EARL R. O'MELIA
Mr. Earl R. O'Melia, 59, of Lynn Haven, Fla., died Wednesday, April 19, 2000, in a local hospital. Born in Cranston, R.I., he moved here in 1995 from Gwinn, Mich. He was a retired civil service worker, was a member of American Legion in Lynn Haven and was Catholic by faith. Graveside funeral services will be conducted on Monday, April 24, at 10 a.m. in the Lynn Haven Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Sunday evening from 5 to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association in memory of Mr. O'Melia.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
EVELYN SEWELL PETTIS
Mrs. Evelyn Sewell Pettis, age 74, of 311 Maine Ave., Panama City, Fla., devoted wife and loving mother, went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 17, 2000. She loved flowers, working in the yard and fishing with her husband. Mrs. Pettis loved cooking and vacationing with her family. She also loved being with her family and friends. Her favorite color was pink. Mrs. Pettis loved going to church, her pastor and was a Prayer Warrior. She was a member of Springfield Community Church. She took great pride in herself. Mrs. Pettis celebrated her birthday and her anniversary on the day that her husband was hired at the paper mill, July 9, 1946. She was also able to celebrate her husband's birthday before she passed away. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Sam Pettis of Panama City; a son, Wayne Pettis and his wife Angie of Panama City; two daughters, Linda Hoskins and her husband Ervin and Carolyn Lord and her husband Bill, all of Panama City; seven grandchildren: David Pettis, Wayne Pettis, Michael Jennings, Michelle Hoskins, Verlean Anglin, Pam Grisset and Renee Mears; seven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and a sister, Irene Coates of Panama City. She was preceded in death by her parents, M.K. Sewell and Cora Sewell; a brother, Roy Sewell; and a sister, Lorene Coon. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Easter Sunday, April 23, at Springfield Community Church with the Rev. J.W. Hunt and the Rev. Warren Wright officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Asked to serve as pallbearers are: George Outlaw, Gene Ford, Donnie Corbin, John Hall, Lance Lord, Jerry Keith, Gene Wills and Steve Lachina. Honorary pallbearers will be Brother Hunts' Sunday School Class. The family will receive friends at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home today, April 22, from 3 to 5 p.m.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
DANIEL ALBERT ROCHE
Daniel Albert Roche, 86, of Youngstown, Fla., died Thursday, April 20, 2000, in his home. He was a retired self-employed painter. He had been a resident of Bay County since 1943, moving here from St. Augustine, Fla. He is survived by his wife, Annie Roche of Youngstown; two stepdaughters, Pomona Petersen of Tallahassee and Flora D'Arcy of Salt Lake City, Utah. Graveside services will be held today at 2 p.m. in Youngstown Cemetery.
Wilson Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
ROY LEE BURCH
Mr. Roy Lee Burch, 72, of Port St. Joe, died Friday, April 21, 2000 in Gulf Pines Hospital. Born in Grand Ridge, Fla., he was a longtime resident of Port St. Joe. He worked at the St. Joe Co. for more than 47 years as an assistant paper machine superintendent and was a quality control manager. He was a member of Beach Baptist Chapel, was past president of Masonic Lodge No, 111 of Port St. Joe and was past Worshipful Master. Mr. Burch was the past president of the following organizations: the Lions Club, Jaycees, Dixie Youth Baseball, PTA Elementary and High School and Boy Scouts of America. He was the president of his senior class of 1947 at Grandridge High School and was very active in state and local government. Mr. Burch is survived by his wife, Verna L. Burch of Port St. Joe; two sons, Greg Burch and wife Donna of Port St. Joe, and Rusty R.L. Burch and wife Debbie of Port St. Joe; daughter, Pam Arnette and husband David of Marianna; two brothers, Fred Burch and wife Dorothy, and James Burch, all of Grand Ridge; four sisters: Marie Wynn of Port St. Joe, Jeannette Lee and husband John of Port St. Joe, Ruth Carone and husband Carl of Panama City and Margie Carr and husband Doug of Alabama; four grandchildren: Leigh Arnette, Will Arnette, Trevor Burch and Tiffany Burch. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday, April 25, 2000 at 2 p.m. EST in the Long Avenue Baptist Church with Brother David Nichols and Brother John Adkins officiating. Internment will follow in Holly Hills Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Long Avenue Baptist Church on Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. EST.
