Francis ‘Ray’ Coffey
October 7, 2024
Francis “Ray” Coffey, 76, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on October 3, 2024. Ray was born on June 27, 1948, in Chariton, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents, Billy Watson Coffey and Olive “Maxine” Coffey Street, in-laws Kenneth and Virginia Kyner and grandsons Spencer Bourgeois and Cody Coffey. He is survived by his beloved wife, Janice Kyner Coffey, and their children Nicole (Chad) Rigby, Carrie (Richard) Meredith, and Jonathan (Sydney) Coffey. He also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren: Ashton, Addyson, Collyns, Jaycie, Raegan, Cameron, Brody, Caitlyn, Mallarie (Michael), as well as four great-grandchildren. Ray is also survived by his brothers, Jerry (Vicki) Coffey and Danny Coffey, his aunt Rita Siglin and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Ray spent much of his childhood on the family farm near Humeston, Iowa and graduated from Mormon Trail High School, where he developed a love for sports. His passion earned him a walk on position as well as a football scholarship with the Iowa State Cyclones in 1966. Ray was drafted in the U.S. Army in 1970 and served his country during the Vietnam War. After his honorable discharge, he was the Taylor County Extension Director before he returned to Ames to further his education at Iowa State University. During this time, Ray experienced a life-changing moment when he was led to the Lord by a member of Campus Crusade for Christ. This newfound faith led him to pursue a ministry for the Lord.
Ray became a dedicated servant of the Lord, accepting a position as a teacher at the Christian school affiliated with Ames Baptist Church. He later became the assistant pastor, music leader, and principal of the school. Ray’s servants heart led him to take on many roles within his church community. He served as a bus driver, snow shoveler, janitor, painter, nursing home preacher, and even as a sign language interpreter. Ray took on a part-time job driving Cy-Ride and retired in 2016 to move to Florida where all of his children and grandchildren lived. He loved watching and cheering on his granddaughters dance, grandsons sports and picking them up from school. He found a local church home in Northstone Baptist Church and continued his ministry there as a deacon and Awana leader. His servants heart led him to eagerly volunteer for anything that needed to be done and everyone knew Mr. Coffey would be dependable.
Ray Coffey’s life was marked by love, faith, and service to others. Fitting with his love of music, it seemed there was always a song in his heart and on his lips. His dedication to the Lord, his family and community will always be remembered.
Marilyn Strickland Ward
October 4, 2024
Marilyn Strickland Ward, age 85, and a lifelong resident of Walnut Hill, FL, passed away on October 4, 2024. She was born on July 17, 1939, to Elliott and Gladys Wiggins Strickland. Marilyn was a graduate of Ernest Ward High School and a lifelong member of Walnut Hill Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Royce Ward and two of her siblings, Don Strickland, and Mary Lou Faircloth Wiggins.
Marilyn is survived by her children, Brett (Susan) Ward of Walnut Hill, FL, Horace (Lisa) Ward of Birmingham, AL, Scott (Beth) Ward of Spring Hill, FL, and Luanne Henderson of Walnut Hill, FL; her sisters, Louise Bryan of Pensacola, FL, and Sharee Godwin of Spanish Fort, AL; 10 grandchildren and nine great grandchildren along with extended family and friends.
Funeral services will be held Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 3 p.m. at Walnut Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Ted Bridges and Rev. James Boyd officiating. Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Active pallbearers will be Heath Ward, Eric Ward, Zach Ward, Jake Ward, Benjamin Ward, and Russ Ward.
Honorary pallbearers will be Kevin Faircloth, Lonnie Wilson, Bill Strickland, Gary Bryan, Chuck Bryan, Rob Faircloth, Jerry Poulsen, Roy Glen Ward, Harry Ward, Keith Cauley, and Kiley Godwin.
Visitation will be held Sunday, October 6, 2024, from 2 p.m. until service time at 3 p.m. at Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Crafty Ladies of Walnut Hill Baptist Church.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
James ‘Jim’ C. Falkenstein Jr.
