Monique Michele Espinosa

It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing of Monique Michele Espinosa, 62, of Niceville, Florida. She went on to our Lord peacefully and surrounded by her family on the 20th of September 2023 at the Fort Walton Beach Medical Center in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.

She was born in Florala, Alabama on the 29th of May 1961 and lived most of her life in Okaloosa County, Florida. Spending most of her childhood in the Auburn area of Crestview running and playing outside with her sister and McCurley clan cousins; and then going on to graduate from Crestview High School in 1980.

She worked for twenty-five years as a pharmacy technician, until early retirement, and then she went on to pursue her lifelong dream of earning a degree in art. She graduated from Northwest Florida State College in 2022 with an Associate of Science degree in Graphics Technology with a focus in Visual Arts. Her entire family was incredibly proud of her for this wonderful and inspiring accomplishment.

Monique loved the beach, woodworking, FSU, and everything Christmas. Some of her favorite pastimes include watching Florida State Football with her Brother-in-law; spending time with loved ones; creating art; doing science projects with her great-niece; playing with her bonus children and bonus grandchildren; chatting with family; being the number one cheerleader at the events of all her loved ones; teasing her sister, Renée; and, most of all, joking around with and loving her son, Andrew.

She was a passionate and dedicated artist; having her works exhibited in the McIlroy and Holzhauer Galleries at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center in Niceville, Florida and published in the Blackwater Review’s Spring 2021 edition. Art was a lifelong pursuit for her, and at the time of her passing, she was finishing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a focus in Illustration at the University of West Florida.

Monique was an inspiration to many and accomplished much in life, even being awarded the Paramedic Award by the Brooklyn VFW Post 107 in 2015 for having saved the life of George Donaldson in October 2014, by continuously, along with a colleague, administering CPR to Mr. Donaldson when he collapsed from a heart attack at her place of work.

She was the best encourager, always held the extended family together, remembered all of our birthdays, and was always happiest when seeing her loved ones succeed.

We love her greatly.

She is survived by her son, Andrew Steven Espinosa of Niceville, Florida; sister, Renée Y Espinosa Garza and Brother-in-law, Hugo Garza, both of Crestview, Florida; nieces, Anna Maria Garza and Aurora Michele Garza; nephews, Jesse Ugo Garza and Javan Michael Garza; and great-niece, Ariel Renee Garza Jones; her aunts, Mary Ellen McCurley Gilmore, Jeanette “Jeanie” McCurley, Abigail “Abby” Espinosa Smith, Rebecca “Becky” Espinosa Garcia,  and Eva Espinosa; her uncles, Elijah McCurley, David Espinosa, and Angel (Linda) Espinosa; as well as, numerous cousins and friends, all of whom love her very much.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Annie Myrle McCurley-Gilmore, and father, Steven Espinosa; her maternal grandmother and step-grandfather, Willie Mae Harrison Eney and Milton “Buddy” Eney of Crestview, Florida; maternal grandfather, Ephrom Franklin McCurley of Okaloosa County, Florida; paternal grandparents, Angel and Esperanza Espinosa of Kansas.

Her immediate family extends a special thanks to her cousins, David & Barbara Edge and Ellen Nowling, and her close friend, Brenda Franklin Martin for all the support they gave throughout her extended hospital stay.

The family would also like to thank Pastor Michael Braswell for officiating the service and the Flower Basket plus Sharon Dinkins for providing the memorial flowers.

Hear my prayers, O Lord.

Let me reach up to touch their hands.

For on this earth,

It has become too difficult to stand.

In memoriam of our aunt, cousin, friend, niece, sister, best friend, and mother.

You will be forever immensely missed.

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, at 6:00 PM at Whitehurst Powell Funeral Home. The family will receive guests at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. Immediately following the service, a meal and gathering will be held at Life Tabernacle located at 3136 Pinewoods Drive, Crestview, Florida.

Flowers are not being received. To help with the cost of the funeral, a basket for condolence cards, words of remembrance, and donations will be set up at the service. Condolence cards can also be mailed to her sister, Renee. Debit/Credit card donations can be made through her niece, Anna Maria. Please contact Anna Maria on Facebook for more information on where and how to make donations.

Thank you.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Monique Michele Espinosa, please visit our floral store.