Else M. Hardmant
Else M. Hardmant, age 73, of Niceville, Fla., passed away Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998, in her home.
She was born on March 19, 1925, in Winnenden, Germany, and moved with her parents to the United States at the age of 13 months. Until moving to Bluewater Bay in 1987, she resided in New York City and Long Island, working as a bookkeeper in banking and advertising.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, Dewitt Hardmant. She is survived by two sons, William Hardmant of Houston, and Scott Hardtman of San Diego; and two grandchildren, Lauren and Dana Hardtman.
A memorial service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, at St. Paul's Lutheran Church of Niceville, 1407 E. John Sims Pkwy.
Marie P. O'Neal
Marie P. O'Neal, age 73, died Tuesday, Nov. 17, 1998, after a long illness.
Affectionately known as Aunt Re, she was born May 16, 1925, in Coal Valley, Walker County, Ala. The daughter of E.C. and Mandy Myers Price, Mrs. O'Neal was a graduate of Oakman High School in Oakman, Ala. She lived in Birmingham, Ala., for 46 years, and was a longtime member of Hunter Street Baptist Church of Birmingham. She retired from the J.J. Newberry Co. in downtown Birmingham after 38 years of service; was past Worthy Matron of the Order of Eastern Star; past Royal Matron of the Order of Amaranth; and past Worthy High Priestess of the White Shrine of Jerusalem. Mrs. O'Neal moved to Freeport, Fla., in 1995.
Mrs. O'Neal is survived by her husband of 54 years, Henry T. O'Neal of Niceville, Fla., and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Heritage Gardens Cemetery in Niceville with the Rev. Curtis Mixson officiating.
A visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Comander Funeral Home Chapel.
Comander Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Jessie Beatrice Steelreath
Jessie Beatrice Steelreath, age 61, passed away Nov. 17, 1998, after an extended illness with her family by her side.
She was born in Tupelo, Miss., on Feb. 28, 1937, and had lived in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., for the past 32 years. As an active member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Ladies Auxiliary, she worked vigorously in fundraising to provide grants for local charities. A former Madam President, she was instrumental in organizing two chapters, Aeries 4045 and 4203.
A loving mother and companion, Jessie was revered for her humor and love of life. Her compassion and consideration for people was an inspiration to those who knew her and will be deeply missed.
Jessie was preceded in death by her mother, Mrs. Lola Shaw. She is survived by her best friend and companion for 28 years, Sil L. Rogers; daughters, Christina K. and Phyllis S. Steelreath, both of Atlanta; daughter, Sheryl McEntire and husband Robert of Tampa, Fla.; son, Robert Bolton and wife Paula of Columbus, Ohio; brothers, Roland and Clyde Graves, both of Mobile, Ala.; and sister, April Madden.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will take place on Friday, Nov. 20, at 10:30 a.m. in Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joseph Rogers officiating and Lorraine McDowell saying a eulogy.
Those asked to serve as active pallbearers are: Donny Rogers, Gary Rice, Gene Carroll, Ralph Miller, Dudley Rogers and Ervin Gass. Honorary pallbearers will be all the members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Auxiliary, Aeries 4045, 4203 and 3483.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
Mary A. Pond
Mary A. Pond, age 94, of Berlin, N.H., passed away Tuesday night, Nov. 17, 1998.
Mrs. Pond moved from Berlin to DeFuniak Springs, Fla., in 1971. She lived here for 17 years before moving back to Berlin. She was a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in DeFuniak Springs.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Walter J. Pond; and sister, Katherine Jalbert.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Deanna and Edward Kinney of DeFuniak Springs; sons, Arthur Pond of Myerstown, Pa., and Edmund Terrian of Arizona; sister, Mae Goodrum of Gorham, N.H.; 13 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at St. Margaret's Catholic Church with Father Joe Caffrey officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the church.
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
Jack L. Stevens
Jack L. Stevens, age 68, of Niceville, Fla., died Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998, at his home.
Jack was born in Cullman, Ala., on Dec. 24, 1929, to Christopher and Eunice Stevens. He had been living in this area for the past 31 years, coming from Key West, Fla.
He is survived by his wife, Nancy A. Stevens of Niceville; sons, Scot B. Stevens of Belleville, Ill., Daniel C. Stevens, Jack L. Stevens Jr. of Cullman, and James T. Stevens of Kennesaw, Ga.; daughters, Anita Lynn Stevens of Niceville, and Judy G. Dorrance of Decatur, Ala; brother, Robert Stevens of Tallahassee, Fla.; sister, Doris Nekenzie of Cullman; 12 grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
A visitation will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home.
Graveside services will be conducted at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1005 College Blvd., Niceville, FL 32578.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, is entrusted with arrangements.
Loretta Grace Tucker
Loretta Grace Tucker, age 76, of Shalimar, Fla., passed away in a local hospital Nov. 18, 1998.