October 4, 2024
James ‘Jim’ C. Falkenstein Jr., residence of Molino, FL passed away on October 2, 2024, at the age of 69.
Jim was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan on August 8, 1955, to Jim and Ellen Falkenstein. He was married to Annette Faircloth Falkenstein for 44 years.
Jim proudly served his country in the United States Navy. He served at multiple duty stations, including tours of duty on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS Saratoga Aircraft Carriers.
Upon retirement, he continued his studies with the Bible College of Florida and the University of West Florida where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies. He was also a member of the Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society.
Jim was a member of Marcus Point Baptist Church. He loved to substitute teach especially at Ernest Ward Middle School, Northview, and Tate High Schools. He loved to help the students and spend time getting to know them. He loved talking and teaching about Jesus, his Lord and Savior. He was a huge Michigan Wolverine Fan (GO BLUE), Braves Baseball and wrestling fan. He loved his two daughters, 7 grandchildren, 1 great-grandson and of course the love of his life, his wife.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Ellen Falkenstein; his brother, Steve Falkenstein; and his sister, Carol Poindexter.
He is survived by his wife, Annette; daughters, Jodi Williams of Des Moines, Iowa and Mandy Ross (Lee) of Grantville, Georgia; grandchildren, Jalen Hooper, Deborah Williams, Trevor Ross, Damont Williams, Kamran Ross, Baylee Ross, and Joshua McCree; great-grandson, Jalen Hooper Jr.; brother, Ken Falkenstein of Allegan Michigan; and several nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Pastor Jacob Giles officiating.
The family will receive friends at 4:00 p.m. prior to services.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Elena D. Guttmann
October 4, 2024
Elena D. Guttmann, 70, of Pensacola, Florida passed away on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. She was born in Cebu City, Philippines, on April 21, 1954, to the late Basilio and Rosario Diaz.
Elena worked for Parisian’s Department Store. She then owned and operated her own bridal shop for 17 years where she enjoyed meeting her customer’s needs for wedding gowns, formal wear, and any other clothing for special occasions. She had a love for gardening, floral arranging, and helping her customers.
She is preceded in death by her parents.
Elena is survived by her husband of 51 years, Bill Guttmann; sons, Brian (Jamie) Guttmann and David Guttmann; grandchildren, Emory and Kyle Guttmann; and her brother, Rogelio Diaz.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, October 8, 2024, at Faith Chapel Funeral Home North with Carl Mock and Pat Mobley officiating. The family will receive friends at 2 PM before service.
There will be a reception after the Memorial Service at Hillcrest Baptist Church Heritage Hall from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
The family would like to thank the staff at Solaris Healthcare of Pensacola and the staff at Emerald Coast Hospice for their compassionate care to Elena. We would like to give a special thank you to Navy second class Anna Kreidell, she volunteered for Emerald Coast Hospice, for her countless hours of care and help over the past 12 months to Elena.
The family asks that no flowers or donations be made.
Faith Chapel Funeral Home North, 1000 South Highway 29, Cantonment, is entrusted with arrangements.
Joanne Patricia Meek
October 2, 2024
Mrs. Joanne Patricia Meek, age 72, passed away Monday, October 21, 2024, in Century, FL.
She had a deep love for art and coloring, finding joy in every brushstroke and hue. Her home was filled with her cherished collection of roosters, each one telling a story. Weekend adventures to yard sales and thrift stores were a highlight, where she loved hunting for hidden treasures. Spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren brought her immense happiness, as they created memories together. She found peace in her church community and especially looked forward to decorating for the holidays, filling her home with cheer. Always by her side was her favorite dog, Peanut, who accompanied her everywhere, adding an extra layer of warmth to her day.
She preceded in death by her mother, Betty Spies Zook; one son, Lance Barrow; and one sister, Darlene “Toni” Zook.
