Funeral home employees searching for woman’s family

PANAMA CITY — Some people are the only family they have left.

That seems to be the case with 75-year-old Bridgitte Alkire, who died March 31. Employees at Kent Forest Lawn have been searching for any member of Alkire’s family to no avail. Although she left instructions and has a plot set aside next to her deceased husband, the funeral home hopes to contact a family member before moving forward.

“We always talk to a family member prior to doing any preparation procedures,” Brian Gallagher, managing funeral director at Kent Forest Lawn.

It seems the closest family member Alkire had was her husband, Charles Allen Alkire. He died on Christmas Day in 2011. His obituary notes that he served during Vietnam in the U.S. Army and worked as a warehouse manager for B&S Liquors.

The obituary lists a sister and two nephews but no other family members.

An employee at B&S Liquors recalled Charles Alkire, he called him Charlie, and said that he kept to himself. The employee, who declined to provide his name, added that Bridgitte Alkire was from Germany. Kent Forest employees said Bridgitte Alkire may have family in Berlin, but so far they have not been able to track them down.

Anyone with information about Alkire is asked to call Kent Forest Lawn at 850-763-4694.