Warner "Hoagy" Carmichael

Our beloved husband, father, stepfather, and grandfather, Warner “Hoagy” Carmichael, age 83, of Fort Walton Beach, passed away on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at the Covenant Care unit in Pensacola.

Hoagy was born on Dec. 7, 1934, in Roxboro, N.C., the only child of Dewey and Bessie Carmichael. He made a name for himself on the baseball diamonds of Asheboro, N.C., ascending to play AAA baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. Following his baseball days, he proudly served in the U.S. Air Force and was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base.

After being honorably discharged in 1958, he worked for Vitro Services on radar sites on Okaloosa Island and elsewhere. While working, he pursued his teaching degree, taking night classes at the University of West Florida, earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education.

He began his teaching career at Choctawhatchee High School, then moved to the newly opened Fort Walton Beach High School, where he taught science and coached baseball, football and golf, positively impacting hundreds of young lives. Following his retirement in 1997 after 29 years as an educator, he and his beloved wife became proprietors of The Golden Almond Health Food Store in Fort Walton Beach.

Hoagy loved playing golf and fishing. He was a Civil War aficionado, and he also enjoyed visiting the Air Armament Museum at Eglin, where he could name every airplane on display by sight. He treasured the chance to travel, especially his visits to the mountains of North Carolina with his lifelong friends Bob and Doris Wright.

Hoagy was a loving and generous man, willing to help anyone in need and constantly visiting and cheering up friends who were ill. His gregarious personality was infectious and he could often be heard laughing in the company of friends. He had an unrivaled sense of humor and was renowned for his practical jokes. He also loved animals, especially cats and kittens, who could always find a comfortable spot on his lap.

During his time on earth, Hoagy touched countless lives and made his community and the world a better place. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him, and his light will continue to shine through those he loved, especially his wife, Arlene, whom he cherished with all his heart.

Warner was preceded in death by his parents and his young grandson, Walker Scott Coulthard. He is survived by Arlene, his devoted wife of 30 years; sons Bobby and Larry Carmichael; daughter-in-law Gayle Carmichael; stepchildren Colin (Lori), Garett, and Darryl (Kimberly) Lipnicky, and Melissa (Steven) Coulthard; and grandchildren Ashley Carmichael, Alex and Chad (Amanda) Carmichael, Ethan Lipnicky, Lauren and Garren Lipnicky, Abby Lipnicky, Peter Colagero, Tony and Ruth Ann Lipnicky, and Morgan and Raegan Coulthard.

A celebration of life led by the Rev. Jamie Sanders will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. in the chapel at Davis-Watkins Funeral Home, 113 Racetrack Road N.E., Fort Walton Beach. Visitation begins at 4 p.m., with a catered reception at Davis-Watkins following the service. At the conclusion of the memorial, those in attendance are invited to share a poignant or funny memory of Hoagy.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made in Warner’s name to either SOCKS cat shelter (498 Carmel Drive, Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547, www.saveourcatsandkittens.com) or Covenant Care (5041 N. 12th Ave., Pensacola, FL 32504, www.choosecovenant.org). Special thanks to Dr. Gilberto Vigo and his staff at White-Wilson Medical Center for their unwavering attention to Hoagy and his needs during his illness, all of his caregivers at Magnolia Manor of Fort Walton Beach and Superior Residences in Niceville, and Covenant Care, which provided great comfort and support to Hoagy in his final days.

Arrangements are under the direction of Davis-Watkins Funeral Home. To share memories, express condolences, and sign the guestbook, please visit www.daviswatkins.com.