Gerald Duane Mock
Mr. Gerald Duane Mock, age 57, passed away Thursday, September 23, 2021, in Eufaula, Ala. He was born in Pensacola, Fla. to Gerald and Carolyn Mock. He was born in Pensacola, Fla. to Gerald and Carolyn Mock. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Eufaula. He was a graduate of Escambia Academy in Atmore, Ala. and attended Patrick Henry State Junior College to play baseball. He graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in education. He began his career as an educator at Quitman County Elementary School and during that time earned a spot on Team USA and was a member of the USA Bobsledding team qualified for the 1998 Winter Olympics.
For nearly a quarter of a century, he has been a fixture for high school athletics in Eufaula. He spent 10 years at The Lakeside School, coaching both football and baseball during that time. To this day, he remains the Chiefs’ winningest head football coach with a .667 percentage from 2004-2007. For the last 13 years, He served as the defensive coordinator for the Eufaula High School football team, as well as the track coach. When he was not coaching or watching football, Duane could be found either fishing the waters of Lake Eufaula or climbing a deer stand, always in pursuit of the next trophy bass or buck. Duane participated in numerous fishing tournaments on Lake Eufaula, always eager to spend time in the outdoor with those who mattered to him most—his friends and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Mr. Mock is survived by his wife, Jennifer Simpkins Mock; daughters, Georgia Mackenzie Mock and Jada Caroline Mock; sisters, Beverly Langdon (Tim) and Carol Rowe (Richard).
Funeral services were held at Eufaula High School’s Tiger Stadium Sunday, September 26, with Dr. Ken Bush of First Baptist Church officiating. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery Addition.
Pallbearers were John Dees, Scott Dew, Tom Clements, Stephen Kliewer, Jeff Lee, Ed Rigby, Brad Sanders, Jack Sanders, Cody Sanders, and Carl Ward.
Honorary pallbearers were The Eufaula High School Football Team and Coaching Staff.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to the Duane Mock Athletic Scholarship Fund, c/o Eufaula High School: 530 Lake Drive, Eufaula, Alabama, 36027.
Chapman Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements. Eufaula, Ala.
James Howard Shell
Mr. James Howard Shell, of Spanish Fort, Ala., passed away Sunday, August 22, 2021.
A Graveside Service will be held Saturday, October 9 at 11 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore.
For the safety of you and others, the family requests that facial masks be worn and you practice social distancing.
Johnson Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Louis Earl Bowab
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Louis Earl Bowab, 72, a native of Atmore, Ala., and a longtime resident of Hoover, Ala., unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, September 28, 2021, at his home in Hoover. He was the eldest child of Betty (Manning) Bowab and George Edward “Bubba” Bowab. Spending his formative years in Atmore, he grew up in the Catholic Church, serving as an altar boy at St Robert Bellarmine. In high school he focused his exuberance for life – and the Blue Devils – playing drums with great abandon as a member of the ECHS Marching Band. The Class of 1966 will fondly remember Mr. Bowab as one of Atmore’s dwindling number of prolific water tower artists.
Mr. Bowab attended the University of South Alabama in Mobile, where he was well-known for his dry sense of humor and self-effacing wit.
In 1970 Mr. Bowab enlisted in the United States Air Force. After basic training at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas, Airman Bowab was sent to Vandenberg AFB, Calif., before serving two tours in Thailand. During his first tour he enjoyed teaching English two to three times per week to local Thai students. His second tour to Thailand in 1972 included clerical support to the Wing Commander during Operation Linebacker II, America’s big push to end the war with North Vietnam. He also had occasional temporary duty assignments to Vietnam. Sergeant Bowab was honorably discharged upon completing his volunteer enlistment in 1974.
In more recent times, Mr Bowab often regaled his friends both in Atmore and at the El Gringo Restaurant in Hoover with tales of his adventures as a part time entrepreneur in Southeast Asia.
Mr. Bowab retired in 2015 after 42 years, first with Bell South and later AT&T. His career in the Birmingham-Hoover (Ala) Metropolitan area spanned from being a lineman to management and engineer.
In a unique 2015 Facebook post to a friend, Mr. Bowab described a trip he had made to Heaven, where he was surprised to learn that everyone has a job. He had been given a large rag and a bucket of Clorox, which was appropriate for his new job, which was to be a cloud cleaner. He advised his friend not to miss him too much. If he got lonely, he should just search the sky for the whitest, cleanest cloud. His friend would know that Louis was up there, just behind the edges of cloud fluff, waving down at him and hollering “Heeey!”
Mr. Bowab was preceded in death by his parents; his nephew, Joseph (Joe) Bowab; his cousin, Julie Anderson; and his canine nephew “Bear” Bowab.
Mr. Bowab is survived by his only sibling, Eddie (Cherie) Bowab; two special nieces, Mary Bowab and Sarah Bowab (Matt) Wagner; and two great-nieces, Amber and Jolina, all of Huntsville, Ala.
