Michele Inkel

Michele Lee Inkel passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus at her home surrounded by her husband Stephen, and her children Crystal (Tyler), Larrence (Natalie), and Julia (Aaron).  Michele was the beloved daughter of Ralph and Grace DeMacy, sister of Donald DeMacy, and Gail Hengstenburg, great-niece to Dean and Anne DeMasi, sister-in-law to Joe and Bonnie Inkel, Donna and Tom Mason, Barbara Inkel, Diane and Eric Wahlstedt, and cherished daughter- in-law to Maurice and Ramona Ann Inkel. Michele was loved by a large extended family, including many nieces, nephews, cousins, and her grandchildren Rhett, Ainslee, Finley, Shepherd, Oliver, Charlee, and Maxine.

Michele was born in Port Chester, New York in 1960. She graduated from Harrison High School where she was the star on her basketball team. She attended Morrison Community College where her love of nature and science blossomed. Through her art teacher, Candida Inkel, she met her future husband, Stephen Inkel. Stephen and Michele married in 1983 and settled down in Navarre, FL where they raised their three children.

In 1994 Michele completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of West Florida in Elementary Education. Michele began her teaching career at Holley Navarre Middle School. Throughout her 15 years of teaching she shared her love of science and nature with her 6th grade students.  Even when being nominated as Teacher of the Year, she would say her proudest moment was winning a grant for a Weather System Network to be installed at her school. Michele’s love for swimming lead her to start the Navarre High School swim team. In which the team went on to win many accolades.

Michele enjoyed spending time in nature and at the beach with her husband, children, and grandchildren.  She was a dedicated homemaker, enjoyed cooking, baking, had a knack for needle point and enthusiastically decorated her home for every holiday. She enjoyed fishing trips with the occasional luck of a catch, but knew her odds were better spent at the slot machines in Biloxi. Family and friends will miss her kind heart, thoughtfulness, and passion for life.