Mr. Oscar Hoyt Whitehurst of Panama City, Florida, passed away May 23, 2009. He was born November 13, 1916 in Florala, Alabama, to John and Ginny Turner Whitehurst and moved to the Panama City area in 1939. He was preceded in death by his wife, Floie Cook Whitehurst. Mr. Whitehurst is survived by one daughter, Charla Whitehurst Boggs; a niece, Barbara Guy of California; and a nephew, John David Whitehurst of Alabama.

Mr. Whitehurst was retired from International Paper Company in 1972, where he was employed 31 years as an electrician. He was Baptist by faith and a member of the First Baptist Church of Panama City, where he was a Deacon Emeritus and member of the Philio Sunday School Class.

Mr. Whitehurst was an active Mason for 50 years; a member and Past Master of Acme Lodge #222 F.&A.M. of Panama City, Past District Instructor and Past District Deputy Grand Master of the Old 4th Masonic District. He served four times as an appointed officer of the Grand Lodge of Florida as well as numerous Grand Lodge committee appointments and representative of the Grand Lodge of Florida to Western Australia. He was also a 33° Scottish Rite Mason with membership in the Panama City Valley, a member of the Panama City York Rite, Charter member of Shaddai Shrine Temple and member of the Past Masters Unit, member and Past Worthy Patron of Panama Chapter 102, Order of Eastern Star, member Royal Order of Scotland and member and Past Puissant Sovereign of San Carlos Conclave Red Cross of Constantine.

Graveside services will be held Tuesday, May 26, 2009 at 10 a.m. in the Evergreen Memorial Gardens with Masonic Last Rites by Acme Lodge. The Lodge will open one hour prior to the service. Honorary pallbearers will be Roger Glisson, Glenn Snyder, Guy Pettis, Archie Maynard, Joe Anderson, Raymond Miller, Ronnie Posey and all Masons. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Monday, May 25, 2009 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

The family wishes to express heartfelt gratitude to Jo Terry for her many hours of care provided to Mr. Whitehurst; and also to Covenant Hospice.

In lieu of flowers, donations if desired in memory of Oscar H. Whitehurst may be made to Scottish Rite Foundation (a language disorder clinic), PO Box 1, Panama City, Florida 32402 or Masonic Home, c/o Acme Lodge, PO Box 455, Panama City, Florida 32402.