She was born in Cleveland but had resided in Shalimar for the past 23 years. She was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church; a Red Cross volunteer at Eglin Air Force Base and Senior Friends at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center. She retired from civil service after 40 years.
Mrs. Tucker is survived by her husband, Robert E. Tucker of Shalimar; daughter, Cynthia Hope of Atlanta; son and daughter-in-law, Cyril Joseph and Nancy La Mere and their children, Brian and Brandi Williams, all of Columbia, S.C.; stepmother, Pat Olshefski of Riverside, N.J.; sister, Ethel Hampton of Clarksboro, N.J.; half-sister and half-brother, Marie Romer and Robert Ferry of Texas.
A memorial service will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Shalimar on Saturday, Nov. 21, at 2 p.m. with Pastor Brian Runge presiding.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross.
"An angel earns her wings."
John Alfred Southworth
Lt. Col. John Alfred "Al" Southworth, U.S. Air Force retired, age 80, of Shalimar, died Friday, Nov. 13, 1998 in a Pensacola, Fla., hospital.
Al was born in Fall River, Mass. on Oct. 19, 1918, and entered service on Jan. 8, 1940. During his career, he was stationed in Brazil, Japan, Taiwan and many stateside bases and forts. He first arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in 1954 and remained until his transfer to Taiwan in 1958. It was during this tour that the family realized the Fort Walton Beach area would some day be home. He finally returned to Eglin for his last assignment in 1965 and retired from active duty in 1966.
Al was a longstanding member of the Masonic Lodge, as well as a life member of both the Retired Officers' Association and the Northwest Florida Retired Officers' Club. He was a veteran of World War II and Korea.
He was preceded in death by his first wife of 52 years, Eleanor; his parents, John and Jennie Bagley Southworth; his daughter, Maureen Wright, and his granddaughter, Kathy Zahos.
He is survived by his wife, Gail; his daughters Carol Chastain of Monroeville, Ala., and Linda Kaskiw of Columbus, Ohio; stepdaughter, Kim Sheaffer of Drake, Colo.; sister, Dorothy Murray of Belgrade, Maine; his granddaughters, Pamela DeHoog of Syracuse, N.Y. and Lisa Swinehart of Columbus, Ohio; his grandsons, Aaron and Tarvis Sheaffer of Denver; and great-grandsons, Zachary and Marquis Swinehart of Columbus, and Joshua DeHogg of Syracuse.
Graveside interment services will full military honors will be held at Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola on Friday at 11:15 p.m. with Father Howard Lesch officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1005 W. College Boulevard, Niceville, FL 32578.
McLaughlin Mortuary, Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with the arrangements.
Helen B. Brown
Helen B. Brown, age 99, of Seminole, Fla., died Nov. 1, 1998, in Seminole Nursing Pavilion.
She was born in New York City and moved to Clearwater, Fla., in 1948 from Coopersburg, Pa. She then moved to Seminole in 1983. Mrs. Brown was a homemaker.
Survivors include four sons, Robert O. of Cocoa Beach, Fla., Lt. Col. Edwin C. Jr. of Niceville, Fla., Lt. Col. Donald H. of Greensboro, N.C., and Lt. Cmdr. Richard B. of Escondido, Calif.; sister, Ruth Hay of Seminole; 11 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.
Interment took place in Barrancas National Cemetery on Nov. 13 beside her beloved husband.
Pence I. McClellan
Pence I. McClellan, age 80, a resident of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away in a Crestview, Fla., health care center Wednesday, Nov. 18, 1998.
A native of Sallis, Miss., he was the son of the late William Kennedy and Lucile McClellan. He was a veteran of the Army Air Corps during World War II and later retired from civil service. He was a member of Clear Springs Primitive Baptist Church, where he had served as a church deacon and clerk of the church.
Survivors include his sons, Wayne McClellan of Crestview, and Earnest K. McClellan of DeFuniak Springs; daughters, Virginia McClellan Rummel and Sallie Naylene McClellan Young, both of Atlanta; sisters, Gladys Dubuisson of Gulfport, Miss., Lola Council of Pine Knoll Shores, N.C., and Wilma Carlise of West Point, Miss.; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Caney Creek Cemetery, with military graveside honors by Eglin Air Force Base.
Evans Funeral Home, Florala, Ala., is in charge of arrangements.
Robert Howard Waddell
Robert Howard Waddell, age 51, 104 Michael Ave., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Nov. 15, 1998, after an extended illness with his family by his side.
He was born in Adkins, Va., on Feb. 18, 1947.
He is survived by his loving wife, Hope Waddell; five daughters, Stephanie Owens, Deanna Rupert, Lori Benton, Dawn Mowery and Traci Fisher; 13 grandchildren; four sisters and one brother, Patricia Howard, Joseph Waddell, Billie Chappell, Judy Oliphant and Barbara Yates.
A private service will be held at a later date.
Robert (Bobby) will be greatly missed by his family and all who knew him.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, Beal Parkway, is in charge of arrangements.
