Florence Brown Duggins

Obituary for Florence Senf Duggins Military wife, mother, community volunteer, dog breeder and trainer Florence (Petey) Duggins, aged 89, left this life and stepped into the nearer presence of God on June 5, 2014. She was born in Tucson, Arizona and was raised in Phoenix. Petey and her husband, the late chief Master Sergeant A.D., (Pete) Duggins shared assignments all over the United States including Ohio, Washington, D.C., Alaska and Florida. Her most memorable change of assignment came when her husband, Pete was assigned to Pepperell A.F.B. in Newfoundland. After waiting almost a year for base housing to come available Petey singlehandedly drove an old Chevy Station wagon filled with five children, a Great Dane and a cat from Phoenix, Arizona to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Then in 1970 they bought their first and only home in Melbourne, Florida when Pete and Petey were assigned to Patrick Air Force Base. Petey, a lifelong dog fancier, obedience and conformation trainer owned several champion Salukis. She evenhandedly raised all her children alongside Great Danes, Collies, German Shepherds and several cats expecting the same level of obedience from all parties. She was the founder of the Indian River Dog Training club and a lifetime member of the American Whippet Club. Petey took great pride in her volunteer work at the Holmes Regional Medical Center Auxiliary. She faithfully served for 25 years as a volunteer in the Faster Care section of the Emergency Room and in the Cardiac Care Center. Petey was preceded in death by her husband, A.D. (Pete) Duggins, a son, Bruce and a grandson, Gary Nilges. She is survived by her children and grandchildren including David and Mary Duggins, their daughter Rachel and step-daughter Jennifer Hinsdale, Kathleen and her husband Daniel Nilges, Michael, his wife Joan and their daughter Emily, Mary and her husband Frank Everett and their children Reese and Andrea Everett, Melissa and Michael Laggas, Timothy and his daughter Courtney, and Patrick and Lucia Duggins. Great grandchildren include Miles and Caitlin Nilges, Rebekah and Benjamin Laggis, Reese T, Andrea, Katie and Julianna Everett. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Ascension Catholic Church, 2950 Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne Fl., Tuesday, August 12, 2014. Family will receive friends from 10:00 A.M. followed by a Memorial Mass at 11:00 A.M. Interment will follow at Florida Memorial Gardens Rockledge, Florida