Miscellaneous Okaloosa County, Florida Obituaries

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Joseph T.M. "Shorty" Messer
Joseph T.M. "Shorty" Messer, a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs, died March 16 [2001] at the age of 70. He was born Oct. 2, 1930 in Columbus, Ga., the son of the late John Alton Messer and Ella Irene Messer. He was Holiness by faith.
Survivors include his mother, Ella Messer of DeFuniak Springs; brother Detroit Messer and wife, Nona of Pensacola; sister, Myrtle Holley of DeFuniak Springs; one niece and seven nephews.
Funeral services were held March 19 at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home with the Rev. Kermit Bowers officiating. Burial followed in Mount Pleasant Cemetery 

Joseph Liberato Vota
Joseph Liberato Vota, 89, passed away March 19 [2001] at his residence in Sunny Hills, Fla. Mr. Vota was born Oct. 7, 1911 in New York, N.Y., the son of the late Felix and Agatha Troisi Vota. Mr. Vota was active in his community for many years and was very active in his church all his life. He was a member and president of the Marlboro Township School Board while living in New Jersey, and sang in his church choir all his life. He was a founding member of Corpus Christi Parish in Destin, as well as the Catholic Church of St. Rita in Santa Rosa Beach. Mr. Vota was ordained a deacon for the diocese of Pensacola in 1980. He was a retired United States Army Veteran. He is preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Duderich Vota, who passed away in 1997.
Survivors include his daughter, Ethel Vota Sproul and husband, Paul. of Wilmington, Del.; and sons, Joseph A. Vota and wife, Christine, Philip D. Vota and wife, Beatrice, and William J. Vota and wife, Cheryl, all of Marlboro Township, N.J., and George E. Vota and wife, Garnet, of Destin, and Stephen F. Vota and wife, Helen, of SeaGirt, N.J.; brother, William R. Vota and wife, Mary Lou, of Weston, Fla.; 17 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held on March 23 at St. Rita Catholic Church in Santa Rosa Beach with the Monsignor Flaherty officiating. Burial followed in Gulf Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requested contributions be made to Vestiarki Sisters of Jesus, 3919 Vistula Drive, Sunny Hills, Fla. 32428.
Clary-Godwin Freeport Chapel was in charge of the arrangements.

Cecil Darwin Neel
Mr. Cecil Darwin "Windy" Neel, 77, died Wednesday, March 21 [2001] in a local hospital. Mr. Neel was born November 23, 1923 in DeFuniak Springs where he was a lifelong resident. He was the son of the late Conor and Buria Bishop Neel. He was a Baptist by faith and a member of First Baptist Church of DeFuniak Springs. He was a United States Marine Corp veteran in World War II. He is preceded in death by a sister, Wynell Merle Neel and a brother, Buford Neel.
Survivors include his son, Van Lawton Neel of Maryland; daughter, Sandra Neel McCarta of Crestview and sister, Syble Neel of DeFuniak Springs.
Graveside services were held March 24 in Magnolia Cemetery with the Rev. Charles Gray and Dr. Bob Jaye officiating. Clary-Godwin funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Loring P. Dresel
Mr. Loring P. Dresel, 70, died March 26 [2001] in Geneva, Ala. Mr. Dresel was born July 19, 1930 in Sonoma County, Calif., the son of the late Otto Dresel and Helen Dresel. He was a resident of the Leonia Community and also Walterboro, S.C. 
He served his country in the Korean and Vietnam Conflicts during his 14 years of service in the United States Navy and an additional 14 years in the National Guard. He was retired from civil service. He was a member of Mount Pleasant Lutheran Church in South Carolina.
Survivors include: mother, Helen Dresel of San Francisco, Calif.; wife, Anita Stanley Dresel, of Leonia, Fla.; sons, Ricky Dresel and wife, Denise, of Charleston, S.C., and Jack Dresel and wife, Sandra, of Tennessee; step-sons, Ira Risher and wife, Pearl, of Walterboro, S. C., Michael Risher and wife, Trena, of Columbia, S.C., and Robbie Risher and wife, Cathy, of Walterboro, S.C.; step-daughters, Carol McDonald and husband, Jeff, of Lakeland, Fla., and Barbara Rexford of Miami, Fla.; two grandchildren, Ricky Dresel and Bryan Dresel; 10 step-grandchildren and two step-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held March 28 at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home with the Rev. James Endrihs officiating. Burial followed in Leonia Cemetery.

