Haline McCracken Carlton, 97, of Arcadia, Fla., passed away Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, at DeSoto Care ALF.

She was born Aug. 7, 1915, in Wayne Co., Ill.

Haline graduated from Fairfield, Ill., High School and continued her education at Southern Illinois University of Carbondale, Ill., where she graduated in 1938 with a B. Ed. degree with a major in mathematics. Her first employment was with Meade Johnson and Co. of Evansville, Ind. Fed up with snow, ice and galoshes, Haline sojourned south in 1945, desperately seeking a year-round warm climate, and eventually settled in Miami, Fla., where she met her husband-to-be, E. DeVaughn Carlton, a descendant of a Florida pioneer family. They were married July 18, 1954, and the first 28 years of their married life were spent in Miami. Upon retirement, he from Florida Power & Light Co., and Haline from the Miami/Dade School system, they came back to his roots in DeSoto County, Fla. In 1982, they built a two-story log house on their ranch and lived there until his death on July 27, 2004. The last few years of her life were spent as a resident of Arcadia Village Country Club, then at DeSoto Care in Nocatee, Fla. Throughout their married life, Haline and DeVaughn traveled extensively, mostly on their own, exploring the Americas, including all 50 states, and Europe, section by section, and flying around the world in 1965. Diverse countries meant diverse modes of travel: auto; planes (747 and Concorde); ships (QE2); river boats; trains (Siberia Express); and short distances via elephant, camel and donkey. Haline and DeVaughn were enthusiastic Ballroom dancers, Bridge players and Bible students. She was a member of Arcadia Literary Club, and both she and DeVaughn were staunch members of Nocatee United Methodist Church.

Haline is survived by her brother-in-law, Melvin Carlton; sister-in-law, Dorothy Sellers; great-nephew, Keith (Sandie) Carlton; great-great-nephew and niece, Kiel Carlton and Kendahl Campbell; and great-great-great-nephew, Quinton Campbell, all of DeSoto County. She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, E. DeVaughn Carlton; parents, William Grover and Bessie McCracken; brothers, Everett and Vernon McCracken; sisters, Lola M. Ulrich and Bernice M. Samford; plus many nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today, Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012, at Joshua Creek Cemetery, with the Rev. Rocky Walker officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to said church; or Tidewell Hospice, 917 N. Arcadia Ave., Arcadia, FL 34266.

Arrangements are by Robarts Family Funeral Home Inc., Wauchula, Fla.