Michelle "Mikki" (McAninch) PAPPAS

PAPPAS, MCANINCH, TOKHEIM, GREEN, HEBERT, SULLIVAN, EDDINS, ORMAN, BARNETT, SHIRLEN

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/11/2008 at 08:25:00

Michelle "Mikki" Pappas
1945 - 2008

Mikki passed away on June 7, 2008, at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center, her family at her side. With tremendous good spirit and inspiring courage she fought her battle with breast cancer. Mikki was born on Oct. 8, 1945, in Chariton, Iowa. She was preceded in death by her parents, Michael and Darleene McAninch; her sister, Juanita McAninch; husband, Donald Pappas; and her niece, Donna Green. She is survived by the father of her children, Don Tokheim; daughter, Terri Hebert; son and daughter in-law, Michael and Wendy Tokheim; grandchildren, Deanna and Jamie Hebert, Zachary and Blakely Tokheim; her brother and sister in-law, Donald and Betty McAninch; her sister, Audrey and brother in-law Bob Sullivan; and nephews and nieces, Cheryl Eddins, Richard Orman, Ted Barnett, Michael Barnett, Bo McAninch and Angela Shirlen.

Mikki graduated from Lincoln High School in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1963. She grew up in Memphis, Tenn., during the 50s "Rock and Roll" era. That experience had a great impact on her life. She loved music, especially the Blues, Rock and Roll, then later, Jimmy Buffet. She was a charter member of a group known as the "T.W.I.T.S." She was a member of the Fort Walton Beach Elk's Club and the Fort Walton Beach River Rats. She cherished the times and pure fun she had with the "T.W.I.T.S.," River Rats and Elks. Mikki retired from the Fort Walton Beach K-Mart. She then went on to the Florida Keys to work in the charter fishing industry. Mikki was the voice every day on the local radio station with the Key's fishing report. She came back to Fort Walton and went to work at Destin Ice as a bookkeeper, where she claimed that Jim Bass and Duane Martin were the best bosses that she ever had. Mikki was an excellent cook, gracious host and loved to entertain. She possessed a lust for life that was evident to everyone that knew her. Mikki also leaves to grieve, her many friends, family and her precious puppy "Minnie."

A casual dress memorial will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Calvary Chapel Emerald Coast, 407 N.E. Racetrack Road, Fort Walton Beach, with the Rev. Gary Gobin officiating. Following the service, a "celebration of life" will be held at Mike and Wendy Tokheim's home, 420 Spring Lane, Destin, 837-7137. The family is accepting flowers, and encourages donations to the American Cancer Society. At Mikki's request she was cremated. The family will spread her ashes in the Gulf of Mexico at a later date.
Mikki's family would like to thank the staff, and especially the nurses in CCU, of the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center; Dr. Henry Hsiang, Dr. Harvey Hsiang and Dr. Ming-Chen Chang of the Fort Walton Beach Oncology Center; Dr. Sandra Hanson of the Breast Clinic; and Dr. Barri Fessler at the University of Alabama, Birmingham.

Northwest Florida Daily News, FL
July 13, 2008