Durell Peaden

Durell Peaden, Jr. M.D, J.D

            Dr. Durell Peaden, 69, of Crestview, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pa.

            He was born August 24, 1945 in DeFuniak Springs to Durell and Leveda Peaden. He grew up in Crestview, graduated from Crestview High School in 1963, Tulane University in 1967 and Universidad De Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico in 1973. He completed his family medicine residency through the University of Florida.

            Dr. Peaden practiced medicine in Crestview from 1975 until his retirement in 1999. While practicing medicine, he attended and graduated from Jones Law School at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. in 1987.

            In 1994, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives where he served until being elected to the Florida Senate in 2000. He served as a senator representing parts of seven Florida panhandle counties until he was term-limited in 2010.

            While serving in the Florida Legislature, Dr. Peaden sponsored legislation creating the Florida State University College of Medicine and was instrumental in establishing the Crestview campus of the Florida A&M College of Pharmacy.

            Since 2005, he served on the board of directors for Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie Pa. And was instrumental in the development and establishment of the LECOM Dental School campus in DeFuniak Springs, which opened in May, 2015.

            Dr. Peaden was preceded in death by his parents, and a granddaughter, Alana Peaden.

            He is survived by his wife, Nancy G. Peaden of Crestview; a brother, John Peaden and wife Gayle of Pensacola; sons Trey Peaden and wife Cindy of Fairhope, Ala., Tyler Peaden and wife Paula of Crestview, and Dr. Taylen C. Peaden of little Falls, NY. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Zachary, Jonathon, and Shelby Peaden also Cody Taylor; a great grandson, Noah Danio; and numerous nieces and nephews.

            A time of visitation will be held on Saturday June 27, 2015, at First United Methodist Church in Crestview from 6-8 p.m.

            Funeral services will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Crestview on Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m. A private family burial will be at the Euchee Valley Presbyterian Church Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home in Crestview.  Guest book and condolences are available online at www.whitehurstpowellfuneralhome.com

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