G. GORDON SHURTLEFF
Mr. G. Gordon Shurtleff, 85, of 3134 W. 22nd Street in Panama City passed away on Sunday, March 26. Mr. Shurtleff had been a resident of the area for 58 years after moving here from Clearwater. He was a jet aircraft inspector at Tyndall Air Force Base for 20 years. He attended McKinley College and earned his BS in Automotive Engineering in 1946, after having attended Virginia Episcopal Prep School in Lynchburg, Va. He was an accomplished inventor and was past member of the Bay County Gem Club. He was Episcopal by faith. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Shurtleff of Panama City; sons, Michael Shurtleff and his wife Patricia of Clemont, Fla., and Gordon Shurtleff and his wife Patricia of Raleigh, N.C.; granddaughter Tracey Lyn Kuhn and her husband John Randolph of Herndon, Va.; cousin, Mrs. Jane Moylan of Scranton, Penn., and numerous nieces and nephews scattered throughout the country. The family will receive friends at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
JOHN D. STRAW
Retired Senior Master Sgt. John D. Straw, 67, of Panama City, died Saturday, March 25, at his residence. Born in Philadelphia, Penn., 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; sister, Ruth Remington 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 Tuesday, 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, 80, of 313 James Ave. in Panama City, passed away Saturday, March 25, in a Pensacola nursing home. Mrs. Thompson had been a resident of Panama City for 50 years after coming here from Apalachicola. She was in sales for the F.W. Woolworth Co. and was a member of the Immanuel Baptist Church. Mrs. Thompson is survived by a son, Mr. Wayne Thompson and wife Shelia of Lake City; 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, Fla.; six grandsons: Kyle Thompson, Kier Thompson, Ron Riles, Jeremy Riles, Joshua Swindell, and David Swindell; and six great-grandsons: Jacob Thompson, Matthew Thompson, Dylan Thompson, Tyler Riles, Seth Swindell, and Mican Swindell. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 28, at the 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. The family will receive friends at the Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m. today, March 27.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32402
ALICE M. WATSON
Mrs. Alice M. Watson, 54, of 2840 Jenks Ave., Panama City, died Friday, March 24, 2000, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville after a long and valiant struggle with Diabetes. She had been a resident of Panama City since 1979, moving here from Pensacola. Mrs. Watson was a member of Forest Park United Methodist Church and was a former member of the Rebekahs. Mrs Watson had an A.M.T. certification in Medical Technology from the Franklin Institute of Science and Technology in Philadelphia, Pa. She had worked for a doctor's office in Erie, Pa., the University of Louisville, and finally in the office of her husband, Dr. William Watson in Pensacola. Mrs Watson enjoyed making creative memories scrapbooks, working puzzles, and making other crafts, including embroidery. Mrs. Watson is survived by her husband of 33 years, Dr. William Watson of Panama City; a daughter, Amy Wisniewski and her husband Donald of Panama City; a son, Michael Watson and his wife Cheryl of Clarksville, Tenn.; a sister, Helene Weed and her husband John of Erie, Pa.; grandchildren, Cristina Wisniewski and Brian Wisniewski of Clarksville, Tenn. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, March 29, 2000, at the 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 from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, 2000. 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
JAMES NEWELL BARRON, III
Ret. 1st Lt. James Newell Barron, III, age 79, of 502 Missouri Ave., Lynn Haven, Fla., died Sunday, March 26, 2000, at his home. He was a native of Raymore, Mo., and had lived in Panama City since 1970. Lt.Barron retired after 32 years of service with the U.S. Air Force as a B-24 Bomber Pilot, flying over 35 missions during World War II and the Vietnam Era. He was Presbyterian by faith. Lt. Barron is survived by his wife of 47 years, Phyllis June Barron of Lynn Haven; a daughter, Michele Lea Barron of Lynn Haven; two sons, Sonny Barron and his fiance Vicki of Lynn Haven and Micheal R. Barron and his fiance JoAnn of Pensacola; and three sisters: Mary Jean Constance of Ritter, Ore., Nancy Burkhead of Newport News, Va., and Marcia Campbell of Lee Summitt, Mo. Memorial services will be announced at a later date. Please contact American Legion Post No. 356, Building Fund. Lynn Haven, FL, 271-3558.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
GEORGE NELSON 'BUDDY' BARTON
George Nelson "Buddy" Barton, 62, of Panama City died Sunday, March 19, at Bay Medical Center. A memorial service will be held March 30 at 11 a.m. at Highland Park Assembly of God. There will be no public funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be sent to Wilson Funeral Home, 214 Airport Road, Barton Memorial Fund. He will be missed by many friends and family members.
MARGARET K. BLAKE
Funeral services for Mrs. Margaret K. Blake, 87, of Panama City, Fla., will be conducted today at 2 p.m. in Southerland Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Barton officiating and the Rev. James Harrison assisting. Interment will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. The following gentlemen will serve as pallbearers: Bradley Shea Faile, Jaosn Brent Faile, Joe Kingry, Nick Daniels, Jim Mincey and Raliegh Doss.
