LEWIS BURL ROCHE
Lewis Burl Roche, a loving father and friend, died on Jan. 3, and will be laid to rest at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens in Panama City. Lew is survived by his wife, Mary; sister, Iris; and a strong and caring clan of children, grandchildren, a great-grandchild, cousins, nieces, nephews and their families. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with Msgr. William Crowe officiating. A viewing for all friends and family will be held today, Jan. 6, 2002, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
MACK TULLIS BAXLEY
Funeral services for Mack Tullis Baxley, 96, of Panama City, who died Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002, in a local nursing facility, will be held today at 10 a.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tim Moffett and the Rev. Adolph Bedsole officiating. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Gardens with Masonic rites conducted by Acme Masonic Lodge at graveside. Active pallbearers will be members of the Acme Masonic Lodge.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
COVEL EUGENE HICKS
Covel Eugene Hicks, 71, of Tallahassee, Fla., passed away Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002, in Tallahassee. He had resided in Tallahassee for one year coming from Bonifay, Fla. He was of the Prostestant faith. He was a member of Lions Club in Lake Alfred, Fla. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 9, at the Chapel of Brown Funeral Home with the Rev. Roger Dale Hagan officiating. Burial will follow in the Bonnett Pond Cemetery
with Brown Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Brown Funeral Home. The family is accepting flowers, but those wishing to may make donations to the Hospice House, Tallahassee, Fla. Survivors are a lifelong partner, Lora Ann Tucker; two sons, Thomas A. and wife, Angie Hicks, of Jacksonville, Fla., and Steven Gene Hicks, of Cleveland, Ohio; two daughters, Robin and husband, Robert Glady, of Tallahassee, Christine and husband, Charles Walsingham, of Panama City Beach; two brothers, Corbin Hicks, of Vernon, Fla., and Cubie Hicks, of Panama City; three sisters, Cumi Haddock, of Ocala, Fla., Christine Hicks, of Vernon, Carmel Walsingham, of Wausau; and 11 grandchildren.
Brown Funeral Home
Chipley, Fla. 32428
LILLIE PEARL PAGE
Funeral services for Mrs. Lillie Pearl Page of Panama City will be conducted today, Jan. 8, 2002, at 1 p.m. at Northside Baptist Church with the Rev. Jerry Moore and the Rev. Bobby Shiver officiating. Interment will follow in the Magnolia Cemetery
in Apalachicola, Fla.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
EMORY L. ROBERTSON
Emory L. Robertson, 87, of Port St. Joe, passed away at Bay Medical Center on Sunday, Jan. 6, 2002. He was born in Tallapoosa, Ga., had been a resident of Port St. Joe since 1941 and was a World War II veteran. Mr. Robertson retired from the St. Joe Paper Co. after 30 years. Survivors include Nadine, his loving wife of 56 years; one son, Rick L. Robertson and wife, Donna, of Alachua; one daughter, Sharon E. Sumner and husband, Lee, of Orlando; five grandsons, Chad, Clint, Dusty, Travis and Troy; and one granddaughter, Melissa. Visitation will be held at the Comforter Funeral Home in Port St. Joe today, Jan. 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. EST. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. EST Wednesday at First Baptist Church in Port St. Joe. Interment will be at Pleasant Rest Cemetery
in Overstreet. Grandchildren will serve as pallbearers and the members of the First Baptist Church Men's 60 and up Sunday school class will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Comforter Funeral Home
Port St. Joe, FL 32456
BESSIE STORM
Funeral services for Mrs. Bessie Storm, 101, of Panama City, who was called to her heavenly home on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002, will be held Wednesday, Jan. 9, at 10 a.m. in Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Callaway with the Rev. Gary E. Hill and the Rev. Harold Storm officiating. She will join her husband in Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today. Those desiring to may make a contribution to Good Shepherd Lutheran Church memorial fund or the charity of your choice in memory of Bessie Storm. Active pallbearers are her grandsons, Paul Eberhard, Holton H. Harders, Robert Doughty, Earl Doughty, and her great-grandsons, Paul Padgett and Jacob Harders.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
BURNICE 'TIP' TIPTON
Funeral services for Burnice "Tip" Tipton, 80, of Ocala, Fla., who died Saturday, Jan. 5, 2002, in his home, will be held today at 2 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Virgil Vickers officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Active pallbearers are Patrick Tipton, Robby Scott Jr., Brian Quinn, Johnny Cutchins, Steve Skinner and Jerry Goodwin.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
CHRISTOPHER 'CHRIS' RYAN TOMPKINS
Christopher "Chris" Ryan Tompkins, 20, of Panama City, passed away Jan. 4, 2002, in Huntsville, Ala. Chris served time in the Navy on the Kitty Hawk. He loved to fish, hunt and play baseball. He lived life to the fullest and enjoyed each day. His presence always brought a smile. Chris will always be loved and missed. His family will remember him as "Little Buddy." Chris is survived by his parents, Randy and Katrina Tompkins; sister, Erika Nichole; grandmother, Joyce Hogg; grandparents, Hazel and Ronnie Vance; numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. He is preceded in death by his grandfathers, Arthur Tompkins and Gerald Hogg. Funeral services will be at noon today, Jan. 8, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home with Bro. Douglas G. Hogg officiating. Interment will follow the services. Faith Chapel Funeral Home, 100 Beverly Parkway, is in charge of arrangements.
NEAL WILLIAM WEST JR.