Mildred L. Jackson
Mildred L. Jackson, 76, died March 28 [2001] in DeFuniak Springs. Ms. Jackson was born Sept. 6, 1924, the daughter of the late Tommy and Gurthie Collingsworth. She was a lifelong resident of Ponce de Leon. She was Baptist by faith and a member of Northside Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Ernest Arnel Jackson.
Survivors include her son, Billy A. Jackson, of Ponce de Leon; daughter LaWanda J. Whitcomb, of Hickory Hill, Fla.; brother, Tom Collinsworth, of Tallahassee; sisters, Marie Crowder of Texas, and Maude Reeves also of Tallahassee; four grandchildren, Josh Jackson, Bradly Jackson, Kellee Jackson and Darrell Yates; and two great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held March 30 at the Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. Larry McGowan officiating. Burial followed in the New Ponce de Leon Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Frankie Hicks, Steve Paulk, Joe Paulk, Jamie Bozeman, Ricky Pickron and Johnny Free.

Robert Shinberger
Robert Shinberger, 29, died March 29 [2001] in a local hospital. Mr. Shinberger was born January 15, 1972 in Macomb, Ill., the son of Shelby and Michele Powers Shinberger. He was a resident of DeFuniak Springs for the last four years and a previous resident of Niceville. He was a correctional officer working in medical transport at the Walton County Correctional Facility. He was well known for his great sense of humor and for being a friend to everyone. He was Catholic by faith and a member of St. Margaret's Catholic Church in DeFuniak springs.
Survivors include his father and mother, Shelby and Michele Shinberger of Crestview; wife, Angela Marie Shinberger of DeFuniak Springs; sons, Matthew M. Shinberger and Mark P. Shinberber of DeFuniak Springs; maternal grandfather, Robert H. Powers of Macomb, Ill.; sister, Johanna and her husband, Anil Raj of Pensacola.; father and mother-in-law, Raymond J. Herbig, Sr. and Julie B. Herbig of Destin; brothers-in-law, John C. Koenig of Alaska, Raymond J. Herbig and Robert M. Koenig of Destin; brother and sister-in-law, Ricky and Debbie Matias of Connecticut. He is also survived by numerous friends.
A funeral mass was held April 2 at St. Margaret's Catholic Church with Father Joseph Caffrey officiating.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Lois Eugenia French
Lois Eugenia French, 75, died April 4 [2001] in DeFuniak Springs. Ms. French was born Aug. 22, 1926 in Leonia, Fla., the daughter of the late Jesse and Julia Watson Brown. She was a lifelong resident of Walton County. She retired from nursing after working for Dr. Myers and Dr. Spiers for more than 30 years.
Survivors include her nephew, Charles E. Brown and wife Margie of Westville; and great-nephews, Michael Terry Brown and Danny Fletcher Brown.
Funeral services were held April 6 at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery.

Helen J. Pinter
Helen J. Pinter, 83, of DeFuniak Springs died April 5 [2001] in Crestview. Mrs. Pinter was born May 18, 1917 in Ogdensburg, N. J., the daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Molnar More. She was Baptist by faith and a faithful member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church for the past 20 years. She was the outreach leader for her Sunday school class. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. She is preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Charles R. Pinter, who died February of this year.
Survivors include her children, Raymond Pinter and wife Laura of Jacksonville, Linda Bedell and husband Tom of Gulf Breeze, and Ron Pinter and wife Judy of DeFuniak Springs; a beloved cousin, Ruth Wilcox of California; grandchildren, Jeffery and Christine Pinter, Deborah Cole, David Bedell, Pamela and Lisa Pinter; and eight great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held April 8 at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church with Dr. Stan Weatherford and the Rev. Larry Watts officiating. Serving as pallbearers were Ray Pinter, Ron Pinter, Tom Bedell, Jeff Pinter, David Bedell and Mark Cole. Burial followed in Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery. Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jesse Elton Kennedy
Jesse Elton "Dick" Kennedy, 76, died April 9 [2001] in DeFuniak Springs. Mr. Kennedy was born Sept. 21, 1924 in Atmore, Ala., the son of the late Jesse Lee and Liddie Cole Kennedy. He spent most of his life in DeFuniak Springs. 
He enjoyed making music during his active years and especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also enjoyed spending his leisure time drinking coffee at Mamie's Restaurant. He was Baptist by faith and a member of First Baptist Church of DeFuniak Springs. He is preceded in death by two brothers, Frank and Lonnie Kennedy; and three sisters, Mamie Mixon, Annie Lou Childers and Esther Kennedy.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Adelle D. Kennedy, of DeFuniak Springs; sons, Tommy Elton Kennedy, and Gary Lee Kennedy and wife Jeanette, all of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Judy Marlene Kennedy of DeFuniak Springs; sister, Bertie Tyree of Atmore, Ala.; two grandchildren, Sandi Lee Wood and husband, Michael, and Randi Paula Waggoner, all of DeFuniak Springs; and four great-grandchildren, Kirstyn, Marissa, Tyler and Seth.
Funeral services were held April 11 at Clary-Godwin Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Chumley officiating. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society.

