Judith Rigell Gaunt

Judith Rigell “Judy” Gaunt
1922-2008Judith Rigell “Judy” Gaunt, 86, of Lynn Haven, Florida, passed away June 7 , 2008, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, surrounded by her loving family. Judy was born April 28, 1922 in Milligan, Florida. She was the youngest of the ten children of the late Mr. and Mrs. Starlus Rigell Sr. In 1925, the lumber business brought the Rigell family to Bay County, Florida where they lived in Bay Harbor. Mr. Rigell died suddenly that same year. Mrs. Rigell and her family moved the family “into town”, to Panama City in 1929. Judy had fond memories of her family, Bay Harbor and the little Rigell family home on Massalina Bayou where she grew up, raised by her dear “Mama” and her older sisters, Essie Lois “Sissy” (the late Mrs. S. Walter Anderson) and Mary (the late Mrs. Charles H. Abbott).Judy attended Millville and Panama Grammar schools and was the Salutatorian of the Bay County High School Class of 1940. She earned her B.S. in Home Economics from the Florida State College for Women (now FSU) in 1944. She was teaching at Bay High when she met her future husband, Richard H. “Dick” Gaunt, of Atlantic City, New Jersey, at Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church (First Presbyterian). Dick was a Naval Officer serving on a ship stationed in Panama City. Dick and Judy were married June 9, 1947, and embarked on their active duty Navy adventure. They lived in Boston, Norfolk, Key West, Panama City, Charleston and Annapolis. When Dick retired from active duty in 1967, Judy, Dick and their three sons returned to Bay County, where Dick served the Navy two more decades as a civilian.Judy was very proud of her career as a Christian homemaker, Navy wife and mother. She was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church of Panama City, where she led youth fellowship, was active in the Women in the Church and taught Bible Study at her Women’s Circle. A talented soprano, the great joy she got from singing in the church choir was only surpassed by her love of teaching the little ones when she directed the children’s choir. In recent years, Judy enjoyed spending time with her granddaughters, who inherited her love of music. A “gourmet southern cook”, Judy was the “Captain” of her beloved kitchen. She loved family stories and genealogy, and was a longtime member of the St. Andrews Bay Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mrs. Gaunt was preceded in death by her husband, Commander Richard H. Gaunt Sr., USN (ret.), and by her son, John R. Gaunt. She is survived by her son, Richard H. Gaunt Jr. and wife, Doris Sowinski Gaunt, of Palm Beach Gardens; son James H. Gaunt of Tallahassee; granddaughters Sarah Arago and husband Sean, of Dallas, Texas, Captain Leah Roberts, USA, of Fort Campbell, Kentucky (deployed to Baghdad, Iraq), and husband, Captain Brice Roberts, USA, of Fort Knox, Kentucky, Lieutenant Junior Grade Ruth Gaunt, USN, of Yokosuka, Japan, Rebecca Gaunt of Tallahassee, and Judith Gaunt of Palm Beach Gardens; great grandson, Augustine Joseph Arago; brother-in-law, Charles H. Abbott, of Lynn Haven; sister-in-law, Elizabeth W. “Betsy” Rigell of Maryville, Tennessee; sister-in-law, Virginia Gaunt Haines of Little Egg Harbor, New Jersey; and by many nieces and nephews.Funeral Services will be held Saturday, June 14 at 10:30 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Panama City with Dr. Richard Watson and the Rev. Bill Lamkin officiating. A graveside service will follow at Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends Friday, June 13, from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Wilson Funeral Home ( www.wilsonfuneralhome.net ) in Panama City.The Richard H. Gaunt Jr. family will receive friends Monday, June 9, at 7:00 P.M. at the Haisley Funeral Home, 3015 Okeechoobee Road, Fort Pierce. (phone 772-461-5211)Memorial gifts may be made to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society [Panama City Address: Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS; 153 Ellyson Avenue Suite B; Pensacola, FL 32508)( www.nmcrs.org ), which provides assistance to members of the Naval Services of the United States, and to their family members and survivors, in times of need, to The Wounded Warrior Project ( www.woundedwarriorproject.org ), First Presbyterian Church of Panama City, Florida ( www.firstpcpc.org ) or to a personal charity in memory of Judith Rigell Gaunt.