Southerland Family Funeral Homes
Panama City, Fla. 32405
MARLENE EMANUEL
Mrs. Marlene Emanuel, age 44, of Panama City, died on Monday, March 27, 2000, at a local hospital. Mrs. Emanuel was a lifelong resident of Bay County and worked as a packer-mover for Coleman-American Moving Company. She was of the Baptist faith. Mrs. Emanuel is survived by her husband of 26 years, James E. Emanuel Sr. of Panama City; a daughter, Laura L. Miller and her husband Jason of Greenhead, Fla.; a son, James E. Emanuel Jr and his wife Kimberly of Jacksonville, Fla.; her mother, Earline McKnight of Parker; a brother, James McKnight and his wife Mary of Wewahitchka; sisters: Geraldine Hale of Callaway, Carol Broxson and her husband David of Parker; Sandra Childers and her husband Charles of Parker; Connie Burkett and her husband Robert of Callaway; her twin sister, Darlene Beauchamp and her husband Greg of Fountain, Kay McKnight and her husband Phillip of Parker; granddaughters: Brittany, Mellissa and Ashlynn Emanuel, all of Jacksonville and her grandson, James E. Emanuel III, also of Jacksonville. She is also survived by numerous neices and nephews. Mrs. Emanuel was prededed in death by her father, Horace McKnight and her brother, Jack McKnight. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 30 at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Maxie Beauchamp and the Rev. Jack Hankins officiating. Interment will follow in Bayou George Cemetery. Asked to serve as active pallbearers are her nephews: Richard Hale, Dennis Hale, Chuck Childers, David Broxson Jr. Chris Burkett and Scott Burkett. Ryan Norris will serve as an honorary pallbearer. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6 to 9 p.m. today, March 29.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
SHERRY TAYLOR GRIFFITH
Sherry Taylor Griffity (Sharron Via) of Franklin, N.H., passed away March 21, 2000, at Southern Medical Center in Nashua, N.H. Sherry was from Southport, Fla., graduated from Bay High in 1965 and Gulf Coast Jr. College in 1967. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Southport for many years. Survivors are Leigh Griffith of Franklin, N.H.; daughter, Kimberly and her husband Mark Petit of Nashua, N.H. and Jennifer Magnan of Monchester, N.H.; three grandchildren; mother, Phyllis Lovett of Altamonte Springs, Fla.; brother, Robert K. Via and wife Rosemarie of Altamonte Springs; a brother, Tim Via and wife Debbie of Winter Park; a sister, Ellen and husband Roger McLean of Ashburn, Va.; her father, Rufus Via of Sterling, Va.; also many loving relatives and friends of Southport. Memorial services were held March 25 at Zis-Sweeney Funeral Home, 26 Kinsley St., Nashua, N.H.
RICHARD LEWIS KRESGE
Mr. Richard Lewis Kresge, age 54, of 7550 Whisperwood Drive, Panama City, Fla., died Sunday, March 26, 2000, at his residence. He had been a resident of the area for 12 years. Mr. Kresge served his country in the U.S. Army during 1965-1972. He worked 30 years for the U.S. Civil Service, which took him all over the world. Mr. Kresge is survived by his wife, Mao Kresge of Panama City; his father, Harvey A. Kresge of Singer Island, Fla.; a sister, Loma Nessen and her husband Jerald of Atlanta, Ga.; and a cousin, Evelyn F. Dorsey of Presidio, Texas. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 29, at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with Chaplain Daniel Nigolian officiating. Honorary pallbearers will include: Jack Straw, Rockford "Rocky" Johnson, Vincent Dotson, Chuck Dillard, Bill Smith, Bob Oliver, and Gordon Green. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hospice of the Emerald Coast.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
PHILLIP A. WESTGATE
Funeral services for Mr. Phillip A. Westgate, 80, of Lynn Haven, Fla., will be conducted on Thursday, March 30, 2000, at 3 p.m. in Southerland Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Cupps officiating. 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
HELEN LUCILLE REESE DUTCHER
Helen Lucille Reese Dutcher, age 78, of Lynn Haven, Fla., died Tuesday, March 28, at her residence. She had been a resident of Lynn Haven since 1986 moving here with her husband Max from Jackson, Miss. Born on the family farm near Center Junction, Iowa, she attended a rural grade school and graduated from Anamosa High School in Anamosa, Iowa, in 1939. She married Max Dutcher in 1943. Helen and Max farmed the family farm for 24 years. Max then took a post with the USDA and served in many states with Helen as partner and advisor. She was preceded in death by her father, Ernest Reese; brother, Harold Reese; and sister, Fern Reese. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Max Dutcher of Lynn Haven; her 100 year old mother, Hazel Reese of Anamosa, Iowa; her brother, Robert Reese of Commanche, Iowa; her sister, Darlene Vargason of Springville, Iowa. Her remains will be cremated and interred at Cedar Memorial Cemetery, Cedar Rapids, Iowa at a later date. No local services will be held, and no flowers are requested. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to Camp Courageous of Iowa, 12007 190th St., Monticello, Iowa. This is a year-round, non-profit camp totally committed to the disabled.
Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home
Panama City, Fla. 32405