April May York
April Mae York, age 20, of DeFuniak Springs died at her residence on April 12 [2001]. April was born on April 7, 1981 in Escambia County. She was the daughter of Albert York and Bonnie Moak Hitaffer. She had lived in Walton County most of her life. She enjoyed spending time with her children and riding horses. April also enjoyed spending time with her mother. She was a vivacious and outgoing person. April was Baptist by faith. She is survived by her parents, father A. J. York and wife Jane of DeFuniak Springs, and mother Bonnie Hitaffer and husband Tim of DeFuniak Springs; maternal grandparents, Donald and Sally Jerew of Land O'Lakes; paternal grandparents Lewis Scott and Donnie Kay Odom of DeFuniak Springs; paternal step-grandparents Charles and Barbara Hitaffer of DeFuniak Springs; sons Lewis Scott York of DeFuniak Springs, and Skyler Raymond Gibson of Crestivew; brothers Jesse Ray Hitaffer and Joseph Michael Hitaffer both of DeFuniak Springs; and sister Krystal Lynn Richardson of DeFuniak Springs. Funeral services were held April 16 at Concerned Christian Church with the Rev. James Campbell officiating. Burial followed in the Concerned Christian Church Cemetery. Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Joyce Rosalind Nash
Joye Rosalind Nash, age 80, died April 16 [2001] at Healthmark Regional Medical Center. For the past 16 years she has been a resident of DeFuniak Springs having moved there from West Palm Beach. She was Baptist by faith. She enjoyed serving the Lord and playing the piano at Westside Baptist Church. She enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. Ms. Nash was preceded in death by her husband, Lawrence Edward Nash, and her brother, Arnold Hopkins. She is survived by two sons, Lawrence "Lonnie" E. Nash, Jr. and his wife Carylon S. Nash of DeFuniak Springs, Kenneth A. Nash and his wife, Carol A. Nash, of Crestview; two daughters, Sally E. Manchester and husband Stephen T. Manchester of Limerick, Maine, and Claire N. Green and husband Bobby of DeFuniak Springs; seven grandchildren, Christine R. Turner, Angela Ponfrett, Randi D. Griggs, Colleen A. Nash, Kenneth A. Nash Jr., Gary W. Morse Jr., and M. Scott Morse; seven great-grandchildren, two nieces, one nephew and numerous friends. Memorial services will be held April 21 at 2 p.m. at West Side Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs with Rev. Larry Quattlebaum and Rev. Barney Phillips officiating. Memorialization will be by cremation. Clary-Godwin Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Hubert Morrison
Hubert G. Morrison died April 13 [2001] at his residence. Mr. Morrison was born March 18, 1917 in Darlington where he remained a lifelong resident. He was the son of the late Malcolm and Jane Miles Morrison. He was Baptist by faith.
Survivors include his special, longtime friend and caregiver, Nora Jordan, of Liberty; grandsons James Morrison, Gary Morrison and wife Terry, and Terry Joe Morrison and wife Cindy, all of Liberty; great-grandchildren Christy, Ashley, April, Jamie and Tracy Morrison; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Graveside services were held April 16 at Leonia Cemetery with the Rev. Glen Spence officiating.

