Richard Nichols Hoar
Richard Nichols Hoar, age 85, of Destin, Fla., passed away Monday, Dec. 14, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mr. Hoar was born in Iowa City, Iowa, on June 27, 1913, to the late Friend Reed and Wilma Hoar. He had been a resident of Destin for the past 19 years, moving from Birmingham, Ala., and was a member of St. Simon's Episcopal Church on the Sound. Mr. Hoar was a graduate of Auburn University and did graduate work at Cornell University. He was president of F.R. Hoar & Sons Construction Co. in Birmingham.
Mr. Hoar is survived by his wife, Emily Hoar of Destin; son, Paul Hunter and wife Frances of Birmingham, Ala.; daughter, Emily Hunter Ruppert of Boston; daughter, Olga Hoar McCain and husband Paul of Decatur, Ala.; daughters, Derrel Hoar Sundock and husband Richard of Birmingham; son, Christopher Sheridan and wife Marsha of Jensen Beach, Fla.; son, Wayne Nichols Hoar and wife Kathryn of Birmingham; 12 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Mr. Hoar will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 17, at St. Simon's Episcopal Church on the Sound with Rev. Jim Spencer officiating.
There will be a memorial service at All Saints Episcopal Church in Birmingham at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Simon's Episcopal Church Building Fund in memory of Mr. Richard Hoar.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, Fla., is in charge of arrangements.
John Michael Kennelly
John Michael Kennelly, age 81, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998, in a local hospital.
He was born in New York City, N.Y., on Aug. 17, 1917, and was a retired mechanic with the Daily News paper in New York City. He lived in Fort Walton Beach since 1981, moving here from Long Island, N.Y., and was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fort Walton Beach. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the United States Army.
Survivors include his wife, Jeannette E. Kennelly of Fort Walton Beach; daughters and sons-in-law, Jeanette Ann Blackwell and Thomas Blackwell of Ringwood, N.J., Kathleen M. Carlino and Steve Carlino of Niceville, Fla.; and grandchildren, Francis Farrelly, Thomas Farrelly, Christopher Carlino and Jennifer Carlino.
A funeral Mass will be held at a later date. At Mr. Kennelly's request, his remains will be cremated.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Ave., Fort Walton Beach, is entrusted with arrangements.
Harold Lee Counts
Harold Lee Counts, age 83, passed away Tuesday, Dec. 15, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mr. Counts was born in Armstrong, Ky., on May 12, 1915, and had been a resident of Okaloosa County since 1947. He was a retired senior master sergeant, serving his country in the United States Air Force. He was a member of AMVETS Post 35, Masonic Macon Lodge No. 5 A&FM.
Mr. Counts was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Lou Counts, and his son, Harold Warren Counts. He is survived by his daughter, Kim McMillan of Crestview; brother, Warren Counts of Bellmawr, N.J.; brothers-in-law, Ira McLeod of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., Charles McLeod of New York, Donald McLeod of Pensacola, Fla., and Alfred McLeod of Destin, Fla.; sister, Anna Mary Boggs of Terre Haute, Ind.; sisters-in-law, Eva Mae McLeod of Destin, and Virginia McLeod of New York; several beloved nieces and nephews; also, special friends of the family, Mrs. Sam Heaton of Crestview, Mr. Harmon Ferguson of Crestview, and Mrs. Donna Able, also of Crestview. He also leaves three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
A time of visitation will be conducted from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home in Crestview.
A memorial service of remembrance will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 18, from the chapel of McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home with the Rev. Robert White officiating.
Harold will be missed by all who knew him.
McLaughlin-Aultman Funeral Home, Crestview, is in charge of arrangements.
Vera Mae Burgess
Vera Mae Burgess, age 85, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, 1998, in a local hospital. Born in Leverett, Ala., on May 1, 1913, she was the daughter of the late Larkin and Cora Harrell Miller. Mrs. Burgess spent most of her life in the Darlington, Fla., area. Mrs. Burgess was Protestant by faith and had been attending Out Reach for Christ Church.
Mrs. Burgess was preceded in death by her husband Dan Burgess.
She is survived by two step-sons, Junior Burgess and wife Hattie of Gaskin, Fla., and Author Burgess of Tallahassee, Fla.; one step-daughter, Olene Davis of Fort Pierce, Fla.; several cousins and other relatives; several grandchildren and special friends L.L. and Monet Ward of Darlington.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998, in the Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Curtis Manning and the Rev. Frank McIntosh officiating. Burial will follow in Limestone Cemetery.
Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, 1998, in the Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel, 230 Park Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, Fla.
Pallbearers will be Donnie Harrison, James Harrison, T.C. Campbell, Junior Fuller, Earl Burkett and Charles Wiggins.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Dorothy Jeanette Phillips
Dorothy Jeanette Phillips, age 73, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., died Wednesday, Dec. 16, 1998, in a local hospital.
