Ethel Garrett Kranzer

Ethel Garrett Kranzer 86, of Milligan, Florida met her Lord and Savior on Sunday, October 20, 2024.

Ethel was born on October 22, 1937, at home in Penny Creek, Florida to Willie and Hattie Elizabeth Gilmore. Shortly after Ethel was born, her father passed away leaving her loving and devoted mother to finish raising her and her four older brothers. Ethel was a 1957 Graduate of Baker High School, where she was the salutatorian and a proud member of the FHA at Baker High School.

After graduation, Ethel started working on Eglin and later at First Federal here in Crestview. Ethel married Reverend Gerald D. Garrett who later served as the Pastor of Antioch Baptist Church from 1970 to 1971. After the death of her first husband in 1971, Ethel attended OWJC and UWF in Pensacola, Florida to then marry Dr. H.C. Kranzer, known to all as Herm. They were married in 1975 and were together until her death. They loved to travel every year and spend time with family.

Ethel was a devoted wife and mother who loved music and reading her Bible. She served over forty years as organist and pianist at First Baptist Church of Milligan rarely ever missing a Sunday. She loved people and always spoke and acted with kindness and love. She lived her life out of faith, always seeing the good in others and trusting in God’s goodness regardless of the difficulties she or her family faced.

Ethel was a dedicated employee of Okaloosa County School Board as an elementary teacher for her career. As a teacher, she encouraged young children in such remarkable ways that later as adults they would witness to her about her positive influence in their lives.

Ethel always had a smile on her face for everyone, she was loved and will be missed by all who have known her.

Ethel is preceded in death by her parents, Willie J. and Hattie Elizabeth Gilmore and her first husband, Reverend Gerald D. Garrett, and her four brothers, Shirley, Clayton, Raymond and Bill Gilmore .

Ethel is survived by her loving husband of forty-nine years, Dr. Herman Charles Kranzer, her three children, Gerald Keith Garrett (Darlene), Douglas Roger Garrett (Connie) and Sherri Garrett, her three stepchildren, William “Bill” Kranzer (Karen), Bonnie Boland (John) and Terri Heatwole (Doug), her brother, Randall Gilmore, her four grandchildren, Jeri Garrett, Savana Phelps (Justin), Travis Heatwole (Seng) and Tonya Shaw (Alex), several great grandchildren and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 26, 2024, beginning at 2:00 p.m.at First Baptist Church of Milligan with Pastor Charles Smith officiating. Burial to follow at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, October 26, 2024, from 1:00 p.m.to 2:00 p.m.at First Baptist Church of Milligan.

You can share memories and offer condolences at www.brackneyfuneralservice.com
Brackney Funeral Service, Crestview, is entrusted with arrangements.