Annie Will Beverly Rigdon
Annie Will Beverly Rigdon, 90, of Red Bay, passed away April 16 [2001] at the Silvercrest Manor in Crestview. Mrs. Rigdon was born in Coffee County, Ala., Feb. 13, 1911. She was the daughter of the late Ernest M. and Ida Leverett Beverly. She was a retired certified nurses aide with the Walton County Regional Hospital. Mrs. Rigdon had been a resident of the area since 1926. She was Presbyterian by faith and a long-time member of the Red Bay Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Rigdon was a member of the OES Freeport #281 and was a former county commissioner of Walton County from 1964-1965. She was the first woman serving as a county commissioner in the state of Florida. She was a long time Democratic Executive Committee member and was active in local and state politics. She was a lifetime member of the DAAV Auxiliary #98 in Walton County. She married Marvin Rigdon on March 20, 1927 who preceded her in death in 1964. A son, Marvin Odell Rigdon also passed prior to Mrs. Rigdon in 1981. She is survived by two daughters, Charlaine Rushing and husband Tellis of Red Bay, and Jonnie Diana Manning of DeFuniak Springs; grandchildren Michael Rushing and wife Sylvia of Red Bay; and great-grandchildren, Amanda Lee and husband Allen of Ponce de Leon, Joshua Rushing of Red Bay; numerous nieces and nephews and also her extended family at Silvercrest Manor in Crestview. Funeral services for Mrs. Rigdon were held April 18 in the Red Bay Presbyterian Church with Rev. Thomas Tidwell and Rev. Mike McVay officiating. Burial followed in the Red Bay Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were Robert McCormick, Keith Wayne Miller, W. L. Barrett Jr., Jeff McVay, Michael Thorne and Warren McIntyre. Comander Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Fait Prescott
Mr. L.M. "Fait" Prescott, passed away at his home May 16, 2001, at the age of 100 years. He was born Nov. 27, 1900 in Geneva County, Ala., the son of the late George Calvin Prescott and Ava Ann Cauley Prescott. 
He had resided in Walton County for the past 95 years. He was a retired civil service worker on Eglin Air Force Base, a member of the First Baptist Church of Mossy Head, a member of the Masonic Lodge, Natural Bridge and an avid fox hunter. 
His wife, Bessie E. Prescott and son, Daniel Ray Prescott preceded him in death.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas Earl Prescott, of Gulf Breeze, and Gus Prescott, of Mossy Head; 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren and five great-great grandchildren; two sisters, Mamie Ruth Ward, of White Marsh, Va., and Bonnie Sue Mautino, of Oklahoma; two brothers, James Thomas Anderson, of Tucson, Ariz., and Frank Prescott of Samson, Ala.
Funeral services were held May 19 at Clary-Godwin Funeral home. The Revs. Tim Duffy, Glen Morris and Robert LaFavre officiated. Burial followed at Mossy Head Cemetery.
The deacons from Mossy Head Baptist Church served as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers were Jimmy Stewart, Ernie Plouff, Johnny Foxhall and Joe Slay. 

Shelly Cosson
Shelly R. Cosson, 84, died May 16, 2001 in Crestview, Fla. Mr. Cosson was born Oct. 16, 1916, in Walton County, the son of the late Alfred and Pearl Sellars Cosson. He was a resident of DeFuniak Springs for the past 24 years after retiring from the United States Air Force and the United States Navy with 32 years of combined service. 
He was a veteran of World War II, Korean Conflict and Vietnam Era. He attended Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. He was one of the founding fathers of the United Volunteer Fire Department, a life member of VFW Post 2543 in Plattsmouth, Neb., a life member of the DAV #98 in Euchee Valley and a member of the F & AM #170, in DeFuniak Springs. He enjoyed fishing and hunting and was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife of more than 53 years, Mary J. Cosson of DeFuniak Springs; sons, Alfred R. Cosson and wife, Debra of Murdock, Larry R. Cosson and wife, Jeanine, of Panama City, and Shelley M. Cosson and wife, Rita of Lynn Haven; daughters, Mary L. Muntz and husband, Don, of Cedar Creek, Neb., and Deborah M. Knutson and husband, Tom, of Cedar Creek, Neb.; sisters, Gladys Jackson, of Live Oak, and Ela Mae Rutzenbeck, of Groveland; 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held May 19 at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. The Revs. Owen Smith and Larry Watts officiated and burial followed at the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Junior Cosson, Jim Cosson, Bruce Cosson, Jerry Cosson, Doug Cosson and Johnny Foxhall.
Memorial contributions may be made to the United Volunteer Fire Department Association.

