Larry Dale Chaney
Larry Dale Chaney, age 43, of Santa Rosa Beach, died of heart failure on Sept. 28, at his home.
Larry leaves his wife, Peggy; daughter, Sara, son, Ben; his parents, Dale and Roena of Destin; his grandmother, Marie Chaney; also, many friends and family.
McLaughlin Mortuary is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Jane Potts
Mary Jane Potts, 70, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, in Pensacola.
Potts was born on Oct. 21, 1930, in Bonifay, Fla., the daughter of the late Peter and Emma Walker. She was a 15–year resident of Freeport after moving from Memphis. She was a member of the Town Planning Committee of Freeport and also worked as a volunteer for the Red Cross during emergency situations.
Survivors include her husband of 18 years, Don Potts of Freeport; sons, Tom Sadler and wife, Darlene, of Freeport, John Sadler and wife, Kathie, of Winter Springs, Fla., and Donald Potts Jr. and wife, Roxanne, of Pensacola; six grandchildren, Nicole and husband, Michael, Greg, Michelle, Tommy, Jonathan and Andrew; and two great–grandchildren, Deanna and Dakota.
Memorialization was by cremation.
Clary–Godwin Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs was in charge of arrangements.
Vasilios Koulisis
Vasilios Koulisis, 77, of Destin and formerly of Worcester, Mass., died Sept. 26 in a local hospital.
Born in Vavouri Filiates, Greece, on Oct. 23, 1923, to Spiridonos and Kaliopi (Papaioannou) Koulisis, he emigrated from Greece to Worcester, Mass., on Sept. 16, 1935, and became a U.S. citizen on Oct. 27, 1943. married on Aug. 17, 1947, to Antigoni (Sotiriou) Koulisis, his wife of 54 years, he was a veteran of World War II.
In addition to his wife, Antigoni, he is survived by his children, Linda Koulisis and Dr. Christo W. Koulisis; grandchildren, William and Alexandra; sister, Athena; and nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Services were scheduled for Sept. 29 at Sts. Markella and Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church in Mary Esther, conducted by Archimandrite Constantine Mersinas. Burial was to follow in Heritage Gardens Cemetery in Niceville.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Basil Academy, 79 St. Basil Road, Garrison, N.Y. 10524.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach was in charge of arrangements.
Daniel Neil Woodward
Daniel Neil Woodward, 32, died suddenly Sept. 26, 2001.
Neil leaves his loving wife, Cindy; parents, Danny and Betty Jo Woodward; children, Kathryn Lee, Cody Daniel and Molly Elizabeth; stepchildren, Ashley and Brandon Martin; brother and sister-in-law, Scott and Debbie Woodward; and many family and friends.
Neil was a dedicated public servant and was serving as a Blackman firefighter, the Andalusia Rescue Squad, Covington County 911 dispatcher and safety representative for Chevron Oil Co.
He graduated from Fort Walton Beach High School in 1987 and was a firefighter for Destin Fire Department, then received his law enforcement standards in 1991 and was with the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Department for eight years. He then received his EMT certification from LBW Junior College in Andalusia, Ala.
He will be remembered as a devoted son, brother, husband and father.
Services have been held.
Memorials may be made to Cindy Woodward in memory of Neil, in care of the Eglin Federal Credit Union.
Emerald Coast Funeral Home in Fort Walton Beach was in charge of arrangements.
Rufus Daughette
Rufus Daughette, 94, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away at his residence Friday, Sept. 28.
He was born Aug. 31, 1907, in Jay, Fla., the son of Chattom and Laura McCurdy Daughette.
Daughette moved with his wife, Hazel, to DeFuniak Springs in 1941 to accept a position with the new Coca-Cola plant that had just opened, a position he held some 35 years.
He was a member of the DeFuniak Springs Lions Club for over 40 years and was a life member of the VFW and the American Legion, having served his country with the armed forces during World War II.
He was a master mason, a member of the York Rite of Crestview and a member of Hadji Temple of Pensacola. He also was a member of First United Methodist Church of DeFuniak Springs.
Survivors include his wife, Hazel Daughette, of DeFuniak Springs; one nephew, Carlton Daughette, and wife, Johnnie, of Holt; and three nieces, Carrie Belle Grantham and husband, Lynn, of Fort Worth, Texas, Claudine Williams of Chattachochee, and Dot Harden and husband, Harold, of Pensacola.
In lieu of flowers, friends and family are asked to make a contribution to the charity of their choice. Visitation was scheduled for Monday in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home. Service was scheduled for Monday at the funeral home with the Rev. Bob Penton and the Rev. Wilbur Kelley officiating. Masonic graveside service was scheduled Monday in Milton Cemetery, with Jerry Evans Funeral Home of DeFuniak Springs in charge of arrangements.
Willie N. Ward.
Willie N. Ward, 89, of Bruce, passed away Monday, Sept. 24, in Walton County Convalescent Center.
Ward was born on Oct. 29, 1911, in Bruce, the son of J.J. and Florence Burke Ward. He was a lifelong resident of Bruce and was employed at Eglin Air Force Base for a number of years. He loved to fish and spent his time in retirement, farming and raising farm animals as a hobby.
Ward was a member of Bruce United Methodist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Rigdon Ward, and daughter, Mazie Jo Carter.
Survivors include his daughter, Opal Godsey, and husband, Earl, of Red Bay; son, Bill Ward, and wife, Faye, of Bruce; brother, Joseph Guy Ward of Bruce; grandchildren, Kenny, Dewey, Josh, Julie, Donna and Karen; and 12 great–grandchildren.
Services were held at Bruce United Methodist Church with the Revs. Bill Young and Mike McVay officiating. Burial was to follow in Dead River Cemetery.
