ANNETTE S. SIMMONS
Annette S. Simmons, 85 of Montgomery passed away Oct. 4, 2024 at Arbor Lakes in Auburn. Mrs. Simmons was born to Euel Augustus Screws Sr. and Elsie Victoria Wallace in Lee County on June 30, 1939.
Mrs. Simmons was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Euel Augustus Screws Jr.
She is survived by her husband, Alex J. Simmons Sr.; sons, Alex J. Simmons Jr. and William Alan Simmons; grandsons, William Carlton Simmons and Alan Jackson Simmons; granddaughter, Julia Brown Simmons; great-granddaughter, Sadie V. Simmons; and great-grandson: Cooper William Simmons.
A graveside service will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 12. at Memorial Park Cemetery, in Auburn.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
JOHN FRANKLIN NORTON
John Franklin Norton, 75, of Auburn died Sept. 29, 2024, at Arbor Springs in Opelika following a short illness.
A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 11 a.m. at Auburn United Methodist Chapel at the corner of Gay and Magnolia streets. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. at Hamill Court adjacent to the Chapel.
Frederick-Dean Funeral Home of Opelika is assisting with arrangements.
WILLIAM P. “BILL” KEIDEL
William P. Keidel of Cleves, Ohio, died on Oct. 2, 2024, at Bethany House in Auburn.
Bill earned his Bachelor of Business and a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degrees from University of Cincinnati. Bill worked for Cincinnati Bell Telephone for over 40 years.
He was the beloved husband of Rose Marie Campagna Keidel; devoted father of Daniel L. (Anita) Keidel, Michel A. (Linda) Keidel and John W. (Sheila) Keidel; and loving grandfather of Lee & Mark, Cary & Ellie, Jackson & Anna Marie. Bill is also survived by a great grandson, Ryan Lee Keidel, son of Lee and Ashley Keidel.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Gertrude & C. Lee Keidel M.D., and brother, Clifford Lee Keidel, Jr.
A Memorial gathering will be held Thursday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Dennis George Funeral Home, 44 S. Miami in Cleves, Ohio.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika assisted the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to Bethany House, a hospice facility in Auburn.
HAROLD DENNIS BRACKNELL
Harold Dennis Bracknell, born Oct. 4, 1948, passed away on Oct. 4, 2024.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Ethel Murtice Cason; father, J. B. Bracknell Sr.; son, Toby Bracknell; and brother, J.B. Bracknell Jr.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Cooper Bracknell; sister, Quilla Ledford; sister-in-law, Michelle Bracknell; numerous nieces and nephews and special military friends who have become his extended family.
Harold graduated Beauregard High School and served in the military. He was awarded the Purple Heart Medal, the Bronze Star Medal with a “V” device for heroism in ground combat and the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while participating in Arial Flight in Vietnam.
A visitation was held at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home on Oct. 7. His ashes will be laid to rest in the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation be made to either the Wounded Warriors Project or St. Jude’s Hospital.
JEANETTE “JAN” BOUSQUIN-MELLISH
Jeanette “Jan” Evelyn Bousquin-Mellish, passed away Oct. 2, 2024, at the age of 88 in Auburn.
Jan was born on April 22, 1936, to Sylvio Leon and Josephine May Bousquin in Portland, Maine. She was the eldest of four children in a military family. She graduated from Pemberton, New Jersey, High School in 1954. She met and married Lt. Col. (Ret.) James “Jim” Richard Mellish, in Chinon, France.
Jan loved traveling and adventure. She lived all over the world and immersed herself in the cultures as much as possible. She thoroughly enjoyed music, theater and the visual arts. Much of her adult life was spent seeking out local entertainment and venues to explore with her family and anyone else willing to tag along. She never shied away from doing new things and was typically the first one up for a challenge. Yearly, the family would come together with her for large holiday gatherings and at the beach for a summer getaway.
Before moving to Auburn, Jan spent 39 years in Enterprise, where she and our father settled after his military retirement. She took up bookkeeping while in Hawaii and worked at a flight school. Later, she used her bookkeeping skills to open Triangle Flower and Gift Shop and the Carousel of Flowers in Enterprise, which she operated for nearly 32 years. Jan was an active member of the Business Network Association (BNA) in Enterprise, where she sup-ported the success of small business.
She was a longtime member of the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Enterprise and most recently was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Auburn. Along with volunteering at church, she was an active member of the Officer’s Wives Club and Pilot Club.