Jessie Bowers Locke
Jessie M. Locke, 75, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away May 16 [2001], in DeFuniak Springs. She was born in Samson, Ala., on March 24, 1916, to the late Travis Cillis and Exer Cook Bowers. She was a life-long resident of this area, moving to DeFuniak Springs in 1947. She was Pentecostal by faith and a member of the First Assembly of God Church in DeFuniak Springs.
She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, Edward P. Locke, in May of 1997; her sister, Beatrice Ryan, and her brother, Lamar Bowers.
Survivors include her children and their spouses, Jeanette Harrison and husband, Houston, of Highland City, Lounette Durrance and husband, George, of DeFuniak Springs, James E. Locke and wife, Melinda, of DeFuniak Springs, Edna Silva and her husband, Don, of Mission Viejo, Calif., and Betty Jo Dody and her husband, John, of Panama City; 18 grandchildren; 37 great grandchildren; and 13 great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held May 20 at the Comander Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Jeff Cain officiated. Interment was at Reece Cemetery in Geneva, Ala. 

William White
William Avee White, a lifelong resident of Point Washington, died May 16, 2001, at the age of 82. Mr. White was born June 4, 1918, the son of the late Jesse James and Lillian Haney White. He was a member of the Ark of Damascus Church in Freeport. He is preceded in death by an infant son, Billy James White.
Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Grace M. White of Point Washington; his children, Gracie Lee Fonville and companion, Gene Holseth, of Crescent City, William Avee White, Jr., of Colorado Springs, Colo., Michael Ray White and James William White of Point Washington, Fla.; brother, Rev. O.J. White and wife, Minnie, of Point Washington; eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held. May 19 at the Ark of Damascus Church in Freeport. The Rev. T.C. Moon officiated. Burial followed at Point Washington Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Earl Barrett, Larry Barrett, Eric Richardson, Louis Jackson, Joe Morgan and Mike Bowden 

Allen Lamar Smith
Allen Lamar Smith, 57, of DeFuniak Springs, died May 26, 2001, in a local hospital. Born in Plant City, Fla., on March 30, 1944, he was the son of the late Fletcher Lloyd and Sarah Frances Sapp Smith. Mr. Smith had been a resident of DeFuniak Springs for the past 22 years. He was Baptist by faith and a member of Southwide Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of 38 years, Mary Smith of DeFuniak Springs; one son, Allen L. Smith Jr. and his wife, Robin, of Lakeland; one daughter, Sarah Ann Stearns and husband, Brian, of Johnson, Vt.; and nine grandchildren.
Memorialization was by cremation.
Comander Funeral Home of DeFuniak Springs was in charge of arrangements.

Nada Isaac
God took Nada Isaac home on May 27, 2001. She was born in Letcher County, Ky., on June 30, 1918, and moved to Freeport in 1967. She was a homemaker and a member of the Niceville Freewill Baptist Church. Mrs. Isaac was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Isaac and her son, Daniel Isaac.
She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by her children, Glenna Palm of Sarasota, Rev. David Isaac and wife, Anita, of Niceville, Charles L. Isaac and wife, Brenda, of Pensacola, Neva Isaac of Sarasota, and Genela Burke and husband, David of Bruce; her grandchildren, Mike, Debbie, Vicky, Mark, Nathan, Davina, David, Farah, Frank, Mary, Charles and Leah; and 18 great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren.
Funeral services were held May 29 in the Niceville Freewill Baptist Church with Rev. Frank Willis officiating. Burial followed in Hatcher Cemetery in Freeport. Serving as pallbearers were Mark Isaac, Nathan Isaac, David Burke II, Brandon Isaac Lambeth, Charles W. Isaac and Bobby Bates.
Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

William Burruss Lynn
William Burruss Lynn, 73, of DeFuniak Springs, died June 1, 2001, in a Pensacola hospital. Born in Leonia, Fla., on June 18, 1927, he was the son of the late Starling Joseph Lynn and Charity Gainey Lynn. Burruss was a life long resident of Walton County. 
He was Pentecostal by faith. He served in the U.S. Navy during WW II. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge F&AM #170 in DeFuniak Springs. He was employed by DSS-Securities at Eglin Air force Base, working as a security guard. He retired from Vetro Services where he worked for more than 27 years as a mechanic. 
Burruss loved working in his garden, fishing and hunting and was known as being a friend to everyone and was also ready to offer a word of encouragement to those in need. He also enjoyed spending time with the coffee drinking club at Mamie's Restaurant.
Mr. Lynn is survived by his wife of 38 years, Lucille S. Lynn, of DeFuniak springs; son, John A. Hicks, and his children, Jeremy Hicks, Kimberlee Hicks and Brandon, and his fiancée, Tracy Hallberg, and her children, Harlan, Cody and Melanie Hallberg, of Destin; daughter, Cathy A. Caswell, of DeFuniak Springs, and her children, Christopher L. Caswell and wife, Kristina, and Jennifer L. Caswell.
Funeral services for Mr. Lynn were held June 4 at the Clary-Godwin Funeral Home Chapel in DeFuniak Springs, with Rev. Lonnie Wright, Rev. Glen Spence and Rev. Wilbur Kelly officiating. Burial was in Alaqua Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Horst Burmeister, Don Helms, Gene Spence, Kalus Dittus, Jim Fay and John Cibiras. Honorary pallbearers were Dan Warren, P.C. Rutherford, Edgar Evens, Gordon Brackins, Bill Ritzman and Bill Whitehead.

