Rena Dawson
Rena Dawson, age 89, of Crestview, Fla., passed away in the North Okaloosa Medical Center on Friday, Dec. 4, 1998. She was born on April 28, 1909, in Coffee County, Ala. She had been a resident of the local area since 1940, when she moved here from Sampson, Ala. She was a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Niceville, Fla. She had a love for life and always enjoyed being around friends and family.
Survivors include her sisters, Pearlen Collingsworth, of Baker, Fla., Waree Matthews, of Niceville, Fla., Hazel Calkins, of Niceville, Fla.; a niece, Doris Early, more affectionately raised as her own daughter; and numerous other nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at a visitation from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 7, 1998, at the McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8, 1998, at the First Assembly of God Church, Niceville, Fla., with Pastor George Skipper officiating. She will be placed in the church one hour prior to the service. Burial will follow in Early Cemetery, Niceville, Fla.
McLauglin Twin Cities Funeral Home, 1405 John Sims Parkway, Niceville, Fla., entrusted with the arrangements.
Cecil E. Barnes
Cecil E. Barnes, 77, of Crestview, went to be with his Heavenly Father, Dec. 4, 1998. Mr. Barnes resided in Okaloosa County most of his life. He was a member and priest of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Crestview, where he was one of the co-founders. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charlie and Bertie Barnes; sisters, Gracie McArthur and Gena Mitchell; brothers, Dan and Leonard Barnes; son, Wayne Barnes; son-in-law, Charles Spears; and granddaughter, Latricia Barnes.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Louise Barnes; daughter, Ellen Spears; daughter and son-in-law, Faye and Clyde Todd; daughter, Sandra Kacenak; son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Sue Barnes; son and daughter-in-law to be, Glen Barnes and Patricia Lewis; brothers, Calvin and Ray Barnes; sisters, Faye Shaw and Winnie Tepper; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m., Monday, Dec. 7, 1998, from the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, W. North St., Crestview, with Ward Serig and Tom Buscabage officiating. Burial will follow in the Barnes' family cemetery with Whitehurst Funeral Home in charge of the arrangements.
Friends called from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998, at the funeral home.
Mr. Barnes will lie in state at the church for one hour before funeral services.
Vicki Shade Custer
Vicki Shade Custer, age 37, of Ventura, Calif., died Friday, Dec. 4, 1998.
Vicki was born in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 3, 1961, and moved to California from Fort Walton Beach, Fla., in 1989. She was a self-employed cosmetologist.
Vicki is survived by her three children, Wendi Rae Custer, Kaci Marie Custer and Michelle Lynn Shade-Sheehan, all of Ventura; father, Donald D. Shade Sr. of Fort Walton Beach; mother, Mary Frances Baker of Fort Walton Beach; brother, Donald D. Shade Jr. of Boulder, Colo.; sister, Katherine M. Fuentes and husband Juan of Peachtree City, Ga.; brother, Robert E. Shade of Valparaiso, Fla.; brother, Bryan A. Baker and wife Tiffany of Fort Walton Beach; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Vicki will be conducted at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at Emerald Coast Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Richard O. Ziehr officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
The family will greet friends at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of arrangements.
James A. Poston
James A. Poston, age 64, of Gulf Breeze, Fla., passed away at his residence Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998.
He was born on April 14, 1934, in Florence, S.C., and had been a resident of this area since 1966, when he moved here from Nashville, Tenn. He was Southern Baptist by faith and a member of Mary Esther Baptist Church. He honorably served his country in the U.S. Air Force, retiring as a master sergeant. He was a Mason and member of Alpha Lodge 172; and also a life member of DAV 72.
Mr. Poston was preceded in death by his son, Glenn Poston; and a twin brother, Boe Poston.
Survivors include his wife, Sheryl of Gulf Breeze; son, Richard and wife Pam Poston of Langley Air Force Base, Va.; daughters, Patricia and husband Robert Miller of Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; stepdaughters, Traci and husband Frank Poston of Boynton Beach, Fla., Jodee Johnson of Gulf Breeze; brother, Buddy Poston of Griffin, Ga.; sisters, Irene Stone of Florence, S.C., and Mildred Turner of Johnsonville, S.C.; grandchildren, Michael Miller, Christina Miller, James Poston, Noel Poston, Nichole Ensor and Jocob Ensor.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at Little Chapel Funeral Home. A Masonic service will be conducted at 7:30 p.m., followed by a DAV service.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, at Little Chapel Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe Plott officiating. Burial will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery, with full military honors.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
Basil Keith Poole Sr.
