M. Winifred McElvar

M. Winifred McElvar M. Winifred "Cap'n" McElvar, 88, a homemaker, died Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2006. The service will be at 11 a.m. EDT Friday at Bethel United Methodist Church, with burial at Bethel Church Cemetery. Family will receive friends one hour before the service at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308, or call (850) 878-5310. M. Winifred "Cap'n" McElvar died after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease. Cap'n was born Feb. 22, 1918, on a farm near Stoutamire's Boat Landing on the Ochlockonee River, where she grew up with her brothers and sisters and many cousins who gave her the nickname "captain" (shortened to Cap'n) because of her take-charge personality. The name stuck with her her entire life. She met and married her husband in Fort Wayne, Ind, in 1954 and moved back to Tallahassee in 1956. Cap'n and Mac raised three daughters, Sherry, Vicki and Daisy. Their greatest accomplishment in life was being wonderful parents. Although Cap'n moved away from the country many years ago, she remained a country girl at heart. Cap'n loved to farm, fish and spend time with family. Other survivors include three daughters, Sherry Bell, Vicki McElvar and Daisy Armistead (and husband Paul); a sister, Mary Monfort (and husband Delma); two grandsons, Daniel V. Bell and Michael Armistead; two half sisters, Kayleen Stoutamire and Pat McGowan; two brothers, Phil Stoutamire and James Stoutamire; and many cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceeded in death by her husband of 50 years, Newton V. "Mac" McElvar; a brother, Dixie Stoutamire; two sisters, Grace Lloyd and Lucille Bennett; a half sister, Dorothy E. Stoutamire; and a half brother, Pete Stoutamire. "We would like to give a special thanks to the fabulous staff of Harbor Chase Retirement Community and Big Bend Hospice for all the love, care and support they provided to our family."