Frankie Soule

Fla. Frankie Lou Soule died April 23, 2014, at her home in Winter Haven, from complications from a rare form of Alzheimers, which had gradually and steadily taken away her vibrant life the past 16 years. Frankie was born in Florala, Covington County, Ala., on Jan. 5, 1942, to Rae Nell Ward and Fred Talbot. In early childhood she moved to Pensacola with her mother and became a popular girl in the east Pensacola area, going through public schools in Pensacola, graduating from Pensacola High in 1960. She was a beauty queen reigning as Junior Miss in 1960, a model, a cheerleader, and an accomplished member of choirs and glee clubs. She also was an accomplished operatic singer and participated in leading roles in several stage musicals. She attended Mary Washington College in Fredericksburg, Va., before returning to Pensacola when she married George Bryan in 1962, and then supported the family as a dental hygienist. In 1976 she married Michael Belk and assisted him in the development of his successful fashion photography business. In 1989 she graduated magna cum laude with a degree in interior design from the American College of the Arts in Atlanta. While in Atlanta she became an accomplished tennis player and won several titles in the ALTA leagues in the Atlanta area. In 1991 she married her high school sweetheart, Charlie Soule, and they moved to Chattanooga where his business in consulting was based. In Chattanooga she rediscovered her artistic and painting endeavors and produced several works. Beginning in 1998 Frankie began a long, slow decline into the unknown world of Alzheimers. The doctors at Shands in Gainesville diagnosed her condition as posterior cortical atrophy, a rare form of Alzheimers and she was referred to the specialists at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville in 2005. She was accepted into a research trial of drugs by Elan and Wyeth. Even though it turns out she was actually on the drugs and not a placebo, there was no noticeable benefit. Beginning in 2006 Frankie had the constant care of not only her husband but also several dedicated caregivers, especially Liz, Millie, and Carol, and the expert medical care by Dr. Christopher Mondello and his staff, all who have taken such efforts to allow her to live in comfort these many years. Even in the latter years she always had a smile and a laugh for everyone. Her resilience and strong will always amazed those who came into contact with her. She was an active member of Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Winter Haven. Frankie was preceded in death by her mother, Rae Nell Flythe; her father, Fred Talbot; her stepfather, Fleetwood Courtney Flythe; and her son, Scott M. Bryan. She is survived by her husband; her daughter, Kelly B. Sullivan (Gary); and three grandsons, Charlton, Lawrence and Oliver Sullivan, all of Tuscaloosa; two aunts, Sybill Longmire, of Pensacola and Charlotte Medley, of Columbus, Ga.; and numerous cousins. Her brain is being donated to medical research at Mayo Clinic. Her remains then are to be cremated. A memorial service and luncheon reception will be held at Holy Cross Episcopal Church at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 26, 2014. Burial service will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens, 7433 Pine Forest Road, in Pensacola at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, 2014. The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions can be made to the Endowment Fund of Holy Cross Church, 201 Kipling Lane, Winter Haven, FL 33884.