Basil Keith Poole Sr., age 67, of Guntersville, Ala., died Saturday, Dec. 5, 1998, in Huntsville Hospital, Huntsville, Ala.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Graveside services will be in Marshall Memorial Gardens with the Rev. David Dersch officiating.
Survivors include his wife, Doris Russell Poole; son, Basil Keith Poole Jr. of Prattville, Ala.; and two grandchildren.
Mr. Poole was a member of the Baptist Church. He was a retired postal employee with Charlotte, N.C., Nashville, Tenn., and Huntsville post offices. He served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force, serving two tours in Vietnam, and received two Bronze Stars.
Carr Funeral Home, Guntersville, is in charge of arrangements.
Thomas S. Hutto
Col. Thomas S. Hutto, U.S. Air Force retired, answered the call of his maker on Saturday morning, Dec. 5, 1998, in the arms of his loving wife Josephine.
A veteran of three combat tours in Korea and Vietnam and the pilot of more than 30 different types of aircraft, he fought his last battle with cancer with characteristic determination, tenacity and integrity. Col. Hutto was born in Kansas City, Mo., on Aug. 11, 1933, the son of Shepherd and Irene Hutto. After a parochial education he was commissioned in the Air Force in 1951. His diverse career would be difficult to repeat these days and included combat tours in fighters (F-86), observation craft (OV-10) and bombers (B-52). He culminated his career as vice commander of the 3rd Air Division and deputy for conventional operations at SAC Headquarters, Omaha, Neb.
He retired to the Emerald Coast in 1983 with his wife. Their home became a favorite Seaside vacation spot for the nine grandchildren; and a haven of rest and haute cuisine for their five children.
Thomas was a devoted husband, father and member of Holy Name of Jesus Parish. His handcrafted furniture fills the homes of his grandchildren (as do many of his military uniform items and other possessions cadged by the kids). Family and friends will especially miss his trademark smoked Cornish hens this Christmas.
He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Josephine of Niceville; children, Linda and Sirois and husband Richard of Trenary, Mich., Gregory T. Hutto and wife Debra of Fort Walton Beach, Nancy J. O'Brien of Ithica, Mich., James M. Hutto and wife Rebecca of Stafford, Va., and Teresa R. Cadran and husband Bryan of Kamish Mushayt, Saudi Arabia; his nine grandchildren; three sisters, Patricia Duncan, Susan Zaner and husband Daniel, all of Kansas City, and Kathy Grattan and husband Edward of St. Louis, Mo.; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9. A prayer service with rosary will be conducted beginning at 7:30 p.m.
A Mass of Christian burial will take place at Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church in Niceville at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, with Father Daniel J. Butler officiating. Interment, with full military honors, will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., beginning at 2 p.m. Family and friends will meet at the cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to either Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1001 W. College Blvd., Niceville, FL 32578; or to the American Cancer Society, 4 Jackson St. N.E., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, in memory of Thomas S. Hutto.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home, Niceville, entrusted with arrangements.
Lola Ray Bedsole
Lola Ray Bedsole went to be with our Lord on Dec. 7, 1998, after a long illness. Her transfer to Heaven occurred peacefully in the loving care of Walton County Convalescent Center in DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Lola was born in Jemison, Ala., and lived her adult life in Birmingham and Dothan, Ala.
Lola is survived by her husband, John Bedsole of Dothan; daughters and their husbands, Ann and Ed Hopkins of Wilmington, N.C., Gail and Joy Ferguson of Birmingham, and Dixie and David Holder of DeFuniak Springs. She is survived by three sisters and one brother, Felma Quinn of Miami, EvaLou Middlebrooks of Clanton, Ala., her closest and dearest friend and sister, Opal Ross of Warner Robins, Ga., and her brother, Raymond Ray of Gulfport, Miss. Lola was grandmother to Susan Massey of Seagrove Beach, Fla., Milla Ramsey of New York City, Jim and Amy Ferguson of Pensacola, Fla., and great-grandmother to Bo Massey of Seagrove Beach, Fla.
Lola was preceded in death by her loving sister, Hert Kirby; brothers, Marshall, Russell, Cary and Harry Ray; her parents, Crit and Fanny Ray; and her granddaughter, Rebecca Ferguson.
