Melvin Findley
January 12, 2018
Mr. Melvin Findley, age 85, passed away on Thursday, January 11, 2018 in Pensacola, Florida.
Mr. Findley was a native and life long resident of Century, FL. He was an RN for 35 years with various local hospitals and nursing homes. He was a member of the Poplar Dell Baptist Church. He is preceded in death by his wife of 49 years, Sarah Findley, granddaughter, Lori Simmons, great granddaughter, Zoey Simmons and two brothers, Paul Findley and Shorty Findley.
He is survived by his two daughters, Brenda Jernigan of Byrneville, FL and Cathy (Jacky) Smith of Flomaton, AL; one sister, Sharon Hood of Brierfiled, AL; one grandchild, Natasha Crapps of Molino, FL and two great grandchildren, Jaden Simmons of Flomaton, AL and Sarah Crapps of Molino, FL.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, January 14, 2018 at 2:00 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Mitch Herring officiating.
Burial will follow at the Flomaton Cemetery.
Visitation will be Saturday, January 13, 2018 from 6 to 9 PM at the Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home.
Pallbearers will be Eugene Findley, Danny Findley, David Findley, Larry Stuckey, Eric Dortch and Jake Wright.
William Lawrence Smith III
January 12, 2018
William Lawrence Smith III, age 76, passed away peacefully January 11, 2018.
He was born and raised in Homestead, Florida. He graduated from South Dade Senior High (Class of ‘59). He retired as a meat market manager for Publix Supermarkets.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, William and Mary Smith.
He will be forever loved and remembered by his wife, Pauline; daughter, Shannon Grandey; granddaughter, Savannah Grandey; stepdaughter, Susan Stephens; stepson and daughter-in- law, John and Tonya Stephens; step grandchildren, Mallory Stephens, Chance Stephens, and Kaitlyn Stephens; sister, Linda Bonham.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 14, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home. A graveside service will be held, Monday January 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at Pensacola Memorial Gardens at 7433 Pine Forest Road.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with arrangements.
Jerry O’Neal Carver
January 12, 2018
Jerry O’Neal Carver, 62, a native of Atmore, AL passed away January 8, 2018. For approximately 18 years he worked as a union insulator as a subcontractor. Jerry was an avid turkey hunter and an outdoorsman. He was always a happy-go- lucky person who never met a stranger. Jerry was an extremely talented artist who built bird houses which looked like log cabins, stained glass art especially angels, and homemade knives. He was very active in Carney Lodge 549, F&AM of
Atmore, AL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul D. and Velma Carver and his wife, June Mathis Carver. Survivors are his children: Bridget (Christopher) Stanley; Leighton (Missy) Spicer David (Rachel) Spicer and Alidia (Ed) Tecon; a brother and two nieces; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
A graveside service with Masonic Honors will be conducted at Oak Hill Cemetery at 2:00 PM Sunday, January 14, 2018.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Carolyn Ann Handler
January 11, 2018
Carolyn Ann Handler, 70, of Cantonment, FL passed away Tuesday, January 9, 2018. Carolyn retired from PJC with 30 years of service. She was married to Ralph Handler, Jr. for 51 years. She was a dedicated mother to Rob and Scott and grandmother to Blade and R.J. Carolyn spent many wonderful weeks at the Perdido Bay Fish Camp with her numerous nephews, nieces, sisters, cousins, brothers-in- law and sisters-in-law over the years.
She is preceded in death by her father, Phillip Woodbury Jennings, Sr.; mother, Ruth Marjorie Jennings; sister, Faye Ellen Mitchell and her brother, James Myrick Jennings.
She is survived by her loving husband, Ralph Robert Handler, Jr.; sons, Ralph Robert Handler, III, and Scott Timothy Handler; sisters, Marjorie Phyllis Gate (Buddy), Virginia Weinman and Ruthie Jennings and her brothers, Phillip W. Jennings, Jr., Michael Jennings and Henry F. Jennings.
Pallbearers will be James Bailey, Brandon Weinman and Tyler Lehman, Jason Gates, Pat Wilson and Jeremy Qualls.
Funeral services will be held Friday, January 12, 2018 at 1 p.m. at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Riley Richardson officiating.
Interment will follow at Gonzalez United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Eleanor Marie Rouse
January 11, 2018
Eleanor Marie Rouse, 91, of Cantonment, FL, passed away at Sacred Heart Hospital on Monday, January 8, 2018. She and her twin sister, Thea Mae, were born in Des Moines, Iowa on July 16, 1926, to Theodore and Hermenia Meyer. She married Herman C. Williams and was widowed upon his death on May 9, 1974. In 1979, she married Donald “Duke’ Rouse who preceded her in death in 2014. She will always be remembered for her faith in Jesus Christ and the love she shared with her family.