Mrs. Phillips was born Jan. 4, 1925, to Louie T. and Effie Ward Howell in Elba, Ala., and moved to this area in 1957 from Dothan, Ala.
She was a homemaker and co-owner of Huie's Safety Service in Fort Walton Beach where she was the bookkeeper.
Mrs. Phillips was a member of Wright Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach and was preceded in death by her husband Huie H. Phillips.
Survivors include her two sons, Harold Oid Phillips of Shalimar, Fla., Mike T. Phillips and his wife Marsha of Lakeland, Fla.; daughter, Marion Phillips French of Palm Bay, Fla.; three grandchildren, Price C. French and wife Jill of Durham, N.C.; Candice J. Phillips and Victoria Starr Phillips, both of Valrico, Fla.; two great-grandchildren, Hansen and Gracie French, both of Durham, N.C.
Family will be receiving friends Friday evening from 6 to 8 p.m. at McLaughlin Mortuary. Funeral services will be conducted from Wright Baptist Church on Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Duane Tindall and the Rev. Daniel J. Adkison officiating. Interment will follow in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
McLaughlin Mortuary, 17 Chestnut Avenue, Fort Walton Beach, Fla. is entrusted with the arrangements.
Julian F. Land
Julian F. Land, a native of Fort Walton Beach since the early 1950s, went to be with the Lord Dec.17, 1998, at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center after a brief and sudden onset of leukemia.
After discovering the beaches of the Panhandle, Julian vowed never to leave the area. Active in numerous civic organizations, including the Jaycee's and veteran's groups, he assisted in numerous fund-raisers and activities to promote the area. He worked diligently with the founding of the Billy Bowlegs Festival and was a true pioneer in the development of the Fort Walton Beach and Destin area.
A highly successful entrepreneur, he owned several automotive repair facilities in Shalimar, Fort Walton Beach and Destin. After leaving the automotive business to his sons, he sought to fulfill his lifelong goal of opening a restaurant on the beaches of Destin. He was the contractor and proprietor of Julian's Outrigger, presently known as Scampi's. Many will remember this building as it was constructed from the pilings of the original Destin Bridge. After the sale of the restaurant, he became an insurance adjuster and was highly acclaimed as one of Hurricane Hugo's lead supervisors. He later worked many hurricanes but was particularly saddened by the destruction of Andrew and Opal. He grieved the damage of both but particularly the towering white dunes and majestic sea oats of the Gulf Coast. He, as always, was optimistic that with time and the love of the community we would recover.
He chose as his retirement home a home on the water and always had an "open door" policy. He took extraordinary efforts to make everyone who entered feel welcome and at ease, no matter who the person might be or whether he had known them for minutes or a lifetime. Those who knew him will always remember the charitable and generous acts he bestowed upon the less fortunate and those who met with hard times.
In his retirement years, he took up golfing again and became an avid and accomplished golfer.
Predeceased by his loving wife Ruth D. Land in 1983, he is survived by his children, Jane Land Herr, Franklin G. Land, Carl and Sharron Land of Fort Walton Beach and Samuel C. Land of Georgia. He leaves behind nine grandchildren. He is also survived by his loving companion of several years Hilda B. Langely and her children, Carrie Worth, Ronna Rush, Pam Streaker and Mike Langely.
Julian was the lifeblood of our families; a natural leader and decision maker, peacemaker and truly the tie that bound us together. The family requests that you always remember his graciousness, hospitality, love of life and boundless energy. We have all been blessed to have known this remarkable man who touched our lives, making us richer in spirit and character. As we mourn his passing with sorrow, we also rejoice and celebrate the 72 years God blessed us with his nature.
Julian Franklin Land, 1926-1998, may you rest in eternal and blissful peace and experience the love that passeth all understanding.
Arrangements will be made by our life-long friends at McLaughlin Mortuary. Visitation will be from 6 until 8 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 18, 1998. The service will be held on Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998, at 2 p.m. at McLaughlin Funeral Home with Dr. Micky Hawkins officiating. Burial will be in Beal Memorial Cemetery.
The family will receive floral arrangements due to Julian's incredible talent in landscaping and love of horticulture. Our lives will change forever without your loving presence.
Helen Hough Ransom
Helen Hough Ransom, age 93, of Valparaiso, Fla., passed away Sunday, Dec. 20, 1998, in a local hospital after a brief illness. Mrs. Ransom was born in Laceys Springs, Ala., on Sept. 22, 1905, and had resided in Valparaiso since 1941.
She was a member of the Senior Citizen Club, Methodist Women's Christian Service, Valparaiso Garden Club, Twin Cities Women's Auxilary and a member of the First United Methodist Church in Niceville, Fla.