A devoted Christian and member of Calvary Baptist Church in Dothan, Lola leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter and many cherished memories as mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife and friend.
Visitation with the family will be at Comander Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs on Tuesday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral services will be conducted in the chapel of Comander Funeral Home at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 9, with the Rev. Robert G. Ellisor conducting. Graveside services will take place in the Bedsole family plot in Samson, Ala.
Pallbearers will be David Holder, Ed Hopkins, Jay Ferguson, Johnny Bedsole, David Ross and Ken Babbitt. Honorary pallbearers are Harold Ross and Thomas Kirby.
Lola Ray Bedsole is not lost to her family because we know exactly where she is, in the loving arms of Jesus. She will continue to be loved, remembered and cherished until we are all together again in Heaven.
Comander Funeral Home, DeFuniak Springs, is in charge of arrangements.
Francis R. Maradie
Francis R. Maradie, age 75, passed away at his home in Fort Walton Beach, Fla., on Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Frank was born on May 23, 1923, in New Haven, Conn., to Sarah and Vincent Maradie. Frank, a World War II veteran, served in the U.S. Army 505th Gun Battalion and participated in the Asiatic Pacific Theater Campaign.
He is survived by his loving wife of 32 years, Effye, and his six adoring sons and daughter, Richard and wife Nancy, Dennis and wife Connie, Jack, Peter and wife Debbie, James and wife Barbara, Marc, and Jeannie and husband Mark; grandchildren, Kevin, Christopher, Michelle, David, Kaylan, Cathy, Chris, J.J., Jimmy, Hannah, Rachel and Louis; and great-grandchildren, Eve, Jared, Jefferson, Aisling and Summer.
The family would like to thank Hospice of Northwest Florida for their heartfelt compassion and devotion. In particular, Bonnie Seawright, Heather Wittmeier, Ann O'Connor, Monica King, Frank Dole, Pat Keffer, Margie Salmon and Jerry Schwartz.
The family would also like to express their deep appreciation to Father Garrett of St. Mary's Church in Fort Walton Beach, who visited Frank constantly during his illness.
A memorial service will be held at St. Mary's Chapel on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida in memory of Francis Maradie.
Robert A. Slama
Master Sgt. Robert A. Slama, U.S. Air Force retired, age 70, formerly of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Monday, Dec. 7. 1998, in the VA Medical Center in Tuskegee, Ala.
Mr. Slama moved to this area in 1970 from Hampton, Va., and was preceded in death by his son, Richard A. Slama.
Survivors include his loving wife, Elisabeth Slama of Auburn, Ala.; daughter and son-in-law, Rita Y. and Frederick Mehlhorn of Argyle, Fla.; brother, Raymond J. Slama of Sun City, Ariz.; and grandchildren, Sabrina E. and Franz Mehlhorn.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at McLaughlin Mortuary.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at McLaughlin Mortuary with Father Sean Garrett officiating. Interment will follow at 12:30 p.m. in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the American Heart Association or to Alzheimer's Association.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Arvil G. Boyd
Arvil G. Boyd, age 75, of Niceville, Fla., passed away at Twin Cities Hospital on Sunday, Dec. 6, 1998.
He was born on March 6, 1923, in Sugden, Okla., and had been a resident of the local area for the past 11 years, when he moved here from Burkburnett, Texas. He was Pentecostal by faith and a member of First Pentecostal Church in Niceville.
Survivors include his loving wife, Mytrice, of 54 years; sons, Eugene and wife Orlene Boyd of Houston, Mark Boyd of Niceville; daughters, Linda and husband Bobby Harrison of Niceville, and Marsha and husband Tony Anthony of Omaha, Neb.; brothers, Aubrey Boyd of New Jersey, C.W. Boyd of Texas, Kenneth Boyd of Texas, and Jimmie Boyd of Colorado; sisters, June Franklin of Oklahoma, Bertha Barnes of Oklahoma, Louise Smith of Texas, and Gladys Duncan of Texas; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Little Chapel Funeral Home.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 10, at the funeral home with the Rev. Kenneth Boller and Mr. Boyd's son-in-law, the Rev. Tony Anthony, officiating. Burial will follow in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, Fla., at 1:15 p.m. with military honors. Friends may call one hour prior to service.
Little Chapel Funeral Home, 910 Beal Pkwy., Fort Walton Beach, entrusted with arrangements.
