Samuel Jackson (Jack) Bazzell

Published 12:44 pm Friday, January 10, 2020

Samuel Jackson (Jack) Bazzell 89 of Panama City, Florida passed away peacefully at home on Friday, January 3, 2020. He was born on April 13, 1930 in Panama City, Florida to Maurice Elijah Bazzell and Minnie Lee Mills Bazzell.

He served in the United States Air Force from November 1951 until March 1973. He was a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran. Shortly after retirement, he resumed federal service for some fifteen years working in support of the 325th Civil Engineering Squadron at Tyndall AFB in Housing Management Quality Assurance. He was an accomplished baseball player in his early years and represented the USAF Strategic Air Command fast pitch softball Championship Team in 1963. Over the years, he coached numerous Babe Ruth and American Legion baseball teams. He was also a Master Mason member of the Saint Andrews, Florida Masonic Lodge 212 for over 56 years.

Mr. Bazzell was preceded in death by his loving wife of 70 years, Lillian Elois Bazzell; his parents; three sisters, Winnie Oakes, Doris Stanford, and Midge Cato; and two brothers, Maurice Bazzell, Jr., and Talmadge Bazzell.  He is survived by one sister, Frankie Guy, Panama City, Florida; son, Mark (Judy) Bazzell, Troy, Alabama and three grandchildren, Chris (Rachel) Bazzell, Auburn, Alabama; Nicholas (Abigail) Bazzell, Cumming, Georgia and Adrianne (Adam) Bazzell Harris, Lineville, Alabama; and daughter, Teresa Meredith, Panama City, Florida and two grandchildren, Justin Meredith, Pensacola, Florida and Jerica Watson, Blountstown, Florida.  Survivors also include ten great grandchildren Mark Bazzell, Draken Watson, Mia Meredith, Jeffery Bazzell, Kylie Souza, Knox Harris, Beau Bazzell, Holland Harris, Christian Bazzell, and Truett Harris.

Services will be held on Friday, January 10, 2020 at 2:00 PM at Kent-Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Panama City, Florida with Pastor Hayward Miller and Pastor Craig Brannon officiating with Internment with full Military Honors at Parker Cemetery to follow.  Visitation will be held at 1:00 PM preceding the services. 

Pallbearers will include: Justin Meredith, Chris Bazzell, Nicholas Bazzell, Mark Bazzell, Adam Harris, and Jason Pate.