker, Fla.; parents-in-law, John and Lorene Currington; three grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; friends and special friend, Fred Clemons, of Niceville, Fla.
Friends may call from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998, at the McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 14, 1998, with Bishop Dwight Kelly officiating. Members of the L.D.S. church will be pallbearers and family and friends will be honorary pallbearers. Burial will follow in Live Oak Cemetery in Crestview, Fla., with Masonic Rites.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, 1405 John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Fla., entrusted with the services and arrangements.
Velma L. Polk
Mrs. Velma L. Polk, age 91, of Fort Walton Beach, passed away Saturday, Oct. 10, 1998, in a local hospital. Mrs. Polk was a member of the Fort Walton Beach Church of Christ.
Mrs. Polk is preceded in death by her husband, Harvey R. Polk. She is survived by her daughter, Mary Louise Mullins and husband, Jack, of Fort Walton Beach; her son, R.C. Polk and wife, Libby, of Colorado Springs, Colo.; and her brother, Howard H. Dunsford, of Pensacola, Fla.; her granddaughters, Tina Shreve, Jacquelyn Gamber, Linda Polk, Kathy Stempko; her grandsons, Carl, Kerry and Timothy Mullins and Russel Polk; great-grandchildren, Samantha and B.J. Shreve, Michael and Brandi Mullins, Kenneth and Jason Peebles, Callie Blackburn, Carmen and Renata Polk, and Joshua and Rachel Stempko; and one great-great-grandson, Anthony Blackburn.
Funeral services for Mrs. Polk will be at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, 1998, at the Emerald Coast Funeral home Chapel with Ross Mitchell, minister of Fort Walton Beach Church of Christ officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery. The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, 1998.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Rd. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., 32547, is in charge of the arrangements.