In addition to her parents and husband, Jan was preceded in death by her siblings, Sylvio, Richard and Theresa Bousquin, and her grandson, Christopher Kelley.
She is survived by her children, James Walter Mellish of West Lafayette, Indiana, Dianne (John) Leslie Register of Dothan, Elizabeth Ann Gregg of Auburn and Lynda (Darrell “Mark”) Lorraine Kelley of Clarksville, Tennessee; eight grandchildren, Jeaninne Logan, James E. Mellish, James Kelley, Jennifer Kelley, Happy Gregg III (Madison), Mathew Gregg (Morgan), John Kelley (Christina) and Rachel Kelle; eight great-grandchildren, Brandon Logan, Calla Kelley, Christian James “C.J.” Logan, Teddy Grace Gregg, Wyatt Gregg, Jack Kelley, Maggie Gregg and Happy “Rowdy” Gregg IV; nieces and nephew Carla, Marilyn, Kim, Susie and Joe; two step-grandsons, John Register Jr. and Zack Register; and three step-granddaughters Carlee, Campbell and Chloe. Every one of Jan’s family members will greatly miss her and her Ruby Red Lipstick kisses.
Jan will be laid to rest beside her beloved husband, Jim, at Fort Mitchell National Cemetery. Arrangements will be announced at a later date. Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
TAYLOR BRYCE MCCARLEY
Taylor Bryce McCarley was born Jan.16, 2008, and left this earth entirely too soon on Sept. 28, 2024.
Taylor Bryce is survived by his parents, Danny and Lorraine McCarley of Auburn; his sister, Cailin McCarley, and niece, Ava-Mae McCarley of Georgia; great-grandparents Charles and Julia Cargile of Opelika; grandparents, Leon and Ginger Fletcher of Auburn; uncle, Russell (Christy) Fletcher of California; grandparents, Clyde and Marilyn McCarley of Opelika; two aunts, Lisa Harrelson of Opelika and Ashley (Bryant) Layson of Florida; and a multitude of extended family members and wonderful friends.
Taylor Bryce had recently enrolled as a junior in Auburn High School and was enjoying the many electives and AP classes with both old and newfound friends, with plans to enroll in college and pursue a career in pharmacy in just a few short years after graduation.
Before attending Auburn High this fall, he was a student at Lee-Scott Academy since the fall of 2012. He was a member of the Lee Scott Academy band, playing trumpet in both concert and jazz bands and marching band from 2020-2023. Taylor Bryce enjoyed art, drawing and sketching, playing the piano and listening to music of all genres, especially the jazz classics of Frank Sinatra. He was a fast-learned snowboarder and loved to board down the slopes of Breckenridge, Colorado, enjoying the cold breeze in his face and the freedom that the vast mountains provided.
Taylor Bryce McCarley was our son, our shining light. His heart was judgment free, and he gave his heart and love unconditionally to all of those he called friends and family. His absence has created a hole within our hearts, an eternal loss, that can never be filled.
“Fill my heart with song
And let me sing forever more You are all I long for
All I worship and adore
In other words, please be true in other words, I love you.”
A graveside service was held Oct. 6 at Town Creek Cemetery, with Jeffcoat-Trant Fulneral Home assisting with arrangements.
TERRIE LYNN BROWN
Terrie Lynn Brown, who resided in Opelika, passed away peacefully at her home on Sept. 30, 2024. Born on Sept. 25, 1961, Terrie was a cherished member of the community and a loving figure in her family.
She graduated from Beauregard High School and dedicated over 25 years of her career to K-Mart, working in various roles including assistant manager and domestics manager. Following her tenure at K-Mart, she continued her passion for retail at Publix as an HBA manager until her retirement in 2021.
Terrie was known for her love of cooking and her open-door policy on weekends, always having family over to celebrate birthdays, holidays or simply to enjoy good company and food. Her home was a hub of warmth and joy, filled with the laughter of her beloved grand-children and the chatter of her extended family.
Terrie was preceded in death by her parents, James and Clara Cook, and her husband, John “Mike” Brown Sr.
She is survived by her loving family: brothers, Kenny (Donna) Cook and Doug (Tiffany) Cook; sister, Cindi (Robert) Bishop; daughters, April (David) Hughes and Gracie Brown; step-children, Crystal (Russell) Lackey and John Brown Jr.; grandchildren, Alyssa and Alyson Lee, Claire Hughes and J.T. and Ella Brown; and several adored nieces and nephews.