He is also survived by his cousins (and their families): Mary Helen Bowab Graham of Atmore; Alex Bowab of Fairhope, Ala.; Christine Bowab Dill of Flowood, Miss., a suburb of Jackson; A.J. Bowab of Mobile, Ala., Carl Anderson of Atmore; Lynn Anderson Jetton of Holly Pond, Ala.; Janet Anderson of Jackson, Miss.; Tommy Elzen of Jackson, Miss.; plus lifelong family friends: Susan Albert Moorhead, Toni Albert McMurphy, both of Atmore, and Rita Albert Peterson of Murfreesboro, Tenn. A host of friends from the Garden District of New Orleans, La. to Orange Beach, Atmore, and the Hoover-Birmingham, Ala. area, will cherish their memories of Mr. Bowab even as they mourn his loss.
On Friday, October 1, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m., a private family visitation will be held at Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in Atmore. The family will receive friends from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. at Johnson-Quimby. At 10:30 a.m., Mr. Bowab will be buried with Military Honors in a graveside service at Oak Hill Cemetery in Atmore. Father Gordon Milsted will officiate.
Pall bearers are Carl Anderson, A.J. Bowab, Alex Bowab, Fritz Currie, and Doug Rogers. Members of the ECHS Class of 1966 are honorary pall bearers.
Mr. Bowab’s headstone, which he designed and had installed at Oak Hill several years ago, will stand as a perpetual legacy to his fulsome appreciation of the absurd.
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
Betty Joyce (Bartley) Black
Mrs. Betty Joyce (Bartley) Black, age 84, of Mission, Texas passed away Wednesday September 8, 2021. She was born in Walnut Hill, Fla. to Milage and Glady Bartley. She was a long-time member of Walnut Hill Baptist Church and a professional seamstress and homemaker.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Michael M. Black; daughter, Elizabeth Slay; brother, Pete Bartley and sister, Barbara Ann Bartley.
Mrs. Black is survived by her children, Trent (Anani) Faircloth and Marcia Wiseman, all of Mission and Keefe (Cindy) Faircloth of Muskogee, Okla.; her sister, Martha Stacey of Atmore, Ala.; grandchildren, Selena Phillips Hutton and Jason Phillips, both of Pensacola Fla., Tabitha Stephens of Ft. Gibson, Okla., Haley Gray of Muskogee, Okla., Miranda Gonzales of Tulsa, Okla. and sixteen great-grandchildren.
Memorial graveside services will be held Friday, October 8, 2021, at 10 a.m. at Walnut Hill Baptist Cemetery with Rev Ted Bridges officiating.
Johnson Quimby Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.
John Elton Killam
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Mr. John Elton Killam, age 82, passed away Saturday, October 2, 2021 in Pensacola, Fla. He has resided most of his life in the Byrneville, Fla. area. He was a member of Beulah Chapel Assembly of God. He was an Army Veteran, and retired from Container Corporation in Brewton, Ala. He enjoyed sitting at the store drinking coffee and solving the world’s problems. He was the founder of B&J Meat Processing of Century, Fla.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel and Dora Lee Hanks Killam; one brother, Samuel Edgar Killam; two sisters, Evelyn O. Killam and Earline Hayles.
Mr. Killam is survived by his loving wife of fifty- eight years, Betty Killam, of Byrneville, Fla.; three sons, John Victor Kilam, of Pensacola; John Vincent “Vince” (Dawn) Killam, of Cantonment, Fla.; Jeffery Elton (Karen) Killam, of Byrneville; sister-in- law, Mary L. Herrin, of Byrneville; four grandchildren, Sarah Burnett, Hannah Killam, Kelby Killam, Joey Killam, three great-grandchildren, Zephyr Burnett, Zella Burnett, Raven Killam, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God with Rev. Tim Floyd officiating. Burial will follow at Beulah Chapel Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at Beulah Chapel Assembly of God.
Pallbearers will be Kelby Killam, Joey Killam, Tommy Knowles, Jeremy Barnes, and Mike Beals.
Honorary pallbearers will be Arnold Burkett, Lavon Littles, Herman Armstrong, Keith Hayles. David Curley, and Regi Burkett.
Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Alton Wayne Walker
Mr. Alton Wayne Walker, age 59, passed away Sunday, September 26, 2021 in Atmore, Ala. He was a lifelong resident of Atmore where he was a proud member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. He valued time spent with his family, children, and friends. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, and outdoors. He was a great cook and an avid Alabama Football Fan.
He was preceded in death by his father, Gordon Leroy Walker; grandparents, Roy Cecil and Perry Lee Walker; Woodrow and Estelle McGhee Rolin; one aunt, Charlene Weaver and one uncle, Clarence Leon Rolin.