Gilmore-Southerland Funeral Home
Port St. Joe, Fla. 32456
ARTHUR JUSTIN CUMMINGS
Master Sgt. USAF (Ret.) Mr. Arthur Justin Cummings, 82, of Panama City Beach died Friday, April 21, 2000 at a local nursing home. He moved here in 1982 from Alamond, Wis. He was a veteran of World War II and the Korean Conflict, serving the U.S. Air Force for 22 years. He was the administrator of nursing services and Catholic by faith. Mr. Cummings is survived by his wife, Marcia Cummings of Laguna Beach, Fla.; two sons, James Cummings and wife Linda of Stevens Point, Wis., and Richard Cummings of Skokie, Ill.; daughter, Barbara Anderson of Skokie, Ill.; sister, Mildred Farley of Empire, Ore.; grandchildren, Crystal Cummings and James T. Cummings, both of Stevens Point, Wis.; nephews, Jack Nelson of Elcho, Wis., and John Peter Farley of Empire, Ore.; and niece, Nancy Kramer of California. Memorialization will be by cremation.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
LYNDELL RUTH DUDLEY
Mrs. Lyndell Ruth Dudley, age 67, of 5125 Cherry St., Panama City, Fla., died Friday, April 21, 2000 at a local nursing facility. She has been a resident of the area for 50 years, coming here from Holmes County, Fla.. Mrs. Dudley was a member of First Assembly of God. She enjoyed singing, swimming, traveling and praising the Lord. Mrs. Dudley is survived by a son, Lamar Dudley and his wife Gina of Panama City, Fla.; a daughter, Teressa Seaborn and her husband Tony of Panama City, Fla.; a grandson, Ryan Seaborn of Panama City, Fla.; two granddaughters, Amanda Dudley and Kimberly Neves and her husband Ryan, all of Panama City, Fla.; two brothers, Joseph E. Singletary and his wife Jean of Panama City, Fla., and Millard C. Singletary and his wife Marjorie of Ebro, Fla.; brothers-in-law, Modell Dudley and his wife Loy, and James Roy Dudley and his wife Francis, all of Panama City, Fla.; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by husband, Floyd A. Dudley; father, Charles Singletary; mother, Cumi Singletary. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2000 at the First Assemblyof God with the Rev. Phil Edwards officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Those desiring may make contibutions to Hospice of N.W. Florida. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are: Sidney Jackson, Don Evans, Bob Swartz, Mike Mills, Arthur Culllen and J.D. Newton. Honorary pallbearers will include employees of Bay Crest Nursing Center. The family received friends at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home, Saturday, April 22, 2000 from 6 to 8 p.m.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
VELMA FAYE 'MERCY' HARRELSON
Mrs. Velma Faye "Mercy" Harrelson, age 76, of Lynn Haven, Fla., passed away Friday, April 21, 2000 at a local hospital. Mrs. Harrelson has been resident of Bay County since 1960 coming here from Andulusia, Ala. She was of the Baptist faith, was a Bartender for the Friendly Tavern and was a seamtress. Mrs. Harrelson is survived by three daughters: Sandra Ford and her companion, Don Allred of Panama City, Fla., Linda Suggs and husband, Buford of Lynn Haven, Fla., and Judy Lankford of Georgia; six grandchildren, and eight great- grandchildren; two sisters: Ollie Mae Stokes of Gant, Ala., and Cassie Gibson of Panama City, Fla. Mrs. Harrelson was preceded in death by her parents Harmon and Annie Mott, and her husband, Jimmie Harrelson; granddaughter, Roxanne Langford; and a brother, L.D. Mott. Funeral services will be held 4 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, 2000 at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. J.W. Hunt officiating. Interment will follow at the Forest Lawn Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are Mrs. Harrelson friends and family. The family will receive friends at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday, April 24, 2000. The family will be at the home of Linda and Buford Suggs, 1210 Illinois Ave., Lynn Haven Fla.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
HELEN A. LEWIS
Mrs. Helen A. Lewis, age 77, of 12330 4th St., Fountain, Fla., died Friday, April 21, 2000 at her home. She has been a resident of the area since 1947. Mrs. Lewis was born in Malta and came to the United States by way of England aboard the War Brides ship. It took from 1943 to 1946 to get permission to come to the States and several more years to achieve citizenship. During the war, Helen worked in a factory that produced spitfires. Her main love in life was her church, Fountain Assembly of God, where she had been a member for 52 years. She was a pillar of the church and had served in every capacity except for pianist. She loved to study history and was a member of the Daughters of the British Empire. She is survived by her daughters: Ruth Fettinger of Fountain, Fla., Alice A. Stovall of Rochester Hills, Mich., and Linda Johns and her husband Elton of Fountain, Fla.; a son, Lonnie Lewis and his wife Cathy of Dallas, Ga.; a brother, Joseph Wheeler of Surrey Kent, England; 13 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, James L. Lewis, and a sister, Phillis Cooper. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, April 24, 2000 at Fountain First Assembly of God with the Rev. Kenneth Hottinger officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. Helen's grandsons will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will include her church family and the members of the Daughters of the British Empire. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 8 p.m. today, April 23, 2000. Contributions may be made to Hospice of Northwest Florida, 2589 Jenks Ave., Panama City, FL 32405. The family will be staying at 12330 4th St., Fountain, Fla.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
BUFORD LONG
Mr. Buford Long, age 81, of 3007 Long St., Panama City, Fla., died Thursday, April 20, 2000 at Gulf Pines Hospital in Port St. Joe, Fla. He has been a resident of the Panama City area since 1945 coming here from Washington County, Fla. Mr. Long served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II. He retired from the International Paper Co. as a Pipefitter and was a member of the Pipefitters and Plumbers Local Union No. 229 for 50 years. Mr. Long attended Howards Creek Baptist Church and was a member of the Shriners. He was a member, a Past Master and a 32 Degree of the Harry Jackson Lodge. Mr. Long is survived by his wife, Betty Jean Long of Panama City, Fla.; daughters, Sharon Gamble and her husband William Sammy of Panama City, Fla., and Celena Lambert and her husband George Jr. of Howards Creek, Fla.; sons, Steven Buford Long and his wife Betty of Howards Creek, Fla., and Philip Ray Long of Panama City, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held 2 p.m. today, April 23, 2000 at the Kent-Forests Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Tommy Barnes and the Rev. Dennis Hopkins officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens with masonic rites conducted by the Harry Jackson Lodge No. 314. The Lodge will be open an hour prior to service time. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are: Shane Long, Jerred Lambert, Greg Williams, A.J. Stephens Jr., Frank Gibbs, Charles Myers, T.C. Norris Jr., and Greg Boggs. Honorary pallbearers will include: Guy Tunnell, W.E. Miller, Billy Miller, Walter Wilder, Carl Johnson, John Mitchell and all past and present employees of International Paper Co., members of the Harry Jackson Lodge No. 314 and George Thompson.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla.
