Obituaries

Jan 4, 2024

William “Bill” McMillan passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on January 4, 2024.  He was born in Mobile, Alabama on December 9, 1945.  Bill served our country in the United States Air Force, and then went on to graduate from Auburn University with a degree in Psychology.  He also worked at the Kennedy Space Center in the...

Dec 31, 2023

Kenneth George May Sr., age 68, passed away on December 31, 2023.  He was born on July 15, 1955 in DeFuniak Springs, FL to Kenneth Paul and Iva Jean Nowling May.

Mr. May was a resident of DeFuniak Springs.  He was LDS by faith and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in...

Dec 28, 2023

William “Bill” Robert Jones passed away on December 28, 2023.  Bill was born August 22, 1939, to Wesley and Beatrice Jones.  After graduating from Butler High School, Bill attended William Patterson University and then served our country in the Army National Guard.  He was dedicated to his service of God and of the community as he was a member...

Dec 26, 2023

With Faith, Hope, and Love, she brightened the world and impacted the lives of her family, her friends, and the children she taught. Janice Lee James Jowers, age 76, of Mary Esther, Florida, passed away on December 26, 2023, after a brief struggle with ovarian cancer.

She was born in Tallahassee, Florida on June 19, 1947, to...

Dec 26, 2023

Gerald Roland Desruisseaux (Gary) passed away peacefully on December 26, 2023.  Gary was born in New Hampshire on February 16, 1949, and he lived there through high school, graduating from Goffstown High School in Goffstown, New Hampshire.

Gary served 4 years in the United States Navy and then moved to Florida around 1970.  While he lived in...

Dec 1, 2023

Joey Smith died peacefully on December 1, 2023.  It was his 57th birthday.    Joey was born in Crestview, Florida in 1966 to parents Homer Ervin Smith, Jr and Mattie Florene Robertson.  He resided in the Panhandle of Florida most of his life and attended both Walton Middle and Walton High School.

Joey was a welder.  He enjoyed...

Dec 1, 2023

Charles Edward Barefield, age 76, of Mentone, Alabama, passed away peacefully at his home on Friday, December 1, 2023, after a short battle with Lewy Body dementia.  Born on December 1, 1947 in Florala, Alabama, Charles was the son of Lorene and Byrd Barefield.  He graduated from Walton High School in 1965 and spent all of his life living...

Nov 28, 2023

After a long illness, John Jeffery Hartley died peacefully at home surrounded by family on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  The son of John Wesley and Anna Ruth (Waits) Hartley, John was born in Fernandina Beach, FL on Sept. 21, 1962.  He lived in various parts of north Florida - Jacksonville, Madison, Live Oak - before calling Ponce de Leon...

Nov 19, 2023

Virginia Scott Day, age 84 of Darlington passed away on Sunday, November 19, 2023 at Specialty Health and Rehabilitation in Pensacola, Florida. She was born on August 8,1939 in Darlington Florida the daughter of Richard Lester Scott and  Alma Enfinger Scott.  She remained in Darlington until she graduated from Walton High School in 1957.  She moved to Pensacola in...

Nov 15, 2023

William Timothy Shaffer went to be with his Lord on November 15, 2023, at age 57. Tim was born in Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, to William Kenneth Shaffer and Rose Janice Shaffer. He was an attorney who practiced Debt Defense and was passionate about helping others. He was a member of Providence Presbyterian Church in Pensacola, Florida. Before his recent move...

Nov 7, 2023

Howard Eugene Reeves, Sr passed away on November 7, 2023.  He was born in Niceville, Florida on March 13, 1942, to parents Avery Edward Reeves and Bessie Mae Goodwin.  Gene spent his life living and working in the panhandle of Florida.  Gene owned and ran a successful mechanic/transmission business in Crestview for many years until his retirement, and he...

Oct 29, 2023

Dealin Williams age 26 of Crestview passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, October 29, 2023. He was born in Crestview, FL on April 11, 1997, to Christie and D. J. Williams. He grew up in Crestview and graduated from Laurel Hill High School. Dealin loved the outdoors and loved to hunt and fish. He worked construction and loved going to...

Oct 19, 2023

James Lossie Potter, 57, of Niceville, Florida, transitioned unexpectedly on October 19, 2023.  Born on July 9, 1966, to James Potter, Sr. and Carolyn Barnhill  in DeFuniak Springs, FL., James is the eldest of seven children.  He attended primary and secondary schools in Walton County, and he was proud of his football legacy at Walton High School.  James was...

Sep 30, 2023

Jerrie Leonia Neely passed away on Saturday, September 30, 2023. Born in Geneva County Alabama on January 27, 1942, to parents Edgar B. Whitehead, and Eva Mae Marlow, Jerrie grew up in the South with sisters Naomi, Wyonia, and Wanda. She graduated from Central High School in Phenix City and went on to college at Troy State. She married...

Sep 28, 2023

Robert “Rob” Earl Hight, Jr, age 58, of Webb City, Missouri, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, September 28, 2023, in DeFuniak Springs, Florida.

He was born in Joplin, Missouri on April 16, 1965, to parents Robert Earl Hight, Sr, and Freda Dodson (Eli).

Having moved to Florida for work, Rob truly embraced...

Sep 24, 2023

Guy Spence, 84, of Wake Forest, passed away on Sunday evening, September 24th, 2023 at his home surrounded by his family. He was born in DeFuniak Springs, Florida to the late Chess Spence and Bessie Beauchamp Spence.

Guy grew up on a farm in a rural part of northwest Florida.  Upon graduation from high school, he joined...

Sep 24, 2023

Elizabeth Patrick Leopold (Betty Ann) died on Sunday, September 24, 2023.  Born in Cleveland, Ohio on February 6, 1937, to Nicholas Patrick and Elizabeth Dugas, Betty spent her early years enjoying life on a small farm in Solon, Ohio.  Retiring from the Rochester Community Schools in Rochester Michigan and working for the Detroit Public Schools in Michigan, Betty was...

Sep 20, 2023

John P. McLaughlin, “Jack”,  passed away on Wednesday, September 20, 2023.  Born in Kearny, New Jersey on September 25, 1960, to parents John McLaughlin and Patricia Huhn, Jack graduated from Kearny High School in 1978 and went on to New Jersey Vocational School to become a machinist.   He worked as a machinist for Sheffield Tool, and as a computer...

Sep 18, 2023

Mary Inez Gainey passed away at her home on Monday, September 18, 2023.   Inez was a lifelong resident of DeFuniak Springs, born on September 29, 1933, to parents Noah and Rosie Rushing.  She attended Valley View school in the late 1930s and then began work in a sewing factory in Florala.  She continued being involved in the area through...

Sep 15, 2023

Maxwell L. McKee, Sr passed away peacefully at his home in DeFuniak Springs on Friday, September 15, 2023.  He was 95 years old.  Maxwell was born in Mississippi on February 21, 1928, to parents James Mallard McKee and Edith Glidewell.  He graduated with a degree in drafting and began a career in civil engineering.  Maxwell spent time stationed at...