Obituaries

Apr 17, 2019

Mr.Robert M. Comander, age 74 of Mary Ester, Florida died on Wednesday, April 17th in Fort Walton Beach. Mr. Comander was born in Pensacola, Florida to Henry Mercer Comander and Ada Lee Whitehead Comander on June 8, 1944. He graduated from Walton High School in 1962. He had a degree in music from Troy University and a degree in...

Apr 7, 2019

Betty Lee Robbins Durrance, age 90, of Santa Rosa Beach, FL, passed away at home on April 7, 2019. Born on November 18, 1928, in Tampa, Florida, she was the daughter of John Dee Robbins and Mildred Moore Robbins.  For the past five years, Betty lived with her daughter in the South Walton beach area where they have enjoyed...

Apr 7, 2019

Effie Belle Farmer Strickland, 94, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2019. Belle was born on September 9, 1924, in DeFuniak Springs, FL. She was a homemaker, and she worked beside her husband, F.A. Strickland, on their family farm, with Strickland’s Wrecker Service, and at Strickland’s Paint and Body until he passed away in 2007. She was a lifelong member...

Apr 6, 2019

Mr. Samuel Nelson, age 59 passed away unexpectedly Saturday, April 6, 2019 in Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast.  He was born October 30, 1959 in Argyle, Florida, one of six children born to Davis Nelson and Melvainia Stuckey Nelson.   Mr. Nelson was employed for a number of years in the hotel/resort industry in South Walton.  He is predeceased...

Mar 29, 2019

Mr. Gerald Dean Shoaf, a member of the Greatest Generation, passed away on March 29, 2019 surrounded by his family.  Gerald was born February 23, 1918 in Stanton, Tennessee the son of Walter Austin Shoaf and Electa Shoaf.  He came from a large family of six brothers and two sisters all working on the family farm during his early...

Mar 22, 2019

Mr. Steven E. Rival, age 66 of Pensacola passed away Friday morning, March 22, 2019 in a Pensacola Healthcare Facility.   He was born December 23, 1952 in Hartford, Connecticut the son of Frank Peter Rival, Sr. and Mary Beatrice McCarten Rival.  Steven, because of his college studies  in Engineering was able to live and travel over a great portion...

Feb 23, 2019

Petty Officer First Class  Donald Warren Nall, U.S. Navy Retired, age 71 passed away Saturday, February 23, 2019 in Palmdale Regional Medical Center in California.  He was born, September 14, 1947 in Florala, Alabama, the son of Edward Cecil Nall and Mollie Lois Donaldson Nall.   He attended Paxton High School  where he played basketball and graduated with Paxton’s Class...

Feb 8, 2019

MSGT Angel Montalvo, USAF (Ret) passed away Friday night, February 8, 2019 at the family residence.  He was born November 29, 1933 in Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico, the son of Juan Evaristo Montalvo and Gabina Seda Montalvo.  Angel served his country for 26 years and 3 days in air transportation.  He was then employed some 21 years with AAFES...

Feb 7, 2019

Mr. Bobby Keith Adkison, age 78 passed away Thursday evening in West Florida Hospital Covenant Care.    He was born October 29, 1940 in Quincy, Florida, the son of David Lee Adkison and Mattie Estelle Brown Adkison.  He was a graudate of Walton High School, graduating with the Class of 1960.  He served his country in the United States Air...

Feb 6, 2019

Mr. Eddie Frazier, age 57, a long time resident of Walton County passed away early Wednesday morning in Sacred Heart Hospital Covenant Hospice in Pensacola.  He was born September 21, 1961 in Florala, Alabama the son of Oscar Alford Frazier and Martha Foye McKnight Frazier.   Many will remember Eddie in his employment with Sonny Casey.  He was a gifted...

Jan 22, 2019

Mrs. Joanne Potts, age 74, widow of the late Floyd A. Potts, Sr.  passed away at the home of her son and daughter-in-law Tuesday night.  She was born August 24, 1944 in Ivan, Florida near Crawfordville in Wakulla County, the daughter of Mose and Mollie Raker Strickland.  After graduation from high school in the early sixties, Joanne got a...

Jan 20, 2019

Mr. Michael Hotarie, age 89 passed away Sunday, January 20, 2019 in Stanley House Assisted Living in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.  He was born February 10, 1929 in Brownsville, Pennsylvania the son of Michael Joseph Hotarie and Mary Kuhar Hotarie.   He served his country in the United States Air Force and was an accomplished saxophone player and had his own...

Jan 19, 2019

William E. “Bill” Ellis, age 93, passed away on Saturday, Jan 19, 2019, at the Stanley House Assisted Living facility in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.  He was born in Mossy Head, Florida, and was a life-long resident of Walton County.  He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Gertrude Meigs Ellis; his wife Ethellene Daughtry Ellis; and his...

Dec 31, 2018

Mrs. Margaret Sanders, longtime resident of DeFuniak Springs, passed away on December 31st at her home, surrounded by family and friends. She was born Margaret Rose Welch on January 15, 1934 in Thomasville, Georgia, where she spent most of her young life. For reasons unknown, her grandfather gave her the nickname “Mutt” at an early age, and the name...

Dec 27, 2018

Mrs. Faye Kinsey, age 95, widow of the late Edgar Eugene Kinsey passed away Thursday night in Chautauqua Health and Rehabilitation Center.  She was born February 18, 1923 in Mossy Head, Florida the daughter of James Edward Clark and Dora Ann Wilks Clark.   Faye enjoyed many years of embroidery, some china painting and work in oils.  After her husband’s...

Dec 26, 2018

Mrs. Elaine B. Avant, age 90 of DeFuniak Springs passed away Wednesday night, December 26, 2018 in the home of her daughter.  She was born August 5, 1928 in Kinston, Alabama the daughter of James Cummings Bedsole and Linnie Maggie Whigham Bedsole.  After graduation from Kinston schools she attended Troy State Teacher’s College where she earned her Master’s Degree...

Dec 25, 2018

Mr. William Howard Collinsworth, age 88 passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2018 at the families’ hunting lodge.  He was born September 8, 1930 in North Walton County, the son of Mason and Katie Bell McCollough Collinsworth.  Howard was an outdoors man and loved hunting and fishing.  He is predeceased by his wife, Mary VanDenDriessehe Collinsworth.

Among survivors...

Dec 17, 2018

Anita Rae Straughn, age 61 passed away Monday, December 17, 2018 in Sacred Heart on the Emerald Coast Hospital.   She was born February 24, 1957 in Hutchinson, Kansas, the daughter of  Donald Martin Boaz and Claudette June Claburge Boaz.  Anita, being the daughter of a military dad,  was very organized and structured in her life.  After living in Niceville,...

Dec 14, 2018

Mrs. Virginia Burgess, age 75 of the Alaqua Community of Walton County passed away in the early morning hours of Friday, December 14, 2018 at her home surrounded by her family.  She was born May 9, 1943 in DeFuniak Springs, the daughter of Woodrow and Ella Lou Sunday Gillis.   Virginia attended Walton High School, graduating with the Class of...

Nov 28, 2018

Ms. Bertha Williams-Hood, age 71, of DeFuniak Springs passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2018 in the comfort home of her daughter located in Stockbridge, Georgia. She was born on July 15, 1947 in DeFuniak Springs, Florida. Bertha is the daughter of late George Henry Williams and Ruby Lee Lacy Williams. She attended Tivoli School graduating with the Class of...