John Frederick Bruce Allen
John Frederick Bruce Allen, 63, of DeFuniak Springs, died June 3, 2001. Born Dec. 17, 1937, in Glen Ridge, N.J., he was the son of the late Ivison King Allen and Dorothy Duncan-Clark Allen. He had been a resident of Walton County for the past 18 months. Mr. Allen enjoyed music and playing the guitar. He was very artistic and enjoyed making sculptures and building artistic structures.
Mr. Allen is survived by his wife of 41 years, Barbara W. Allen, of DeFuniak Springs; two sons, Bryon D. Allen of Maui, Hawaii, and Lucis B. Allen of Ojai, Calif.; brother, Craig C. Allen of Seattle, Wash.; daughter, Lauren Duncan-Clark, of Vancouver, Wash.; sister, Barbara Hayslip, of Fort Pierce, Fla.
Memorialization was by cremation. Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Madline Ruth Coker
Madline Ruth Coker, 45, died June 4, 2001, in DeFuniak Springs. She was born Aug. 27, 1955 in Tulsa, Okla., the daughter of the late Ruel Clyde and Eva Mae Foshee Lance. She was a six-year resident of the DeFuniak Springs area. She was Baptist by faith and was preceded in death by her father, mother and a brother, Gary Lance.
Survivors include her husband, Michael A. LaRue, of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Tina M. Schofield and husband, James Frank, of DeFuniak Springs; step-father, Jerry Thomason, of Lawton, Okla.; brothers, Rex Lance and wife, Joy, and Bennie Lance, all of Tulsa; sister, Ruth Lance, also of Tulsa; and three grandchildren, Steve Silvia, Stephanie Silvia and David Lewis, Jr.
Memorialization was by cremation. Clary-Godwin Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Charles D. Grant
Family and friends honor the life and mourn the death of Charles D. "Chick" Grant, who died after a sudden illness on June 9, 2001. Mr. Grant was born June 1, 1940. He was the husband of Marianne; son of Mary Lou and Charles Carpenter Grant; brother to Peter; father of Wendy, Will, Perkins, and Jeb; grandfather of Aaron, Will, Sam, Chandler, Charlie, Brianna, Jacob, Zachary, Landon, Tyler and Kendall. He is son-in-law to Charles Rowe; brother-in-law to Sue Rowe and Nancy Rogers; and father-in-law to Dawn, Sarah, and Jennifer.
An innovative and insightful architect, Mr. Grant's career spanned more than 30 years. He was a former partner in Nichols, Carter and Grant Architects Inc., of Atlanta, Ga.; design manager of The Sea Pines Organization in Puerto Rico; vice president in charge of design and planning for Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla.; and vice president of development at Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort.
At the time of his death, Mr. Grant was vice president of development for the West Florida Operations of Arvida, a St. Joe Company located in Seagrove Beach.
He was a 1963 graduate of Clemson University School of Architecture and served in the U.S. Army, first in Germany from 1964 to 1966 and then in Viet Nam from 1966-1968. Mr. Grant was a member of the American Institute of Architects, the Urban Land Institute, American Resort Development Association, and was on The Board of the Seaside Institute.
Grant was a mentor to many with whom he worked and a source of strength and friendship for those who knew and loved him. He is remembered for his great capacity for kindness, his originality, his love for fishing, his artistic talent, his sense of humor and his ability to live life fully and well.
The family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his memory to Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, 2400 Crystal Cove Ln., Suite I-118, Destin, Fla.
A memorial service was held June 11 at The WaterColor Beach Club.


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