She is survived by her children, Cherokee Meek, of OK, Jimmy Lee Meek, of Brewton, AL, Shawn Barrow of Flomaton, AL, Joey Meek; three brothers, Jerry, Larry, Mark; one sister, Betty “Bambi” Reid; seven grandchildren, Tamara, Jordan, Jayden, Kailynne, Matthew, Zayne, and Zach, and five great-grandchildren, AmberLee, Sophia, Gracelynn, Oliver, Eleanor, and a good friend, Barbara Williams.
Carolyn Fay Parker
October 1, 2024
Mrs. Carolyn Fay Parker (Bailey), aged 82, passed away on Friday, September 27, 2024, in Tallahassee, FL, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on May 11, 1942, in Ardmore, AL. In 1962, she married Mr. William “Ralph” Parker, and they enjoyed 63 years of marriage, with 33 years in Evergreen, AL, before moving back to Bratt, FL, where they lived for the past 26 years. Mrs. Parker worked her way up to a supervisor position at Steven Roberts Manufacturing, where she worked for many years before retiring.
Mrs. Parker adored spending time with her family, watching her grandchildren, and taking care of her husband. She also found joy in embroidery, reading, working outdoors (especially gardening and pruning), tending to the farm, chatting with neighbors, and engaging in conversations with her family. Additionally, she loved sitting down to watch wrestling, football, or a good western with her family. Carolyn’s kindness and sense of humor left a lasting impression on everyone who knew her.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph Parker.
She is survived by her two sons, Wendell Ralph (Katy) Parker, of Tallahassee, FL, and David “Wayne” (Kristin) Parker, of Tallahassee, FL; seven grandchildren: Hayley Parker, Mason Parker, Matt Parker, Kylee Parker, Luke Lambert, Chase Lambert, Lila Parker; her brother, Kenneth Bailey; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.
Graveside and burial services will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024, at 12:30 p.m. at Godwin Cemetery with Rev. Henry Johnson officiating.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 5, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes is in charge of all arrangements.
John Edward Culp
September 30, 2024
John Edward Culp, age 95, passed away September 13, 2024, in Spring Hill, Florida. Born September 13, 1929, he was the son LeRoy Denton and Naomi Adelaide Murphy Culp.
John lived a rich and fulfilling life in Pensacola, Florida, before moving to Cantonment, Florida, where he continued to create lasting memories with family and friends. He was known for his sense of humor and always enjoyed telling stories about his childhood and the time he spent as a Marine. He had a passion for traveling, fishing, and gardening. After retiring from the telephone company, his love for gardening led him to selling delicious, home-grown tomatoes, where he quickly became known to many as the “The Tomato Man”. In 2014 he moved to Brooksville, Florida where he spent the remainder of his days.
John is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Marahnell “Nell” Culp, a son, Gregory Henderson, and his sisters Vivan Whisner, LeEsta Shoup and Shirly Gordon. He is survived by his son Dale (Angela) Henderson, daughter Starlyn (Jessie) James, daughter-in-law, Sue Henderson, 5 granddaughters, 4 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He greatly loved his niece Dee Dee Nealon (Scott), who cared for and looked over him as well as his friendly companion, Donna Higdon, who will forever remember the time she had with him and his favorite dog Shadow.
John will be deeply missed and fondly remembered by all who knew him. A celebration of his life will be announced at a future dat
Connie Sue Harris
September 30, 2024
Connie Sue Harris, age 69, of Century, Florida, passed away peacefully at her home on September 22, 2024. Born on November 28, 1954, in Independence, Missouri, she was the cherished daughter of the late Georgia Reba Terry and Anderson Delano Dinwiddie.
Connie was the beloved sister to her six brothers and two sisters: Jim, Jerry, Fred, Mike, Ronnie, Donald Dinwiddie, sisters Donna Spilman and Rebecca Dinwiddie. She shared many precious memories with her siblings that will be cherished forever.
Connie’s greatest joy came from her family. She is survived by her two loving sons and their families, Ryan Harris and his son, Jaxton Harris, as well as Chris & Melissa Harris with their son, Russell Harris. Connie’s love for her children and grandchildren was boundless, and her spirit will continue to live on in Ryan, Jaxton, Chris, Melissa, and Russell.
