Harold Creel

Obituary & Life History

Harold M. Creel, age 72, died at his home, 3117 E. 3rd Street, Panama City, FL on Thursday, July 8, 2010 following a courageous battle with cancer. He...

Harold M. Creel, age 72, died at his home, 3117 E. 3rd Street, Panama City, FL on Thursday, July 8, 2010 following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born December 30, 1937 in Dothan, AL to the late James H. and Mary Pybus Creel. He attended Everitt Middle School and graduated from Bay High School in 1956. Harold was drafted out of high school by the Detroit Tiger Org. before he left to serve his country in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He attained an honorable discharge in 1959 and was then united in marriage on August 4, 1961 to the love of his life, Marie Creel, in Panama City, FL.

Harold and Marie Creel were blessed with sons, Jerry L. Creel (wife, Robin), James O. Creel, Kenneth G. Creel (wife, Dorothy), and Robert D. Creel (wife, Karen); daughters, Cynthia Warr-Bolin (husband, Jerry), Mary E. Burton, Kimberly J. Keefe, and Alisha A. Thatcher. Harold is survived by his 4 sisters, Mrs. Wilma Lassiter, Mary Ellen Hopper, Bertie Messer, and Martha Sue Diehl; brother/cousin, Mr. Joel A. Creel (wife, Silvia); numerous nieces and nephews; and great friends, Mr. Derrick Allen and family, James E. Nelson, John D. Mullis, Thomas Mork and Gayle Hartzog, Marvis Boswell, James Castilow, Rayburn French, and all retired former Local 111 members of Gulf Coast Dist. Lodge from Jacksonville, FL to Hattiesburg, MS.

Harold and Marie were blessed with 22 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; Brandon, Justin, Josh, Blake, James O., Jennifer, Kenny Jr., Christopher B., Jessica, Jimmy G., Megan, Whitney, Stephanie, Christopher G., Matthew, Thomas, Bethany, Johnathon, Cory, Dustin, Christina, and Patricia.

Harold was a member of the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers in Local 111, Panama City, where he served Assistant Business Manager and elected District Business Manager Executive Secretary and Treasurer of the following locals: Local 108, Birmingham, AL; Local 109, Mobile, AL; Local 111, Panama City, FL; Local 112, Mobile, AL; and Local 199, Jacksonville, FL. He was also a member of Springfield Baptist Church.

Harold was a 50 year (1959-2009) lifelong youth baseball and football coach, coaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation families from New Orleans, LA, Mobile, AL, and Panama City, FL. Harold’s second love was coaching his 4 sons and 7 grandchildren. Harold ended his lifelong work with kids, volunteering from 1999 until 2009 as Director/President and Coach of the oldest and longest running youth football tournament in the United States, the Snapperbowl Classic.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. in the chapel of Kent Forest Lawn Funeral Home with Rev. Terrell Nelson and Bro. Derrick Allen officiating. Interment will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Monday, July 12, 2010 from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

Asked to serve as honorary pallbearers are Kenneth G. Creel, Jr., Jimmy G. Warr, III, Christopher G. Burton, Johnathon P. Baxley, Justin Creel, Matthew Burton, Cory Keefe, and Dustin Keefe.