Joan Cecelia Whitney

Joan Cecelia Whitney being 76 years young of Fort Walton Beach, Florida passed on to Heaven on Friday March 5th 2021 at 11:36 am in the ICU at Fort Walton Beach Medical Center.

Joan was born on the 22nd of February in 1945 in Detroit Michigan to Marie and Leo Watyniak. Joan married Dale Lee Whitney on the 9th of April 1964 in Jackson, Michigan. Joan graduated High School with high marks and worked half days at a local bank during her senior year. Joan never let her lack of formal higher education hold her back. She excelled in every job she ever held, she frequently moved up the ladder taking on positions of greater responsibility and trained others to do the jobs only she was able to do. Joan retired from the Okaloosa County  Water and Sewer company twice. Her expertise was in such high demand that the Water and Sewer company asked her to come back. Joan was a devout Catholic and attended Mass faithfully. Even when she was ill, she would attend Mass via live stream. Joan imbodied the very definition of a Christian. She was a woman who would give you the shirt off her back in a blizzard if she thought you were cold. Joan was always the one you could go to for a kind word and understanding, she tried to see the best in any situation and endeavor to have you see it also. Joan didn’t see catastrophes; she saw problems with solutions.

 Joan is survived by her sister Jessie Palmer-Griffin who lives in Howell, MI. Her children; Douglas L Whitney, Marina R Whitney, Elaine M. Whitney-Bladow, Christopher J. Whitney, and Charles R Whitney who all live in or near Fort Walton Beach, FL. She is also survived by her Grandchildren; Amanda Nicholas, David Garret, Joshua Bladow, Rebekah (Beka) Harris, Matthew Bladow, Nathan Whitney, Nicholas Larson, and Sarah Whitney. Joan’s Great-grandchildren are; Elizabeth (Lizzy) Gibson, Kia Nicholas, C J Nicholas, Dennis Bladow, and Kaileigh Harris. Joan was proceeded in passing by her husband Dale L Whitney in April of 2006. Joan is also survived by a countless number of people who called her sister or mom.

Visitation will be held at Emerald Coast Funeral Home in the Heritage parlor on Wednesday the 10th of March 2021 from 6pm to 8pm. The Funeral Mass will be held at Saint Mary Catholic Church on Thursday the 11th of March 2021 at 1:00 P.M. The interment will be at Barrancas National Cemetery on Friday the 12th of March 2021 at 10:00 am. There will be a Memorial held at Joan’s home following the funeral Mass and all are invited to share stories, memories, and honor the woman Joan was to all of us. 

To share memories, express condolences and sign the guestbook please visit www.emeraldcoastfuneralhome.com

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joan Cecelia Whitney, please visit our floral store.