Mr. Neal W. West Jr., 63, of Panama City, passed away Jan. 5, 2002, at his residence. He was a native of Graceville, Fla., and had lived in Panama City for the past 50 years. Mr. West was a house painter and an evangelist who preached in numerous churches across North Florida. He was a family man who loved camping and visiting with his friends and relatives. He is survived by his wife, Wondell West, of Panama City; three sons, Nathan West and wife, Samantha, William West and wife, Shannon and Amos West and wife, Marie, all of Panama City; three daughters, Wanda Smith and husband, John, of Youngstown, Gloria Harris and husband, Simmeron, of Salem, Ala., and Rosie Griggs and husband, Jackie, of Panama City; four sisters, Myrl Roney, Martha Chiodo and Elaine Rogers and her husband, Joe, all of Panama City, and Betty Phipps and husband, Alvin, of Youngstown; 16 grandchildren, and one great-grandson, Seth. He was preceded in death by a son, Johnny West; a sister, Alice McDonald; and his parents, Neal and Kate West. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, Jan. 8, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home with the Rev. Buford Taylor and the Rev. Bob Brown officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Asked to serve as pallbearers are Paul Baker, David Buckley, Bruce Melvin, Reggie Pugh, Stan Price and Paul Lassiter.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
ELLIS BECK
Ellis Beck, 64, went to be with the Lord on Jan. 7, 2002. He is survived by his wife, Betty K. Beck; daughter, Paula Clark; three sisters, Linda Freeman, Dimple Brymer, Mary Lloyd; four brothers, James Beck, Donald Beck, Gary Beck and Pete Beck. Funeral services will be held today at 2 p.m. in Nichols Funeral Home, Double Springs, Ala. Interment will follow in Littleville Methodist Cemetery.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
HADLEY HERBERT CHESTNUT JR.
Hadley Herbert Chestnut Jr., 76, of 1330 Dover Road, Parker, Fla., died Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2002, in a local hospital. Mr. Chestnut moved to Panama City in 1937 from Hodge, La. He was a retired maintenance superintendent at the Panama City mill. He graduated from Bay High School and attended FSCW and Auburn University. He was a member of the Quarter Century Club of IPC, DAV, and Parker United Methodist Church. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in 101st Airborne Division (Screaming Eagles) and was present at the Battle of the Bulge. He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Chestnut; two sons, Thomas H. Chestnut, Buddy W. Chestnut and his wife, Nicky; two daughters, Cindy Chestnut Carter and Connie Sue Chestnut Archer and her husband, Thomas, all of Panama City; four grandchildren, Joe Gorman, Julie Finch, Amy Miller, Brandon Fowler; two great-grandsons, Wesley Stone and Thomas Stone; two sisters, Pat Flowers and her husband, Arthur, of Andrews, S.C., and Sandra Turner and her husband, John, of Raleigh, N.C. Funeral services will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Paul Malson, the Rev. Jack Hankins, and the Rev. Daniel Dykes officiating. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m. Those desiring to may make a contribution to the Emmanus Baptist Church or Parker United Methodist Church in memory of Mr. Hadley Herbert Chestnut Jr.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
TOMMY JACK 'TOM' MELHORN
Mr. Tommy Jack "Tom" Melhorn, 65, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Jan. 7, 2002, at a local hospital. He was born in Fork Mountain, Tenn., and had lived in Panama City for 18 years. In 1953, he joined the U.S. Army where he stayed 23 years, serving in Korea and two terms in Vietnam. Tom received two Bronze Stars, two Meritorious Service Medals, National Defense Service Medal with Stars for Korea and Vietnam and the U.S. Army Commendation Medal. He received a certificate in tool and die engineering at the Columbus Vo-Tech School and received an AA Degree in business administration from Phillips College. Mr. Melhorn retired as foreman of the drainage crew of the city of Panama City street department after 17 years service. He was an avid fisherman and gardener, and loved spending time with his family and friends. He was also a member of Hiland Park Baptist Church. Mr. Melhorn is survived by his wife of 37 years, Sue Melhorn of Panama City; four daughters: Debra Gorsuch and her husband, Casey, of Wartburg, Tenn., Denita Cook and her husband, Steve, of Lynn Haven, and Rehnada Sandlin and her husband, Andy, and Marie Melhorn, all of Panama City; four grandchildren, Tyler Gorsuch, Kristin Cook, Michael Cook and Kara Cook; his mother, A. Marie Melhorn of Wartburg, Tenn.; six brothers, George Melhorn and his wife, Annie, of Wartburg, Jim Melhorn, of Elwood, Ill., Jessie Melhorn and his wife, Sheila, of Coalfield, Tenn., David Melhorn and his wife, Kathy, of Wilmington, Ill., Harold Melhorn and his wife, Judy, of Minooka, Ill., and Claude Melhorn of Wartburg; a sister, Anna Human of Wartburg; sisters-in-law, Nell Russell and her husband, James, of Dothan, Ala., Sandra Ivey and her husband, Bill, of Panama City, and Annie Glynn Brooks and her husband, W.C., of Dothan; brothers-in-law, Kent Lee and Mitchell Lee and his wife, Nellie, all of Dothan, and Britt Lee and his wife, Janie, of New Brockton, Ala.; a special friend and fishing and gardening partner, Bo Johns and his wife, Mary, of Panama City; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Herman Melhorn and his brother, Herman Melhorn Jr. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 10, at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Pickerill, the Rev. Sue Nelson, the Rev. Stephen Pettijohn, the Rev. Mitchell Lee and Pastor Phil Edwards officiating. Interment with full military honors will follow from Forest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are Greg Lee, Jerry Newman, Tommy Ivey, Robert Whitmer, R.D. Whittaker and Bo Johns. Honorary pallbearers will include the employees of the street department of the city of Panama City. The family will receive friends at the funeral home today, Jan. 9, from 6 to 9 p.m. A special thanks to the staff of the Pulmonary Unit at Bay Medical Center and to Dr. Cvitkovich.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