A memorial service to honor and celebrate her life was held Oct. 5 at Frederick-Dean Funeral Home in Opelika.
Her presence will be deeply missed by all who knew her, but her spirit and legacy will live on through the many lives she touched.
GEORGE S. KING JR.
Our beloved father George S. King Jr. passed away peacefully in hospice on Sept. 26, 2024, at the age of 84.
He was born in Birmingham on Dec. 12, 1939. He lived a life of service to his family, his country and any organization he joined. He met his wife, Sue H. King, while at Auburn University, where they each learned they shared a love to build a family and the adventures that life together would provide.
He was a proud member of the U.S. Air Force and served in the Vietnam War. He continued to serve in the reserves for years afterward while working to provide for his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Sue H. King. He leaves behind his children, George-Ann Smith and Michael King, and grandchildren. Austin Smith and Ivy Barber.
Friends and family are welcome to attend a brief graveside service on Monday, Oct. 14, at 11 a.m. at the memorial wall where his ashes will be placed at Town Creek Cemetery in Auburn. A reception with refreshments will follow at Amsterdam Cafe. Parking is available at the cafe and the Trinity Lutheran Church next door.
Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home of Opelika is assisting the family with arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to the Parkinson’s Foundation: On the website www.parkinsons.org, click “How You Can Help,” then click “Make a tribute gift.”
BARBARA JUNE MCCARTY
Barbara McCarty, 84, of Loachapoka passed away peacefully on Sept. 29, 2024, after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.
Barbara was born in Hornell, New York, the second of three children to the late Orian and Clara Sherman. In 1973 she married the love of her life, Hugh, and the family moved to Alabama. Barbara learned the art of cooking and baking alongside her mother at a young age and passed that gift down to generations after her. She had a cookie cutter for every holiday. She spent countless hours baking cookies to sell locally both in New York and here in Alabama just to make sure their children had Christmas gifts every year. After her retirement from Auburn University in 2002, she spent most of her time shopping at Walmart and Kroger. We believe she and dad just went every day to socialize.
Barbara enjoyed spending time with her family. Her love for music was never ending, and she never missed the opportunity to listen to Gospel music at the local churches.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 51 years, Hugh McCarty; three daughters, Clara (Earl) Baker of Dadeville, Kelley (David) Tidwell of Opelika and Linda (Arnold) Pattillo of Notasulga; son, Paul (Kathy) McCarty of Auburn; grandchildren, Micheal (Laura) Pattillo, April Pattillo, Amanda (Shane) Sanspree, Jessica Baker, Edward (Julie) Baker, Jermie (Alex) White, John (Kady) White, Arin (Courtney) McCarty, Charles “Alex” McCarty, Anita Marshall, Shannon Marshall, Sherri Marshall and Donald Marshall; many great-grandchildren and several great-great-grandchildren; a brother, John (Donna) Sherman of Whitney Point, New York, and many loving nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Elaine Boyle; and son, Donald J. Marshall.
Pallbearers were Arnold Pattillo, Micheal Pattillo, Arin McCarty, John White, Austin Pattillo, Thomas Pattillo and Alex McCarty (honorary).
A funeral service was held Oct. 3 at Fredrick-Dean Funeral Home, with burial following at the Loachapoka Cemetery.
The family would like to give special thanks to Kristie Bassett for always being there for mom and Southeast Hospice.
EVELYN LEWIS SMITH
Ms. Evelyn Lewis Smith of Opelika unexpectedly passed away Sept. 30, 2024, at the age of 73. She was born in Milledgeville, Georgia, on June 20, 1951, to parents Carribel and Walter Lewis.
Evelyn proudly served our country in the United States Army and the Air National Guard Reserve for several years. While in Opelika, she worked at Uniroyal for some years, but most would know her for her role as a homemaker, as she was always ready to lend a helping hand with her children and grandchildren whom she loved so dearly.
Evelyn is survived by her loving children, Robert Smith, Jeff Smith (Shelly) and Tina Belvin (David); nine grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved deeply.
A funeral service was held Oct. 4 at Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home. Evelyn was laid to rest in Garden Hills Cemetery. Her pallbearers were Carl Smith, Toby Boyd, Justin Smith, Dalton Nabors, Chandler Hicks and Tyler Manning.