Lavonia
Nelson
was born on September 29, 1921 in Escambia County, Florida. She was the daughter of John Dennis Nelson and Susan (maiden name unknown). Lavonia
was raised in Walton County, Florida.
Lavonia married Arnold Dudley Gainey on May 7, 1938 in Walton County,
Florida. She was 16 years old and he was
19 years. Arnold was born on May 17,
1919 in Alaqua, Walton County, Florida, the son of Murdock Jackson Gainey and Mary Ida King. Arnold had two brothers who also married into
the Nelson family. One brother, Willis,
married Lavonia’s half-sister, Mollie; and another, Amos, married Lavonia’s half-sister,
Nellie.
Arnold and Lavonia were the parents of three children:
Bobbie Carolyn Gainey born
November 22, 1939
William R. Gainey
Cathey Gainey
After their marriage, Arnold and Lavonia lived in a rented home in
rural Walton County, Florida. They were
living near Arnold’s parents. At that
time, Arnold was employed in road construction.
Arnold enlisted for service in the army for World War II on July
11, 1944 at Camp Blanding in Walton County, Florida. He was released from service on October 19,
1945.
Lavonia Nelson Gainey died on February 25, 2000 in Defuniak
Springs, Walton County, Florida. She was
laid to rest in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in Pleasant Ridge, Walton County,
Florida. Lavonia was 78 years old at her
death.
Arnold Dudley Gainey died seven years later, on September 29, 2007
in Crestview, Okaloosa County, Florida.
He was laid to rest beside his wife in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery in
Pleasant Ridge, Walton County, Florida. Arnold
was 88 years old at his death.
The following is an excerpt from Arnold’s Obituary:
October 2, 2007
NW Florida Daily News
Arnold Dudley Gainey 1919 - 2007
Mr. Arnold Gainey, age 88, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away Sept. 29, 2007 in Crestview, Fla. He was born May 17, 1919, in Walton County, Florida to Murdock and Ida King Gainey.
Mr. Gainey was a life long resident of Walton County, he was Apostolic by faith and a member of the First Apostolic Church of DeFuniak Springs. Arnold was a veteran of WWII serving his country in the United States Army, having fought at the Battle of the Bulge, he received the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His being awarded the Bronze Star was for his dedication for staying on the front lines until everyone had been evacuated safely home. He worked with Hodges Lumber Company and Louisiana Pacific for over 20 years.
Mr. Gainey was preceded in death by his father and mother; his loving wife, Lavonia Gainey; one daughter, Bobbie Gainey; four brothers, Amos, Willis, Wilson and M.T. Gainey; and three sisters, Bama Hamilton, Anna Belle Hamilton and Bessie Mae Wright.
Mr. Gainey is survived by one son, William R. Gainey and wife Dianne of Pensacola, Fla.; one daughter, Cathey Gorum of DeFuniak Springs; three grandchildren, Deedra Linder and husband Robert, Derrick Gainey and wife Kaye and Krysten Gorum; and one great-granddaughter, Emalie Linder.
A time of visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, 230 Park Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, in the Chapel at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, 230 Park Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. David King officiating.
Burial will follow in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, with military honors.
Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
NW Florida Daily News
Arnold Dudley Gainey 1919 - 2007
Mr. Arnold Gainey, age 88, of DeFuniak Springs, Fla., passed away Sept. 29, 2007 in Crestview, Fla. He was born May 17, 1919, in Walton County, Florida to Murdock and Ida King Gainey.
Mr. Gainey was a life long resident of Walton County, he was Apostolic by faith and a member of the First Apostolic Church of DeFuniak Springs. Arnold was a veteran of WWII serving his country in the United States Army, having fought at the Battle of the Bulge, he received the Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. His being awarded the Bronze Star was for his dedication for staying on the front lines until everyone had been evacuated safely home. He worked with Hodges Lumber Company and Louisiana Pacific for over 20 years.
Mr. Gainey was preceded in death by his father and mother; his loving wife, Lavonia Gainey; one daughter, Bobbie Gainey; four brothers, Amos, Willis, Wilson and M.T. Gainey; and three sisters, Bama Hamilton, Anna Belle Hamilton and Bessie Mae Wright.
Mr. Gainey is survived by one son, William R. Gainey and wife Dianne of Pensacola, Fla.; one daughter, Cathey Gorum of DeFuniak Springs; three grandchildren, Deedra Linder and husband Robert, Derrick Gainey and wife Kaye and Krysten Gorum; and one great-granddaughter, Emalie Linder.
A time of visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 3, 2007, at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, 230 Park Ave., DeFuniak Springs, FL 32435.
Funeral services will be conducted at 10 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007, in the Chapel at Clary-Glenn Funeral Home, 230 Park Avenue, DeFuniak Springs, with the Rev. David King officiating.
Burial will follow in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, with military honors.
Clary-Glenn Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Notes for Lavonia Nelson
Birth &
Death: “Lavonia Gainey,” Ancestry.com. U.S.,
Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT,
USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.
1930 US
Census: “Lavonia Nelson,” Year: 1930;
Census Place: Precinct 23, Walton, Florida; Roll: 335;
Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 0026; Image: 846.0;
FHL microfilm: 2340070. Ancestry.com. 1930
United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
1935
Census: “Lavonia Nelson,” Ancestry.com. Florida,
State Census, 1867-1945 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2008.
Marriage: “Levonia Nelson,” Ancestry.com. Florida Marriage Collection, 1822-1875 and
1927-2001 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations Inc, 2006.
1940 US
Census: “Levonie Gainey,” Year: 1940;
Census Place: Walton, Florida; Roll: T627_622; Page: 2A;
Enumeration District: 66-27.
Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database
on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
Burial: “Molley N Gainey,” Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index,
1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations, Inc., 2012. (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi)
Accessed 16 May 2015
Notes for Arnold Dudley Gainey
Birth &
Death: “Arnold D Gainey,” Ancestry.com. U.S.,
Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT,
USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2011.
1920 US
Census: “Arnold Gainey,” Year: 1920;
Census Place: Alaqua, Walton, Florida; Roll: T625_232;
Page: 12B; Enumeration District: 150; Image: 185. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States
Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.
1930 US
Census: “Arnold D Gainey,” Year: 1930;
Census Place: Alaqua, Walton, Florida; Roll: 335; Page: 2A;
Enumeration District: 0009; Image:621.0; FHL microfilm: 2340070. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States
Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com
Operations Inc, 2002.
WWII: “Arnold D Gainey,” National Archives and Records Administration. U.S.
World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946[database on-line]. Provo,
UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Military
Service: “Arnold Gainey,” Ancestry.com. U.S.,
Department of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File, 1850-2010 [database
on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Burial &
Obituary: “Arnold Dudley Gainey,” Ancestry.com. U.S.,
Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA:
Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. (http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi)
Accessed 16 May 2015
