JAMES FREDERICK ‘FRED’ MIKEL

James Frederick “Fred” Mikel, 87, of Andalusia passed away Thurs., April 25, 2013, in the Andalusia hospital.

Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., on Tues., April 30, at the Cold Water Congregational Church. Burial will follow in the Ables Cemetery with Keahey Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the church one hour prior to services at the church.

Survivors include his daughters, Tammy (Bob) Hammett of Dozier and Carol (Paul) Trotter of Texas; brother, Joe (Evelyn) Mikel of Opp; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Jaci Mikel and son, Charles Mikel.

 

FLORA EVELYN EKSTROM KEMP BLOCKER

Surrounded by her family, Flora Evelyn Ekstrom (Kemp) Blocker – beloved wife, mother and grandmother – passed from this life on April 24, 2013, just 17 days after celebrating her 90th birthday with family and friends.

She was born on April 1, 1923, to Norwegian and Swedish parents in Birmingham, where she spent her early childhood years. Her family later moved to Svea, Fla., and she attended Laurel Hill (Fla.) School. There, she met and married Floyd Kemp and raised a family of five children. She married J.L. Blocker in 1973 at the young age of 50, and they spent the last 39 years as an inseparable pair, living life to the fullest.

She was Baptist by faith and a lifelong member of The Order of The Eastern Star. She had many loves: flowers, hugs, yard sales, playing cards, dancing, shopping and lemon pies, to name a few, but family was what she cherished most, and the phrase you would always hear her say was, “I love all my babies” – and she did. Nothing was more precious in her life than her children and grandchildren, whom she loved with all her heart.

She is preceded in death by parents, George (Gideon) Natanael Ekstrom and Olga Wang Ekstrom; infant son, Larry Wade Kemp; sisters, Flossie Lee, Rosalyn Boutwell and Elilzabeth Marlatt; brother, George Ekstrom; and granddaughter, Heather Kemp Langston.

She is survived by her husband, J.L. Blocker; sons, Jerry (Sarah) Kemp, Quentin (Kathleen) Kemp, Charles (Sue) Kemp, Keith (Terry) Kemp; daughter, Shelia Kemp Locke; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren, as well as nieces, nephews, friends and other relatives who were so special to her.

She was such a precious, loving, tender person, who touched so many lives with her kindness. She will forever be in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

A celebration of life to honor her memory will be held at 1 p.m. today, Sat., April 27, at the Evans Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Donnie Cadenhead officiating with burial following in Svea Cemetery.

To leave online condolences, visit at evansfuneralhomeal.com.