Margaret Anne Little Chamlis

Margaret Anne Little Chamlis of Tallahassee, 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 22, 2014 after a brief illness. “Steve”, as she was known to her friends, was born November 24, 1925 in Tallahassee. She was the youngest daughter of Marion Freeman and Josephine Carraway Little, who preceded her in death. She was married for 61 years to Elbert Ray Chamlis, who also preceded her in death. Steve lived much of her early life in locations throughout Florida, Georgia and Alabama as the family moved around in her father’s lumber business.

An exceptionally gifted student, Steve skipped two different grade levels and graduated well before her 17th birthday in 1942 from Wadley (Alabama) High School. After graduation and a short stint in business school, she took on bookkeeping duties in the lumberyard. Given her family familiarity with the industry she was soon handling finances for multiple lumberyards. Before marrying, she enjoyed a varied young single adult life that included travels in Latin America, riding Harley Davidson motorcycles, taking private pilot lessons, racing stock cars and remodeling an A-Model Ford that she named “Caldonia”. After getting married in 1950, she lived in various places throughout the United States as she and Ray lived the career Air Force life. After becoming a mother in 1956, Steve became an active and modern homemaker, and was most definitely ahead of her time. For the last 43 years of her life, she spent her time living and loving her eastern Leon County home/ranch, the Circle Four-Cee.

Steve is survived by sons Peter (and wife Bonnie) and Mark (and wife Karen) Chamlis, both of Tallahassee. She was a proud and loving “Nana” to six grandchildren, Jeff Chamlis (and wife Meghan) of Orlando, Stefan Chamlis of Pensacola, Austin Chamlis of Ormond Beach, Sara Chamlis, Ahna Chamlis and Colby Chamlis, all of Tallahassee. Additionally, she is survived by her beloved sister-in-law, Geraldine Chamlis Cogburn of Huntsville, Alabama. Remembrance moments for Steve will be simple family gatherings, no public service is planned. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any memorial donations be made to Goose Creek Wildlife, 3200 Williams Road, Tallahassee, FL 32311.

Arrangements under the direction of Culley's MeadowWood Funeral Home, Tallahassee, FL.