JOHN D. STRAW
Retired Senior Master Sgt. John D. Straw, 67, of Panama City, died Saturday, March 25, at his residence. Born in Philadelphia, Pa., he had been a resident of Panama City since 1971. Mr. Straw retired in 1971 at Tyndall Air Force Base as an electrical superintendent after serving in the U.S. Air Force for 20 years. He also retired in 1994, after 20 years, as an industrial engineer in the Civil Engineer Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base. Mr. Straw was a veteran of the Vietnam Conflict and member of the First Baptist Church of Parker. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of West Florida. Mr. Straw was a member of the Army and Navy Masonic Lodge No. 306 in Hampton, Va., and the Hadji Shrine Temple in Wichita Falls, Texas . He was also a member of the Shaddai Temple of Panama City and the American Legion. Mr. Straw is survived by his wife, Brenda Straw of Panama City; son, John Dewitt Straw III of Panama City; one daughter, Tammy Faciane and husband Art of Panama City; sister, Ruth Pennington and husband Bill of Willoughby, Ohio; three grandchildren: Tami Odom, Amanda Campbell and Michael Thomas Campbell, all of Panama City; one great-granddaughter, Michelle Odom of Panama City; mother-in-law, Louise Hathcock of Dothan, Ala.; sister-in-law, Karen Armstrong and her husband Jerry of Dothan; several nephews and nieces; and three adopted children: Jennifer, Sam and Mike. Funeral services for Mr. Straw will be conducted today, March 28, at 2 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Parker with the Rev. Craig Hartzog officiating. Internment will follow in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens with full military honors and Masonic rights accorded at graveside. The Parker Masonic Lodge No. 142 will be open one hour prior to services. The family will receive friends today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The family will be at 614 Colonial Drive in Panama City.
Southerland Family Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
EVELYN L. THOMPSON
Mrs. Evelyn L. Thompson, age 80, of 313 James Ave., Panama City, Fla., passed away Saturday, March 25, 2000, in a Pensacola nursing home. Mrs. Thompson had been a resident of Panama City for the past 50 years coming here from Apalachicola, Fla. She was in sales for the F.W. Woolworth Company, and was a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. Mrs. Thompson is survived by a son, Mr. Wayne Thompson and wife Shelia of Lake City, Fla.; two daughters, Mrs. Becky Riles and husband John, and Mrs. Louwanna Swindell and husband Larry all of Pensacola a sister, Mrs. Alma Sansom of Flomaton, Ala., and a brother, Mr. William Tharpe of Panama City; six grandsons: Kyle Thompson, Kier Thompson, Ron Riles, Jeremy Riles, Joshua Swindell, and David Swindell, and six great-grandsons: Jacob, Matthew, and Dylan Thompson, Tyler Riles, Seth, and Mican Swindell. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. today, March 28 at Immanuel Baptist Church with Dr. Bob Johnson and the Rev. Jack Reece officiating. Interment will follow at the Evergreen Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are Mrs. Thompson's six grandsons.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
ALICE M. WATSON
Funeral services for Mrs. Alice M. Watson, age 54, of 2840 Jenks Avenue, Panama City, Fla., who died Friday, March 24, 2000, will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, at Forest Park United Methodist Church with Dr. Kenneth Taylor officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home 6 to 8 p.m. today, March 28. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: the National Kidney Association or to Diabetes Medical Research. A kidney transplant in 1991 gave Alice and Bill nine more wonderful years together.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
PHILLIP A. WESTGATE
Mr. Phillip A. Westgate, 80, of Lynn Haven, Fla., died Sunday, March 26, 2000, in Glencove Nursing Pavilion. Born in Freetown, Mass., he moved here in 1979 from Miami, Fla. He was a radio technician, was Lutheran by faith and was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S.A.F. Mr. Westgate is survived by his wife, Bette C. Westgate of Lynn Haven; three sons: David Westgate of Albequerque, N.M., Phillip Westgate Jr. of Lynn Haven, Kevin Allen Westgate of Las Vegas, Nev.; one brother, Stanley Westgate of Sebastian, Fla.; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, all of whom loved him dearly and will miss him. Funeral services will be conducted on Thursday, March 30, at 3 p.m. in Southerland Funeral Home Chapel. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the funeral service on Thursday.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
WALTER LEE BOWDEN SR.