She is survived by her children, Paul Williams (Laurie), Jack Williams (Magi), Barbara Thornley (Robert), Sandra Arnold (Michael), David Williams (Joann), Robert Williams, Herman Williams, Jr. and Terry Williams; grandchildren, Jason Claussen, Brandon Williams, Jessica Williams Bachinski (Matthew), Amanda Williams Olsen (Daniel), Melissa Williams, Wesley Williams (Mary Catherine), Erica Williams, Chelsea Williams, Ashley Williams, Christian Williams, Courtney Williams and Jordan Williams and her great-grandchildren, Olivia Williams and Owen Bachinski.
She is preceded in death by her sister, Thea Mae Noblin.
Visitation will be held Saturday, January 13, 2018, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North beginning at 10 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. with Pastor Carl Shiver officiating.
Interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery on Monday, January 15, 2018, at 9:30 a.m.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North is entrusted with the arrangements.
Myles Rusty
January 10, 2018
Our firstborn, Myles Rusty, was born to us, Rusty and Stacia, on the cold wintry morning of December 31, 2017, at the Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Miles from home, in a strange and unfamiliar place, our beloved infant son, came into this world to two excited but terrified parents. We are thankful we had a short time to hold and love him. We were so looking forward to him being in our lives, but Jesus had a different plan and took baby Myles to heaven to be a beautiful angel.
Although we are left with broken hearts, we want to trust all to Him who knows best. We are comforted in knowing that we have the hope of seeing him again someday.
Sharing in this loss are his parents, Rusty and Stacia Kaufmann, Walnut Hill, Florida; paternal grandparents, Hank and Diane Kaufmann, Walnut Hill, Florida; maternal grandparents, Galen and Rosalie Schmidt, Walnut Hill, Florida; great grandparents, Verle and Vesta Peters, Walnut Hill, Florida; Sam and Lavaunda Schmidt, Scotia, Nebraska; Dolly Eicher, Brooksville, Mississippi.
A memorial service was held on January 5, 2018, at the Southern Harbor Mennonite Church, Davisville, Florida, with Min. Verle Peters officiating.
Stephany Marie Kizer Peterson
January 10, 2018
Stephany Marie Kizer Peterson , 51, died Sunday January 7, 2018 at her home in Perdido Key, Florida. Stephany was born at U.S Marine Corps Air Base Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii on September 29, 1966 to the late LTCOL. James P. and Marie Kizer. After about a year, the family traveled from Hawaii to California. Over the next twelve years, as LTCOL Kizer moved to assignments in the U.S. and Vietnam, the family travelled back and forth between California, North Carolina, and Virginia. Stephany and her family often spent much of their summers in Atmore Alabama enjoying the warm days with her grandparents, extended family, and with friends. Stephany, like all Marine brats, attended several elementary and middle schools. In the summer of 1978, following LTCOL Kizer’s retirement from the Marine Corps, the family moved from U.S. Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, California to Atmore, Alabama.
Stephany attended Escambia County Middle School in Atmore and spent three years at Escambia County High School. She transferred to Ernest Ward High School in her senior year and graduated in 1984; after graduation she attended Auburn University. Stephany later determined that her destiny was not Auburn and instead traveled to Grapevine, Texas and began Flight Attendant Training with American Airlines. She spent nearly 5 years as a flight attendant with American Airlines living in New York and Grapevine, Texas where she married her children’s father. She and her husband moved to LaFayette, Louisiana and were blessed with the birth of her first son, Patrick Casey Byers, on December 8, 1993. The family later moved to Jupiter, Florida where she was again blessed with the birth of her second son, Bradley Joseph Byers, on December 2, 1997. In 2000, Stephany and her husband divorced, and she moved to Tequesta, Florida.
To be closer to her family, Stephany and her two boys moved to Orange Beach, Alabama in 2007. In 2011 Stephany embarked on a new chapter in her life when she and a partner opened Ya Ya’s Restaurant. Stephany, supported by her associates, served as not only the owner, but also as the cook, waitress, and chief bottle washer! In 2012, Stephany met David E. Peterson and the two dated for the next 5 years. On April 8, 2017, Stephany and David were married and moved to Perdido Key, Florida.
Stephany Peterson’s survivors include two sons, Patrick Casey Byers and Bradley Joseph Byers, her husband David Peterson, and his children John Thomas Peterson, Michael Peterson, and Ashley Peterson; her brother James P. Kizer Jr. and wife, Beth, of Navarre, Florida, her brother Steven J. Kizer and wife, Michelle, of Gulf Shores, and two nephews James Garrett Kizer and Spencer Joseph Kizer. Rite of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. January 12, 2018 from Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home with Father Milsted officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Alan Blake Clark, Sr.
January 10, 2018
Mr. Alan Blake Clark, Sr., age 70, passed away Monday, January 8, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama.