Jerry Evans Funeral Home in DeFuniak Springs was in charge of arrangements.
Obilene Adkison
Obilene Adkison, 79, of DeFuniak Springs, died Sunday, Sept. 23, 2001, in DeFuniak Springs.
He was the son of the late George W. and Feebee Cody Adkison.
Obilene was a life-long resident of Walton County. He was a member of Eucheeanna Apostolic Church.
Obilene was retired from the Walton County Road Department. He was preceded in death by his wife, Annie Lee Garrett Adkison; one brother, Doug Adkison; and two sisters, Mandy Byrd and Cleo Forehand.
Adkison had no children but was survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
He is also survived by four brothers, Talmadge Adkison of Darlington, Fla., Clifford Adkison of Plant City, Fla., Ed Adkison of Ozark, Ala., and John Adkison, of DeFuniak Springs; and one sister, Bertha Mae Adkison of Darlington.
Services were scheduled this week at Comander Funeral Home Chapel in DeFuniak Springs with Elder J.T. Bass and the Rev. Jason Campbell officiating. Burial was to follow in Euchee Valley Cemetery.
Comander Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Charles Stevenson Kneeland Jr.
Charles Stevenson Kneeland Jr., 62, of Destin, died Sept. 20, while enjoying an Italian vacation with his wife of 43 years, Catherine Pilley Kneeland.
Kneeland was born May 19, 1939, in Dallas, to Charles Stevenson and Dorothy Bedwell Kneeland. He graduated from Highland Park High School in 1957, obtaining an accounting degree from the University of Texas at Arlington in 1963.
He had an illustrious career in the mattress industry, beginning with Simmons Mattress Co. in 1959. In 1968 he joined the sales force of Sealy Mattress Co., serving as its president from 1986 until his retirement in 1989.
He was called out of retirement in 1995, when asked by the Restonic Mattress Co. to become its chairman and CEO, a duty that he fulfilled until 2001.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine, of Destin; son, Charles “Chuck” Kneeland III of Dallas; daughter, Jeanie Kneeland of Denver; son, William “Bill” and his wife, Laurie Kneeland; granddaughters, Lauren and Katelyn Woodall; three nieces, one nephew and several cousins.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Elizabeth “Betty” Kneeland Thomas. A memorial service is scheduled for Friday at Church of the Incarnation in Dallas. Interment will follow at Restland Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hillsdale College, Attention: Ann Lewis, Moss Hall, Hillsdale, Mich. 49242.
Jane Whetsel Palmeter
Jane Whetsel Palmeter, 71, of Destin, died Sept. 17 in St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.
She was born in Fortville, Ind., on Nov. 29, 1929.
Palmeter attended Trinity Methodist Church in Elkhart, Ind., and United Methodist Church of Destin. She was a 1947 graduate of Noblesville High School; an avid golfer; member of Christiana Creek Country Club Ladies Golf League, where her team won the Indiana State Senior Ladies Golf Championship two times; was a winner of Indiana State Doubles Championship; and was a winner of Indiana State Doubles Championship.
She also volunteered with Elkhart General Hospital Ladies Auxiliary. For years, she and her husband spent winters in Destin and summers in Elkhart.
She is survived by her husband, Welcome Palmeter of Destin; daughter, Stephanie Dahlke of Indianapolis; sons, Dough Palmeter of Ironwood, Mich., and Greg Palmeter of Kenosha, Wis.; stepson, Terry Palmeter of Ruskin, Fla.; sisters, Marjories Stutesman and Marily McEntire, both of Noblesville, Ind.; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her parents, LeRoy and Gladys Whetsel, and sister, Bette Donoff.
Burial was to be in Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Fishers, Ind. Randall and Roberts Funeral Home in Noblesville was in charge of arrangements.
Mary Sims
Mrs. Mary Sims, 70, of DeFuniak Springs, passed away Saturday, Sept. 15, 2001, at Twin Cities Hospital in Niceville.
She was born April 27, 1931, in Columbus, Ohio, the daughter of John D. and Juanita Marie McGrother Eckelberry.
Sims was a homemaker and an Air Force wife, having moved with her husband 21 times in 26 years of military life. She moved to every duty station and set up housekeeping, with the exception to his move to Korea during the conflict.
Mary was a devout Christian and church worker, having taught Sunday school and children’s church over the years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of DeFuniak Springs.
Survivors include her husband, Bill Sims, of DeFuniak Springs; sons Mark Sims of Tucson, John Sims and wife, Debra, of Valparaiso, Matthew Sims of Warner Robins, Ga.; daughter, Naomi Ulrich of Warner Robins, Ga.; grandchildren Rebecca, Jennifer, Jessica, William, Christopher and Shannon; and great-grandson Mark William IV.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Gideon’s International. Services were scheduled for Monday in the chapel of Jerry Evans Funeral Home with the Rev. Jerry Chumley and the Rev. Robert LaFavre officiating.
Burial was scheduled for Tuesday in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola.
Edna Adams
Edna Adams, 88, a resident of the Children’s Home Community in Walton County, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 11, in a DeFuniak Springs hospital.
She was born in Walton County and was a lifelong resident. The daughter of the late Allen Jones and Francis Stewart Jones, she was a homemaker.
Adams was the widow of the late Wiley Franklin Adams Jr., who passed away in 1979. She was a member of the Children’s Home Assembly of God Church.
Survivors include her sons, Nolan Adams of the Children’s home Community, and Charles Adams and wife, Ann, of DeFuniak Springs; grandchildren, Ashby Allen Adams, Kirby Franklin Adams, Lillian Charlene Adams, Marcus Nolan Adams and Aaron Kock Adams; and great–grandchildren, Amber and Matthew.
Evans Funeral Home in Florala, Ala., was in charge of arrangements.
