Autrey Gainer Hazzard, 95, of Southport, Florida passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by family on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. She was a descendant of three pioneer families — the Gainers, Mashburns, and Porters. Autrey was known for her spirit and wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed fishing and playing scrabble. She loved her family and had a special relationship with her sisters affectionately known as the "Golden Girls". Her Christian faith was personal and unfailing and one she was always willing to share with others. She was preceded in death by her parents Watts and Annie Gainer, her husband Meredith "Happy" Hazzard in 1985, one sister Orene Shelby, two brothers

Floyd Gainer and Wendell Gainer, son-in-law Rick Shelly and special friends Helen Pippin and Tom Coffee. She is survived by two sisters, Iris Reeder and Merle Nelson; three children, Victoria Shelly, Merisue Bowerfind (George) and David Hazzard; five grandchildren, Kellie Emanuel, Sara Wohlford,

Christopher Bowerfind, Michael Hazzard, and Meredith Nelson; 10 great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and lifelong friend Carol Bevill.

Autrey was a native of Northwest Florida and graduated from Bay County High School in 1938. She met and married her Coast Guardsman husband in 1940. As a military family they were stationed across the United States and retired after 30 years in the Washington D.C. area. They returned to Southport, Florida in 1975 where Autrey and her husband built their dream home on the shores of

Fannin Bayou. Here they spent their remaining years. Funeral services will be on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the Wilson Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Luther Stanford, Dr. Jerry Moore, and Rick Blackerby officiating. Interment will follow in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday from 5-7 p.m.  Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Lydia Sunday School Class.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to First Baptist Church Southport, 1732 Bridge St., Panama City, Florida 32409 or City Church at Northside, 530 Airport Rd., Panama City, Florida, 32405.