John E. Creel
John Eugene Creel, 97, of DeFuniak Springs, died May 12.
Creel, fondly called “Grampa” by his grandchildren, was born in Edwin, Ala., on Feb. 22, 1905, the son of William Henry and Hattie Eldridge Creel. He had been a resident of DeFuniak Springs since 1926.
John was active at First United Methodist Church for more than 50 years and served on the administrative board before moving to Sandestin in 1981. He was instrumental in the construction of the present church building and educational building.
Creel served on the Okaloosa-Walton Community College Board of Directors, was a trustee for 10 years and also served on the board of the OWCC Foundation. He was president of the Walton County Fair Association for 40 years; was a charter member of the Walton County Chamber of Commerce; a charter member of the Historical Society of Walton and Okaloosa Counties; chairman of the Walton County Bicentennial Committee in 1976 when the Chautauqua Festival was revived; was a member of the DeFuniak Springs Masonic Lodge 170 since 1928; a member of the Kiwanis Club for 55 years; and was a member of First United Methodist Church.
The John Creel Bridge located on Interstate 10 over the Choctawhatchee River was dedicated in 1976. Creel retired from Creel Ford Co. in 1979. He was predeceased by his wife, Berta D. Creel, in 1996.
Survivors include a daughter, Frances Jean Puckett, and husband, Ed, of DeFuniak Springs; a grandson, John E. Puckett, and friend, Jane Mundy, of Destin; a granddaughter, Jan Puckett Glenz, and husband, Donald, of Montgomery, Texas; and a great-granddaughter, Lesley Glenz of Houston.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorials may be made in Creel’s memory to First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 9, DeFuniak Springs, Fla. 32435, or to Covenant Hospice, 2001 North Palafox St., Pensacola, Fla. 32501. The family received friends prior to the funeral May 14 at First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs. The Rev. Bob Penton officiated. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery with Jerry Evans Funeral Home handling the arrangements.
Vera C. Strickland
Vera C. Strickland, 77, of DeFuniak Springs, died May 12 in a local hospital.
She was born in Williston, Fla., to the late Jesse Franklin and Cora Lelia Mauldin Crenshaw on Dec. 31, 1924.
Vera was the owner/operator of Strickland’s Christmas Tree Farm in DeFuniak Springs for more than 40 years. She was an active member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and along with her late husband, Ed Strickland, helped found the Panhandle Opry. Vera was also a volunteer at the local hospital.
She was preceded in death by her husband and three brothers, Clayton, Coma and Roy Crenshaw.
Survivors include her daughter and son-in-law, Kyna Shelley and Tom Lipscomb of Amite, La.; son, Ron Strickland of DeFuniak Springs; her special friend and sister-in-law, Teenie Crenshaw of Gainesville; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. today at Comander Chapel with the Revs. Mike Brown and Glen Spence officiating. Burial will follow in Magnolia Cemetery in DeFuniak Springs.
Pallbearers will be Ed Earles, Gordon Porter, Mike Porter, Mike Doxey, Mike Jones and Sam Jones. Floral contributions are accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Clary-Godwin and Comander Funeral Homes are entrusted with arrangements.
Irene Langford
Irene Langford, 84, of DeFuniak Springs died May 5 at a local care facility.
Irene was born on Aug. 10, 1917, in Walton County, to Perry Henderson and Maude Emmett Henderson. She was Methodist by faith. Irene was a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Peck Langford, and parents.
Survivors include her brother, Robert Henderson, and wife, Peggy, of Pensacola; sisters, Lurie Born of Pensacola, Jeanette Wooten of DeFuniak Springs and Finny Mason of Fort Walton Beach; nephews, Ken Mason of Fort Pierce and Troy Mason Jr. of Fort Walton Beach; as well as two great-nephews, Kevin Mason of Miami and Dustin Mason of Maitland, Fla.
Services were scheduled for May 8 in the chapel of Clary-Godwin/Comander Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. Robert Penton officiating. Burial was to follow in Magnolia Cemetery.
Clary-Godwin/Comander Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
James Miller Bogan
James Miller Bogan, a resident of Baton Rouge and frequent visitor to Destin, died Thursday, May 2.
James was a native of Shreveport and a U.S. Navy veteran.
He is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, James M. Jr. and Nancy Boynton, Baton Rouge; a sister, Ruth Bogan, Goldsboro, N.C.; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Carmen Page Bogan; his parents, and a daughter Carmen Murrey.
A private memorial service and burial will take place in Baton Rouge. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.
Rabenhorst Funeral Home of Baton Rouge is in charge of arrangements.
Beatrice G. Infinger
Beatrice G. Infinger, age 86, of DeFuniak Springs passed away Wednesday, May 1 at her residence.
Beatrice was born April 8, 1916, in Walton County, Fla., to John Angus Gainey and Sarah Martha Infinger Gainey. She was a lifelong resident of Walton County. Beatrice was Baptist by faith and a member of the Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. She owned and operated Infinger Grocery Store for 20 years. Beatrice enjoyed mullet fishing, cooking, crocheting and working in the garden. She was always willing to lend a helping hand to those in need.
Survivors include her brother, J.W. Gainey and wife Inez of DeFuniak Springs; sister, Bertice Nowling and husband Miles of DeFuniak Springs; sister-in-law, Ailene Gainey of DeFuniak Springs; niece, Janice Mavelene Taylor and husband Bruce of Ponce de Leon, Fla.; nephews, Gary Nowling and wife Thelma, Ronnie Gainey and wife Gloria, Rocky Gainey, Rusty Gainey and Rex Gainey. Also, Beatrice was survived by a host of great-nieces and nephews, as well as a number of great-great-nieces and nephews.
