Edith Watson Barnes DeVeau

Edith Louise Watson Barnes DeVeau of Deltona, Florida, passed away on November 28, 2012, at the age of 88. She was surrounded by family members who deeply mourn the loss of a woman who taught by example how to love and live life fully, each and every day.

Ms. Edith, fondly known as “George”, “Big E” and “Coach Mom”, was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 16, 1924. On May 29, 1941, she married Frank Allen Barnes and they had three children - Allen, Linda and Carol. Edith and Frank had been married for 30 years when he passed away in 1971.

On November 4, 1978, she married Elmer DeVeau. Edith and Elmer had been married for 15 years when Elmer passed away in 1993. Edith's last 18 years were spent with Mike Koval, her best friend and loving companion. Having lost two spouses early in life, Ms. Edith had learned to live fully. She was known for her love and compassion, zest for life and adventure, and the twinkle in her eye. She enjoyed golf, ballroom dancing, traveling, bridge and crossword puzzles. Her family was the most important thing to her and she was always there to celebrate life's special moments. Ms. Edith was a member of Deltona Lakes Baptist Church and served on the board of the Orange County Cancer Society. She worked as Assistant to the Director of Nursing at Orange Memorial Hospital and for the Orange County Medical Society, where she was the clerk who processed the medical license for Doctors Frank C. Bone and Robert A. Broome, who remained in partnership for 49 years. Ms. Edith served the Doctors Bone and Broome (and every other week Doctors Broome and Bone) as their Office Manager for more than 40 years where she was lovingly known as "George".

She is survived by her son, Frank Allen Barnes, Jr. (Patti) of Denton, North Carolina; two daughters, Linda Diane Bronson of Tallahassee, Florida and Carol Barnes Dover (Walt) of Havana, Florida. Edith is also survived by five grandchildren, Kevin Dover (Kim), Ashley Gholston (Brock), Brittany Dover (Lance Rudd), Genesis Barnes (Adam), Jason Barnes (Elizabeth); and three great grandchildren, Cole Dover, Grayton Dover and Aubrey Gholston; and Mike Koval, her best friend and loving companion.

Fellowship and Visitation will be held at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 6, 2012, at Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home (1737 Riggins Road, Tallahassee, FL 32308) where a Celebration of Life service will be held at 2:00 p.m. A graveside service will immediately follow at Culley's MeadowWood on Timberlane Road. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to Big Bend Hospice, Inc., 1723 Mahan Center Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32308 or the Tallahassee Memorial Sharon Ewing Walker Breast Health Center, 1401 Centerville Road, Suite 700, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

A very special lady, who has blessed our lives in so many ways, is dancing with the angels in heaven now. ‘Mom’, this isn’t goodbye, it’s ‘We'll see you later’… Our family chain is broken now, and nothing will be the same, but as God calls us one by one, the chain will link again. (Author Unknown)