Walter Lee Bowden Sr., 69, of 2204 E. 16th Court, while surrounded by his loving family, went home to be with his Lord on Saturday, March 25. He had been a resident here since 1947 after moving here from Alabama. He was a retired boat captain and was a Navy Veteran of the Korean War. He was preceded in death by his parents, Doelphus and Gracie F. Bowden; and sister Imogene Bowden. He is survived by his wife, Betty Dudley Bowden of Panama City; five children: Randy Pierce of Tallahassee, Gloria Jean Morrison and her husband Donald, Walter Lee Bowden Jr. and his wife Judy, Julie Ann Mathias and her husband Michael, David Allen Bowden and his wife Tina L., all of Panama City; 10 grandchildren: Michael Tillerson, Thomas Tillerson, Sabrina Tillerson, David Bowden II, B.J. Bowden, Jennifer Bowden, Walter Bowden, Christopher Pierce, Kevin Pierce, Michael Mathias; two great-grandchildren, Brittany Tillerson and Michael Tillerson; and numerous other relatives and close friends. Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russell Ward officiating. Interment will follow in the 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 the American Cancer Society or Emerald Coast Hospice in memory of Mr. Bowden.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
LISA HALBLEIB
Funeral services for Ms. Lisa Halbleib of Panama City will be conducted Monday, March 27, at 10 a.m. in the Central Assembly of God Church with Pastor Don Shoots officiating. Internment will follow in Forest Lawn Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as active pallbearers: Allen Armstrong, Bembo Miller, Keith Hathaway, Sam Holt, Stann Dunn and Chad Bass.
Southerland Family Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
GROVER 'BUDDY' MCLEMORE SR.
Grover "Buddy" McLemore Sr., 77, a longtime resident of Dalkeith, Fla., passed away on Saturday, March 25, at Bay Medical Center after a short illness. He was retired from the Port St. Joe Paper Co. and was a veteran. He was preceded in death by his wife of 40 years, Latrelle McLemore, on May 16, 1996. Survivors include eight children, all of Dalkeith. They were six sons: Buddy McLemore, Steve McLemore, Carmen McLemore, Grant McLemore, Kelvin McLemore and Lonnie McLemore; and two daughters, Elizabeth Carnley and Marchelle Gates. Also surviving are 23 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, March 29, at 2 p.m. CST at Dalkeith Baptist Church. Viewing will be at Mr. McLemore's home in Dalkeith from Monday evening to Wednesday morning prior to service.
Comforter Funeral Home
Port St. Joe, Fla. 32456
MYRTLE DAVIDSON PELT
Myrtle Davidson Pelt, 74, of Marianna died Saturday, March 25, at her residence. Born in Jacksonville, she was a lifelong resident of Marianna, where she worked as office manager for Independent Life Insurance Co. She was also a member of Southside Baptist Church. She is survived by four daughters: Gail Wise and husband Hayes of Lynn Haven, Cheryl Waldee and husband Ernest of Panama City, Jill Miller and husband James of Malone, Fla., and Sue Addison of Greenwood, Fla.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Funeral service will be held Tuesday March 28, at 2 p.m. CST at Maddox Chapel with Dr. Angel Rivera officiating. Burial will follow in Pinecrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery
with James and James Funeral Home Maddox Chapel directing. The family will receive friends on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. Flowers will be accepted or memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, the American Cancer Society or Jackson Hospital Foundation to be designated for the Radiation Oncology Center.
James & James Funeral Home - Maddox Chapel
Marianna, Fla. 32446
FRANCES E. RUSSELL
Mrs. Frances E. Russell, 75, of 1619 Missouri Ave., Lynn Haven died Friday, March 24, 2000, at a local nursing home. She had been a resident of the area since 1994, moving here from Summerland Key. Mrs. Russell was a homemaker and enjoyed cooking and fishing. She loved country western and bluegrass music and playing the guitar. She was protestant by faith and was a member of the V.F.W. auxiliary. Funeral Services will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2000, at the Kent - Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Clay Long officiating. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. on Monday, March 27, 2000.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
EARL MAX SCOTT
Funeral service for Earl Max Scott, 85, of 502 E. 5th Court in Panama City, who died Saturday, March 25, in a local nursing home, will be held Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Russell Ward officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. this evening. Those desiring to may make a contribution to Eastside Baptist Church, P.O. Box 1846, Panama City, FL 32402 in memory of Max Scott.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