HOWARD L. 'LUKE' LUKENS
Colonel Howard L. "Luke" Lukens, died April 20, 2000 at his home at 7636 Lakeside Dr. in Milton, Fla. Col. Lukens served his country in the U.S. Army through three wars: World War II, Korea and Vietnam. A few of the many awards received during his distinguished career include: The Silver Star, The Legion of Merit, The Distinguished Flying Cross, The Bronze Star and the Purple Heart. Although he was proud of his military achievements, he seldom spoke of them. Instead, he seemed most proud of his having been an Eagle Scout. During Col. Lukens military career he completed aviation training to earn his pilots wings as well as graduating from Airborne training to qualify for jump wings. He participated as a commander in reconstruction projects in Germany following World War II. He was also instrumental in bringing the Army's helicopter training program to Ft. Rucker, Ala. In Vietnam he commanded the 11th Avaition Group (lst Calvary Division) and during 1967-1970 the CDC Aviation Agency at Ft. Rucker, Ala. He received plaques and presentations from his superiors and subordinates in recognition of his leadership skills and his concern for his personnel. Following his military career, Col. Lukens pursued a career in education and became Dr. Lukens. First, earning four graduate degrees and then his doctorate from the University of Washington . He served as a valued instructor for graduate students at the University of Texas and for Troy State University, lecturing on various management subjects. He continued his educational endeavors by traveling various military bases including Tyndall AFB, Whiting Field, Eglin AFB and Pensacola NAS, teaching extension courses for hundreds of military personnel and their dependents. Col. Lukens was an unique individual, intelligent, caring for his fellow human beings, and keenly interested in everything around him. At age 81, he was one of the oldest licensed pilots in the state of Florida. He regularly flew his own airplane to Texas , Colorado and south Florida. He was a excellent snow skier and frequently amazed ski resort personnel with his ability. He loved the water and all water sports. He was an avid boater, fisherman, and at age 80 he attended SCUBA training and attained his Open Water Certification for diving. He also loved the quiet moments, sitting by the water's edge and watching a beautiful sunset. His varied interest led to membership in Ft. Rucker Wildlife Association, The Audubon Society, The Optimist Club and was a lifetime member of The Order of Dadalians, a military pilots organization. At age 81, Col. Lukens was not a "old man". He was a vibrant, lively person, with an active, inquiring mind. He loved to use his brain and anything new was a challenge. His sense of humor and his love to converse on a variety of subjects, made him a always interesting, pleasant person with whom to associate. Col. Lukens attended First Methodist Church in Milton, Fla. and the Church of Christ in Lakeport, Fla. Col. Lukens was preceded by his wife, Lois. He is survived by his loving wife, Mildred Jernigan Lukens and her family, which became his family. Among those in his extended family were daughter, Becky and her husband Bubba Waldorff of Wewahitchka, Fla.; son, Len and his wife Jeana Jerningan of Atlanta, Ga.; and son, Tom and wife Evelyn Gainer of Panama City; three grandchildren: Kevin, Cindy and Amy; and three great-grandchildren: Eric, Marc and Stefan. "Luke" was loved by us all and will be missed. He was a good man. Funeral services will be held Monday, April 24 at 2 p.m. in Lewis Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Fred Nichols of First United Methodist Church of Milton officiating. military Honors will be conducted immediately following the chapel ceremony presented by the U.S. Army Honor Guard from Ft. Rucker, Ala. Visitation will be held today, April 23, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Lewis Funeral Home.
Lewis Funeral Home
Milton, Fla. 32570