Her kindness, warmth, and infectious laughter along with her amazing cooking will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Connie’s life was a testament to the power of love and family dedication, her memory will forever remain in the hearts of those she touched.
An inurnment will take place in Barrancas National Cemetery in Pensacola, FL at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to a local charity of your choice in her honor.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Mary Virginia Weaver Mills Sharpless
September 30, 2024
Mary Virginia Weaver Mills Sharpless, age 88, passed away on September 29, 2024 at her home. She was born on September 27, 1936 to Audrey and Onnie Mae Weaver of Booneville, AL.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her first husband James Harold Mills, her second husband Carlton Prescott Sharpless, her brother Charles O’Neal Weaver and her sisters Martha Sharpless and June Luker.
She is survived by her daughters Jeanie (Bruce) Bryan of Rome, GA and Shellie (Larry) Sharpless of Walnut Hill, FL; her brother Jerry (Jeanette) Weaver of Booneville, AL; her grandchildren Josh (Vanessa) Lyles of Nashville, TN, Eric Lyles of Cumming, GA, Rachel Rogers of Atlanta, GA, Jay (Mahryn) Sharpless of Cantonment, FL, and Samantha (Tony) Corley of Kingsville, TX; great-grandchildren Lexi, Adi, Emma, Kennedy, Easton, Brayden, Cooper, Raegan, Avery, Chloe, & James Jr., and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 11:00 am at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Tim Tew and Bro. Greg Sellers officiating. Interment will follow in McCullough Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Saturday, October 5, 2024 from 10:00 am until service time at 11:00 am at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
JoAnn Fern Koehn Nightengale
September 27, 2024
JoAnn Fern Koehn Nightengale was born to Fred P. and Sarah Smith Koehn on June 3, 1931, in Montezuma, Kansas. She passed away on September 12, 2024, at Jay Hospital in Jay, Florida, reaching the age of ninety-three years.
JoAnn spent her early life and school days near Montezuma. Those were the Dust Bowl days, and the challenges of that time taught her the strength and industriousness she carried through life.
At 12 years old, she accepted God’s call to salvation and gave her heart to Him, receiving His abiding peace. She was baptized upon the confession of her faith into the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite by Minister David J. Koehn. To this commitment, she lived faithfully all her days.
On October 2, 1949, JoAnn was married to Marvin Nightengale in Montezuma, Kansas, with Minister David J. Koehn officiating. They were married for 64 years until his passing in 2014.
For the first 7 years of their married life, they lived in the Montezuma area, taking up farming for their livelihood. In 1956, they moved with their small family to Walnut Hill, Florida, where they continued farming. Except for a brief time of relocating to Ocala, Florida, they lived in the Walnut Hill area. They were blessed with three sons and one daughter. The grandchildren were a special blessing to JoAnn as they went in and out of her home.
JoAnn had a lively personality and was very outgoing. She was attentive to those with difficulties and cared for many, especially those with physical challenges. She willingly shared this gift and was deeply appreciated by those whose lives she touched.
Her love for children manifested in her time as a teacher at Walnut Hill Christian School. The three years she spent teaching was a special time for her, creating a lasting impact and many friendships with the faculty.
Doyle faithfully cared for her until she moved to Century Center for Rehabilitation and Healing. Her friendly, caring disposition was a light to the other residents and caretakers during her time there.
Her passing leaves a wealth of warm memories for her children, Doyle, of Davisville, FL; Randy of Crestview, FL; Scott and Lilian of Walnut Hill, FL; and Charlotte and Brian Decker of Wakarusa, IN; Seven grandchildren and four great-grandchild; two sisters, Helen Unruh of Moundridge, KS; June Schoonover of Colorado Spring, CO; and countless friends and relatives.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Marvin, seven sisters, two brothers; four brothers-in-law and one sister-in-law.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Walnut Hill Mennonite Church with Minister Benjamin Koehn, Minister Myron Nightingale, Minister Mike Koehn, and Minister Keith Nightingale officiating. Interment will follow in Walnut Hill Memorial Gardens.