Haline McCracken Carlton, 97, of Arcadia, was born in Wayne County, Illinois on August 7, 1915 and departed this life on December 7, 2012 at DeSoto Care ALF.
Mrs. Carlton graduated from Fairfield, Illinois High School and continued her education at Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, Illinois, where she graduated in 1938 with a B. ED. degree with a major in mathematics. Her first employment was with Meade Johnson & Co. of Evansville, Indiana. Fed up with snow, ice & galoshes, Haline sojourned South in 1945, desperately seeking a year-round warm climate, and eventually settled in Miami where she met her husband-to-be, E. DeVaughn Carlton, a descendant of a Florida pioneer family.
They were married July 18, 1954, and the first 28 years of their married life were spent in Miami. Upon retirement, he from Florida Power and Light Co., and she from Miami/Dade School system, they came back to his roots in DeSoto County, Florida. In 1982 they built a two-story log house on their ranch and lived there until his death on July 27, 2004. The last few years of her life were spent as a resident of Arcadia Village Country Club, then at DeSoto Care in Nocatee.
Throughout their married life, Haline and DeVaughn traveled extensively, mostly on their own, exploring the Americas (including all 50 states), and Europe section by section, and flying around the world in 1965. Diverse countries meant diverse modes of travel: auto; planes (747 & Concorde); ships (QE2); river boats; trains (Siberia Express); and short distances via elephant, camel and donkey.
Haline and DeVaughn were enthusiastic Ballroom dancers, Bridge players, and Bible students. Haline was a member of Arcadia Literary Club and both she and DeVaughn were staunch members of Nocatee United Methodist Church.
Preceding her in death were her husband of 50 years, E. DeVaughn Carlton; parents, Wm. Grover and Bessie McCracken; brothers, Everett and Vernon McCracken; sisters, Lola M. Ulrich and Bernice M. Samford; plus many nieces and nephews.
Haline is survived by a brother-in-law, sister-in law, niece, great-nephews, great-great-nephew and niece, great-great-great-nephew, and many friends.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 12th at 11:00 a.m. at Joshua Creek Cemetery with Rev. Rocky Walker officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to said church or Tidewell Hospice, 917 N. Arcadia Ave., Arcadia, FL 34266.