Mr. Clark was a native of Penscola, FL, spent most of his life in Gulf Breeze, FL and Pensacola, FL and has resided in Booneville, AL for the past 13 years. He was of the Methodist Faith. He is preceded in death by his wife, Debbie Clark, one step-daughter, Kimberly Dawn Suggs McClain and parents, Albert & Lillian Clark.
Survivors include his son, Alan Blake (Rikki English Clark) Clark, Jr. of Booneville, AL; daughter, Angelique B. Clark of Booneville, AL and seven grandchildren, Marie Clark, Lilee Clark, Destiny Clark, Drake Ryan, Blake Ryan, Shelby McClain and Amanda McClain.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
Mary Flannigan Helton
January 10, 2018
Mary Flannigan Helton, age 90, passed away Sunday, Januray 7, 2018 at home surrounded by her loving family. She enjoyed a long career with Bell South, later AT&T as a Chief Operator.
She is preceded in death by her husband Loyd”Pappy” Helton, son Patrick Carroll, brothers Edward Flannigan and Loyd Flannigan.
Survivors include her daughter Cindy (Warren) Tyon, brother Jerry (Charlotte) Flannigan, grandson sPatrick, William and Hunter, great grand children Deva, Jason, Tommy, Amber, David, Estella and Hanna.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, January 11, 2018 at 11:00am at Pine Crest Cemetery, 1939 Dauphin Island Parkway, Mobile,AL.
Johnny James Watson, Sr.
January 9, 2018
Johnny James Watson, Sr. was born into the union of John Lex Watson and Maggie Eddins on August 3, 1935 in Jay, Florida, just two years after the end of the Great Depression. He was born at his family’s farm house in the Pine Level community. The hands who ushered him from his mother’s womb where those of his Grandmother Hawthorne. He was blessed with loving, God fearing parents and a large family. Johnny lived in the Jay area most of his life and he loved “God’s Country” as he sometimes called it. Johnny passed away at the age of 82 at the home of his oldest daughter, Amanda, on January 5, 2018 in MiIton, Florida with his family surrounding him.
He grew up farming in the fields of Jay, Florida and Elba, Alabama with his family for many years and eventually worked a host of jobs before he was hired as an inspector for the State of Florida Department of Agriculture, where he spent 25 years before retiring in 1996. Johnny was an extraordinary musician and singer who played multiple musical instruments. He was the front man and lead singer for a number of bands. One of which was the Good Times Band, his favorite instrument was the bass guitar. He played music and sang at numerous venues throughout the local area as well as in Mobile, Alabama for time spanning over forty years.
Johnny was charismatic and charming, especially when he flashed his million dollar smile while crooning in his sultry, smooth voice. Many were said to have hearts fluttered when he sang. ohnny rarely ever said a harsh word about anyone preferring to not say anything at all even toward those who were the most deserving of harsh criticism. He was a friend to all who would let him. He was a hard worker and one who often chose to fix things himself, whether he had the aptitude for the task or not. He would often say, “I am either going to fix it or tear it up worse”, often in more colorful language.
Johnny left behind a large family and countless friends made over the years wherever he lived or worked.
Johnny was married and divorced several times and his unions brought forth seven children. He was preceded in death by his former wife, and sweetheart Janice Charlene Michael Watson who bore him five of those children.
Johnny is survived by his children, Billy Watson (Dianne), Amanda Watson, Johnny Watson, Jr. (Tammy), Chris Watson (Bonita), Mike Watson, Mark Watson (Louise) and Jonathon Watson. He had 14 grandchildren, Zackary, Canaan, Seth, Adam, Brandy, Kelly, Konner, Sydney, Racheal, Taylor, Taylia, Tylan, Mackenzie, and Landon. He is also survived by 6 great-grandchildren, Felicity, Aubrey, Emelia, Scarlett, Paisley and Jaxon.
Johnny is also survived by his adoring siblings, Annie Merle Rogers (Doug), Dennis Watson,Sr. (Patsy), Jimmy Watson (Linda), Bonnie Dole, Brenda Calhoun (Phil), and Clifton Watson. Johnny’s sister, Jean Marie Warrick and youngest brother, Doyle Dwayne Watson preceded him in death as did his loving parents, John Lex and Maggie Watson.
He leaves behind a large extended family of nephews, nieces and cousins, too numerous to name. His family, even the extended family remained a close and vital part of his life, even unto his last breath. They were all very near and dear to his heart.
A Celebration of Johnny’s life will be held on Wednesday, January 10, 2018. Visitation will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. with a service immediately following at True Worship Assembly of God, 13297 Hwy 87, Jay, FL 32565. The pallbearers, who are family so close to him, will be John Watson, Dennis Watson, Jr., Clint Sheffield, Justin Sheffield, Jarrett Watson, and Jason Watson. Graveside service to follow, in God’s Country at Pine Level Cemetery in Jay, Florida.