She was preceded in death by her husband, William G. Ransom, and is survived by a son, William Van Ransom, and daughter-in-law, Caroline Pruitt Ransom; three grandchildren, Glenda Carol Keenum, and husband, Talmage Keenum, William Robert Ransom and wife, Michelle H. Ransom, and Nathanael Bowie Ransom and wife, Selena F. Ransom; four great-grandchildren, Tina Marie Keenum, Kimberly Kay Hill, Stephanie Nicole Ransom, and David Dukes; and one great-great-grandson, Jacob Tanner Hill; sisters, Ethel H. Lynn and husband, James Lynn, and Mildred Chunn; and sister-in-law, Mildred Hough.
Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, 1998, at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ed Chandler officiating. Burial will follow in the Sunset Cemetery in Valparaiso, Fla.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangments.
Mildred Cambell Martindale
Mildred Cambell Martindale, age 97, died Dec. 19, 1998, at The Manor in Bluewater Bay where she had been lovingly cared for the past 5 1/2 years. The family will forever be grateful to the entire manor staff. A lifelong resident of West Virginia before moving to Westwood Retirement Center for five years, she is survived by her daughter, Mildred Berger and husband, Tom Berger; grandchildren, Marty and Bruce Berger; Kelly McGarity, Meryl Loaney, Leigh C. Clarke, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.
A service will take place in Huntington, W. Va., at a later date.
McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Katherine Finnerty
Katherine Kendrigan Finnerty, age 95, of Holyoke, Mass., died Saturday, Dec. 19, 1998, at a local nursing home.
She belonged to several craft organizations locally after her retirement in 1968. She was born the daughter of James Kendrigan and Mary (Degnan) Kendrigan. Her husband Arthur Finnerty died in 1971.
She leaves her son, Arthur J. Finnerty Jr. in Savannah, Ga., and two grandsons, Kirk of Knoxville, Tenn. and Mark Finnerty of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., and three great-grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her three sisters.
Mrs. Finnerty has graciously donated her body to Harvard Medical School in Boston. All services will be held at a later date and there is no calling hours. Messier Funeral Home of Holyoke has been entrusted to handle all of the arrangements. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jerome's Church, 169 Hampden St., Holyoke, MA 01040.
Francis O. Knoll
Francis O. (Red) Knoll, age 84, of Bear Pond Road, Athol, NY., died peacefully at his home on Monday, Dec. 7, 1998, following a long illness.
Born on Jan. 13, 1914, in New York City, he was the son of the late Frank and Clara (Bahr) Knoll.
Red was employed most of his life in the aircraft manufacturing industry at several locations throughout the world, most notably as a supervisor with the Republic Fairchild-Hiller Corp. of Crestview, Fla.
He and his wife of 55 years, Anne (Kachne) Knoll were married on Oct. 3, 1943, in Islip, L.I.
Survivors include his wife, Ann M. Knoll of Athol; sons, Francis A. (Butch) Knoll of Virginia Beach, Va., and Timothy A. Knoll of Athol; daughter, Kathi Ridge and husband Larry of Crestview.
Private funeral services were held for the convenience of the family.
Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Thurman Rescue Squad, Athol, NY 12810.
Arrangements under the direction of Alexander Funeral Homes, 3809 Main St., Warrensburg.
Eunice Preachers Utter
Eunice Preachers Utter, age 74, of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., passed away Sunday evening, Dec. 20, 1998, in a local nursing home.
Mrs. Utter was born on Sept. 15, 1924 in Milton, Fla., to the late Bunk and Willie Wilks Preachers. She had been a resident of Fort Walton Beach for the past five years, moving here from Enterprise, Ala. Mrs. Utter was a former librarian at Samson Public Library and retired from the Alabama State Department of Education in 1986. She attended the First Baptist Church in Fort Walton Beach.
Mrs. Utter was preceded in death by her husband, John Leon Utter; and by her brothers, Alton, R.L., Connie Ray, Ralph and Lamar Preachers. She is survived by her son, John Michael "Mike" Utter of Fort Walton Beach; her daughter, Sue Utter Honig and husband Jeffrey Carvell Honig; grandson, Jonathan Carvell Honig, all of Trumansburg, N.Y.; brother, Reubin Preachers and wife Dorothy of Samson, Ala.; sisters, Iris Knowles of Samson, and Beatrice Bowdoin of Chesapeake Bay, Md.; and Misty, her cherished companion and pet of 16 years.
The family will greet friends at the Emerald Coast Funeral Home on Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon. The family will also greet friends Tuesday evening from 6 to 8 at Pittman's Brown-Service Funeral Home in Samson.
Funeral services for Mrs. Utter will be conducted Wednesday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m. at Fairview Baptist Church in Samson with the Rev. Hubert L. McWaters officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery.
In lieu of flowers the family ask that donations be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 1005 West College Blvd., Niceville, FL 32578; or to the American Cancer Society, 4 N.E. Jackson St., Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548, in memory of Mrs. Eunice Utter.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach, is in charge of the local arrangements.
