Doreen F. Cato

Doreen F. McCombs Cato, R.N., passed peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 30, 2017.

She was a life resident of Milton, Florida, and the only daughter of L.L. and Irene Jernigan McCombs. She was a direct descendant of the two pioneer settlers , Benjamin and Vashti Jernigan and William and Mary Jernigan Whitmire. She was active for many years organizing the annual "Whitmire-Jernigan Family Reunion." She was a 1948 graduate from Milton High School; she was a member of the band, a cheerleader, and a member of the girl's basketball team. She went on to attend Nursing school at St. Margaret's School of nursing in Montgomery, Alabama, where she received her degree as Registered Nurse in 1951. She worked at Baptist Hospital for a short time, then came back to Milton to work for Dr. John Holley, Sr., in his office over the Milton Drug Store in downtown Milton. She married John B. Cato on July 3, 1954, and they were married for 30 years. John passed in 1984. She married Adrian Cato in 1991 until he passed in 1996. She met George "Goose" Broxson in 2001, they traveled together and were close companions/ friends until George passed several years ago. She was a member of St Mary's Episcopal Church. She worked most of her nursing career at Santa Rosa Medical Center as Head Nurse in Surgery for over 20 years. She retired from nursing in 1986. She loved to camp and go with the family to the creek and go fishing. She was always proud of her grandchildren and loved the great grandchildren very much. She had a way of always speaking her mind, and her wit and sense of humor will be cherished and remembered by the family and those that knew her.

She is survived by her daughters, Camaron (Jeff Smith) Stephens and Susan (Dwayne) King, all of Milton; four grandsons, Lenton (Tami) Knowles, Cory (Tegan) Stephens, John (Mandie) King and Perry (Kasi) King; three granddaughters, Sondra (Craig) Cooper, Nora (Rick) Behing, and Sara (Rod) Tompkins; great-grandchildren, Adley and Gentry Knowles, Eli and Lanie Stephens, Jayden and Jonathan King, Austin and Mattie Stephens, Avery and Lucus King, Corbin and Cadance Copper, Jackson and Dylan Monnett, and Aspen, Madison and Jude Tompkins. She also leaves to cherish her memory, stepson, Shawn and Donna Cato; stepdaughter, Brenda Renfoe and her family in Georgia; sisters-in-law, Evelyn Bjougard and Mary (Art) Harrison of Pensacola; special friends, Donny and Lynette Broxson; and lifelong friend, Nina Berry Kinsey.

Visitation was held 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m., Friday, June 2, 2017, at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel.

Funeral Services was held at 3:00 p.m., Saturday, June 3, 2017, at Lewis Funeral Home, Milton Chapel. Burial followed services in Milton Cemetery.

Pallbearers: Jeff Smith, Donny Broxson, Lenton Knowles, Cory Stephens, John King, Perry King.

Honorary Pallbearers: Jack and Billy McCombs, Judge Colie Nichols, Jerry Womack, Bob Booth, Sonny Holland, David Keyer, Jimmy Stephens.

THANK YOU: Mother's wishes were to remain at home through this illness. I could not have done this without two special people; to Sherry Wallin, thank you for being with me through the weeks and caring so lovingly for my mother; to Tami Knowles, I will never be able to thank you and Lenton for being there day and night for me. Tami, I could not have made it without you. Thank you to Dr. Dennis Mayeaux and staff, and to Dr. Howell Martin and staff, for the care of our mother for many years. Thank you to the nurses and staff of "Kinderd at Home" for making it possible for mother to remain at home as she had wished. And finally, thank you to Emerald Coast Hospice, especially Olga, Roxanne, Audrey, "Winnie", Chaplin Mark, Shelby, and many others, for your care and dedication to my mother and my family at this time. Thank you from my heart, Camaron Stephens