Eric Gray Huckabee 24 December 1948 – 27 September 2022 Eric Gray Huckabee, 73, of Birmingham, Alabama, son of William Gray and Virginia Bishop Huckabee, loving husband, brother, and father of three, passed away on 27 September 2022. Born 24 December 1948, Eric graduated from Banks High School in 1967, the University of Alabama in December 1971 with a BS in Mechanical Engineering, and from the University of West Florida in 1977 with an MBA in Management. Eric was commissioned in the United States Marine Corps on 23 December 1971. As a veteran of the Vietnam War, he served as a helicopter pilot, he earned an Air Medal with Bronze Star Combat “V”, Navy Unit Commendation with Ribbon Bar, Meritorious Unit Commendation and Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Bronze Star, and later the Army Commendation Medal prior to retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2008 after over 32 total years of service. Following his meritorious active-duty service, Eric continued his military career with the Alabama National Guard and United States Reserves. Concurrently, he was a Lead Mechanical Engineer with Southern Company Services, Inc. for 13 years, was the Senior Plant Manager for five years with McWane Cast Iron Pipe Company in addition to project manager, USAR operations section chief, and construction manager in private industry.

Eric and his wife of 42 years, Melinda Huckabee, raised their three children Adrienne (Mark) Thornblom, Eric (Jennifer) Huckabee, and Jessica Huckabee. Preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister, Francis Kay Huckabee. Eric is survived by his wife, children, seven grandchildren, and brother William Barry Huckabee.

The visitation will be held at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home, Pelham, Alabama at 11 a.m. on 4 October 2022. Following the memorial, a burial service will take place at Alabama National Cemetery at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in his memory to The University of Arkansas for Medical Services (UAMS) Foundation designated for Multiple Myeloma Research Myeloma Center.

Click here to link to the AL.COM Obituary.

Haynes Stokley Morgan April 8, 1944 – September 7, 2022 Haynes Stokley Morgan, age 78, of Hoover, Alabama, passed away on Wednesday, September 7, 2022. He was born April 8, 1944 in Piedmont, Alabama. Stokley graduated from Piedmont High School in 1962 and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alabama. After retiring from Southern Company Services with several years in mechanical engineering, he worked at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Stokley was a member of Bluff Park United Methodist Church, where he was active in the Canterbury Sunday School Class. His favorite pastimes included spending time with family, playing golf, assembling puzzles, studying geneology, and cheering for Alabama Crimson Tide Football. Stokley is survived by his wife, Sandra Savage Morgan, to whom he was married on May 31, 1964; two sons, Wade Morgan (Vicki) and Kerry Morgan (Megan); five grandchildren, Chris Morgan (Nikki), Trent Morgan, Will Morgan, Mollie Kate Morgan, and Tripp Morgan; one great-grandson, Cooper Morgan; and one sister, Malissa Haslam (Larry).

The visitation and memorial service will be Friday, September 16, 2022 at Bluff Park United Methodist Church, 733 Valley Street, Hoover, AL 35226. The family will greet friends from 1-2 p.m., followed by the service at 2 p.m. at the church’s main sanctuary. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at Haynes Stokley Morgan’s special memorial page at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for his family.

Click here to view the AL.COM obituary.

Just posted the Sep.-Oct. 2022 newsletter Volume 34 Issue 5.

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Shirley Owens died on June 30th. She worked in the Financial accounting group at Inverness. Her title was Senior Work Management Analyst. She worked at the company for over 40 years retiring in 2021.

William A. Gates passed away June 20, 2022 at age 66 after a short illness. His wife, Dr. Lillian M. Mitchell, was with him at the time of his death at Tidewell Hospice House, Lakewood Ranch, Florida. They had retired to Bradenton, Florida one year ago.

Mr. Gates was born in Florence, Alabama and lived his early years in Tuscumbia, Alabama. He was predeceased by his parents James Buford Gates and June Moss Gates. He graduated from Deshler High School in Tuscumbia, and the University of Alabama (Tuscaloosa) with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and later from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) with a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering specializing in Fluid Dynamics.

Will had a thirty-year career with Southern Company, starting as a co-op student from 1975 until 1978. During his Southern Company employment, he was associated with Alabama Power Company, Southern Nuclear Operating Company, and Southern Company Services Inc. He was the top pump engineer at Southern Nuclear Operating Company and was chosen by the president of Southern Nuclear to document the work of Dr. Elemer Makay, preeminent pump expert and researcher in Yardley, Pennsylvania, from 1992 through 1996. Will met his wife, Lillie, while living in Yardley.

Mr. Gates was a nationwide respected pump expert and assisted many nuclear power plants, coal plants, dams, and gas plants in troubleshooting and providing recommended design modifications to increase efficiency and safety in their operating systems. More recently, Mr. Gates was the Senior Vice President of Engineering with Arnett Engineered Solutions in Palmetto, Florida until December 2021. He was employed with M and M Construction Company in Wetumpka, Alabama as lead engineer and executive Vice President of Engineering from 2012 until the time of his death.

William is survived by his wife, Lillian Mitchell Gates; brothers, Steve Gates and his wife Cindy: and Mark Gates; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. Alan and Eileen Brackup; godson, Thomas Hamilton Hardy; nephews, Robert and Shane Brackup and Tyler, Chase and Bucko Gates; nieces, Julia Brackup and Leah and Channing Gates.

A celebration of life service will be held at Good Shepherd Chapel at Fair Haven Retirement Community, 1424 Montclair Road, Birmingham, Alabama 35210, Saturday, July 9th at 1 PM. Masks will be required to enter the building.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675 in Will’s memory. Memories and condolences may be left for the family online at www.MFHcares.com.

Click here to link the AL.COM obituary.