Derrell M. Mochel
Derrell M. Mochel, 77, of Gulf Breeze, died Thursday, May 1. Born in Ponca, Okla., he moved to Gulf Breeze from Benton, Ark., one year ago. He is a member of Midway Baptist Church. At the age of 17, Derrell hiked 200 miles and went through court proceedings so his sister, Ruby, could sign for him to join the Navy.
Mr. Mochel is preceded in death by one son, Derrell Martin Mochel Jr.; a brother, Don; and his sister, Ruby.
He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Margie Mochel of Gulf Breeze; one son, Gary Mochel and his wife Martha of Destin; two daughters, Marsha Weit of Granbury, Texas, and Debra Alexander and her husband John of Gulf Breeze; two brothers, Glen and Ted Mochel; 11 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Monday, May 6, 2002 at Midway Baptist Church. Internment followed at Rose Lawn Cemetery.
The family received friends at the funeral home Sunday from 5 to 6 p.m.
Rose Lawn Funeral Home & Cemetery was in charge of arrangements.
William “Bill” Charlson
William “Bill” Charlson, longtime resident of Fort Walton Beach and Santa Rosa Beach, died April 29 in Carson City, Nev.
He graduated from West Point in 1944, retiring from the Air Force in 1972 after 31 years of service.
He is survived by his wife, Jeanne; daughters, Pamela Santos and Patricia Freels; and five grandchildren.
John S. “J.S.” Henderson
J.S. Henderson, 76, of DeFuniak Springs, died April 27 in a local hospital.
J.S. was born on Nov. 11, 1927, in Walton County to Reason and Alma Gainey Henderson. He was a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs.
J.S. was Baptist by faith and a member of Southwide Baptist Church. He was one of the founding members of the church. He was also a veteran of World War II, the Korean war and the Vietnam era. He served his country in the Navy for over 30 years, retiring as a master chief petty officer.
Henderson is preceded in death by his wife, Clemmie Padgett Henderson, and sister, Lenieve Davis.
He is survived by one son, John Hugh Henderson of DeFuniak Springs; daughter, Cheryl Lisa Henderson of DeFuniak Springs; brother, Jerry Henderson, and wife, Pam, of Mountain View, Calif.; sisters Margie Cosson and Jean Kelly of DeFuniak Springs, Ilene Snare of Melbourne, Fla., JoAnne McConnell of Woodbridge, Va., and Vivian Zehr of Greenville, S.C.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. May 1 from the Chapel of Clary-Godwin Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. Doug Hogg officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Southwide Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers are Lyle Seigler, Robert Seigler, Boss Brackins, Vince Brown, Grady Brannon and Jim Brannon. Honorary pallbearers are Floyd Spence, Kenneth Thompson, Larry Laird, Ralph Smith, Frank Cosson, Al Peel, Billy Carroll, Bob Butler and Izaihas Camera.
Floral contributions will be accepted or donations to may be sent to the Southwide Baptists Church building fund.
Clary-Godwin/Comander Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Alice K. Barcelo
Alice K. (Posey) Barcelo, 82, of Destin passed away Wednesday, April 24 at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.
Barcelo was born on May 20, 1919 to William & Alice Biles Jones. Her mother Alice, her father, William David Jones, her son Russell, her two sisters, Elizabeth Jones and Louis Dunn, her husbands Walter G. Posey and Gabriel Barcelo and her niece Susan Dunn preceded Alice in death.
Barcelo is survived by her son, Bill Posey Sr. and wife Cindy; Barbara Nolan, who was her son Russell’s wife, grandson Bill Posey Jr. and wife Robin, grandsons David Russell Posey Sr. and wife Georgianna, and son Jamie, Shawn Russell Posey and wife Martha, Christine Koblinyk and husband Mike, great-grandchildren David R. Posey Jr. and his mother Roxanne who was like a granddaughter to her, Brandon, Brett and Taylor Posey, Styles Posey, great-great-grandchildren Ben Posey and Heather Koblinyk. She will be sadly missed by her family and many senior friends and card partners.
Services will be held for Alice at a later date in her son’s home where the family will receive friends. Donations may be made in Alice’s memory to the United Methodist Church, 200 Beach Drive, Destin, Fla. 32541.
Loyd A. Hinote
Loyd A. “Pete” Hinote, 92, of DeFuniak Springs, died April 22 at an area hospital.
He was born on June 8, 1909, to John and Ida Meigs Hinote. Pete was well known for his attendance and opinions at the Opinion Place in downtown DeFuniak Springs. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs as well as of Masonic Lodge F&AM 170 of DeFuniak Springs. He was employed with Blue Motor Co. for many years.
Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Cook Hinote.
Pete is survived by his son, Lloyd Hubert Hinote, and wife, Rene, of Monroe, N.C.; daughter, Gail Hinote Carter of DeFuniak Springs; brother, Curtis Hinote, and wife, Regina, of Mobile; grandchildren, Lloyd Hinote Jr., and wife, Jennifer, of Charlotte, N.C., Dawn Schusterman of Rock Hill, S.C., Lorrie Arciles and husband, Mark, of Charlotte; great-grandchildren, Justin and Landon Hinote, Ericia, Brooke and Alexa Arciles, Morgan Syndey, Adam and Joshua Schusterman; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services were held April 24 at First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Robert Penton officiating. Burial followed in Magnolia Cemetery, with full Masonic rights.
Active pallbearers were members of the Busymen Sunday School at First United Methodist Church. Honorary pallbearers were his friends from the Opinion Place, downtown DeFuniak Springs.
Clary-Godwin/Comander Funeral Home was entrusted with arrangements.