Mr. Walker is survived by his mother, Ethel Rolin Walker, of Atmore; his wife, Danielle Walker, of Atmore; his beloved children, AJ (Cat) Walker of Atmore; Ryan (Tabatha) Walker and Shauna Walker all of McDavid, Fla.; Tommy of Mobile, Ala., Darren, Darrell, Abbi, and Jeannie of Atmore and Arkara of Deer Park, Ala.; one brother, Jerry (Patti) Walker of Atmore; two sisters, Jennifer (Terry) Walker and Sherry (Ricky) Crook, all of Atmore; four grandchildren, Beth, Brittany, Raelynn, and Selina; nieces and nephews, Steven (Amanda) Walker, Bethany Crook, Blake Crook, Cody Casey, and Dustin Casey and numerous extended family.
Visitation and funeral services will be held Tuesday, October 5, 2021 with visitation at 1 p.m. until service time at 2 p.m.at Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Rev. Steve Breceda officiating. Burial will follow at McCullough Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Blake Crook, Shane Haskew, Matthew Porter, Steven Walker, Daniel Weaver, and Clyde Lewis.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Homes, LLC. in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Louree Bailey
Mrs. Louree Bailey, age 80, passed away Saturday, October 2, 2021 at her home in Bratt, Fla. She was born in Canoe, Ala. and has resided most of her life in Bratt. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Bratt. She liked to garden and grow vegetables. She liked to go to Line Dances.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Woodrow Wilson Rowell and Lillie Mae Bailey; husband, Claude York; two brothers, Curtis Rowell, MacArthur Rowell; one sister, Cleo Sellers, one granddaughter, Miranda Dockens.
Mrs. Bailey is survived by her three daughters, Betty York (Harlie) Dockens, of Williamsburg, Va.; Claudette McKay, of Fultondale, Ala. Robin Byrd, of Bratt; one brother, Charles Edward Rowell, of Atmore, Ala.; five sisters, Tiny Womack, Earnestine Forte and Wilodean Davis, all of Atmore, Ala.; Jeanette Small, of Hanover, Penn., Joyce Fogg, of Portales, N.M.; four grandchildren, Wendy Pettis, Amy Collier, Harlie Ryan Dockens, Rebecca Dockens, six great- grandchildren, Cody, Brooke, Kaleb, Olivia, Bailey, Emily, numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 3 p.m. at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC with Rev. Ricky Peebles officiating. Burial will follow at Godwin Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Thursday, October 7, 2021 from 2 p.m. until service time at 3 p.m.at Petty- Eastside Chapel Funeral Home LLC.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Collier, Roger Pettis, Cody Barnes, Kaleb Pettis, Mark Digmon, and Ryan Dockens.
Petty-Eastside Chapel Funeral Home, LLC in charge of all arrangements. Atmore, Ala.
Helen Elaine Loewen Diller
Mrs. Helen Elaine Loewen Diller, age 94, of Walnut Hill, Fla., passed away Saturday, October 2, 2021 in Pensacola, Fla. She was born in Winton, Calif. to the late David and Catherine Spence Loewen. She was a member of Atmore First Assembly of God, past President of Walnut Hill Homemakers Club and a Pink Lady at Atmore Community Hospital for many years. She enjoyed singing in a Sarasota Church choir, crafts, exercising, traveling, yard work and her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Edwin Morse Diller; one infant daughter, Angel; her siblings, Abe Loewen, Jesse Loewen, Danny Loewen and Johnny Loewen.
Mrs. Diller is survived by her son, Kelvin (Connie) Diller of Walnut Hill; her daughters, Sharon (Richard) Keesler of Walnut Hill and Carrol (Darrell) Liechty of Pensacola, Fla.; nine grandchildren, Clint, Shannon, Elizabeth, David, Jonathan, Diana, Michelle, Christie and Michael along with thirty-three great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be held Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. at Walnut Hill Baptist Church Cemetery in Walnut Hill with Bro. Don Davis officiating.
Active pallbearers will be Clint Keesler, David Liechty, Jonathan Liechty, Michael Diller, Rick Minchew, Josh Fulford and Josh Britnell.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Anonymity Rescue Ministry, which helps rescue victims in human trafficking, 100 Hodgen Drive, Atmore, AL. 36502
Johnson-Quimby Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Contina Felder
Contina Felder, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Saturday, October 2, 2021 at D.W. McMillan Hospital in Brewton, Ala.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Shiloh Church Cemetery.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Willie Lyons
Mr. Willie Lyons, of Atmore, Ala., passed away Thursday, September 30, 2021 at SAAD Hospice in Mobile, Ala.
Graveside services will be Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 11 a.m.at Rabb/Montgomery Cemetery.
Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Dorothy Payne
Dorothy Payne, of Brewton, Ala., passed away Saturday, October 2, 2021 at her home
Graveside service will be held Friday, October 8, 2021 at 11 a.m. at Springhill Cemetery
Christian Memorial Funeral Home in charge of all arrangements.
Betty Riley
Betty Riley, of Evergreen, Ala., passed away Saturday, October 2, 2021 at her home.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time but will be announced later by Christian Memorial Funeral Home.