Chita Marie Troxel departed this life Feb. 11, 2017, age 70, on the beautiful morning of the full moon penumbral lunar eclipse and the arrival of the largest earth viewed comet in years. A Pensacola resident for 45 years, Chita was born in Rhinebeck, New York on May 26, 1946 and was raised on St. Petersburg Beach where she attended her beloved Sunshine Elementary School. She played first clarinet in the Boca Ciega High School band, graduating in 1964, attended Saint Petersburg Junior College, where she was a cheerleader and a member of Dido Sorority, and Louisiana State University, where she joined Alpha Delta Pi sorority.

Chita was predeceased by her cherished first child, Jennifer Rebecca Troxel (1972 - 1991) and became a member of Jennifer's college sorority, Pi Beta Phi, after Jennifer's passing.

She was a lifelong member of the Episcopal Church, attending Pensacola's Christ Church since 1972. Chita was a talented Altar Guild member, known for her ability to turn the ordinary into something extraordinary.

Chita was an accomplished artist who loved flower arranging at Christ Church and for many of her friend's weddings and special events. She enjoyed photography, especially Pensacola Beach sunsets and stored thousands of her works on her computer. She shared her photography with friends and family on Facebook.

She was involved in many other activities, playing team tennis for many years, rowing in the bayou, and walking every day with friends. She recently won her age group in a 5 K charity walk competition. Chita was an accomplished seamstress, maintaining a large sewing room at the family home, skilled enough to do an exquisite wedding dress for her daughter Piper.

The family has a home in Snowmass Village, Colorado where they enjoy summers in the mountain air and the winter snow. Chita loved hiking and skiing in the mountains and became a snow boarder at age fifty!

She loved to travel, recently making a solo 120-mile walking pilgrimage to Catedral de Santiago de Compostella in Spain. Past travels included ski trips to New Zealand, France, Italy and Austria. Chita also made many trips to Canes Cay, Bahamas, where friends maintained an island in an incredible tropical setting. Chita loved her annual trips with her daughter and granddaughters, most recently to Boston and Canes Cay. For the last dozen years she made an annual trip with nine of her beloved high school friends. These friends came to Pensacola to be with her shortly prior to her passing.

Chita is survived by her husband of fifty years, Ted Troxel; her daughter, Piper Ashley Troxel Winn, Ventura, California; and her son Jason L'Mar Troxel of Aspen, Colorado. She is also survived by her granddaughters, Brighten Faith Winn and River Laurel Winn, her grandson Hayden Leif Troxel, and her sister Pam Chamberlain of St. Petersburg.

A service in Chita's memory and a celebration of her life will take place at Christ Episcopal Church in Pensacola, Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017 at 1 p.m. A reception at the church parish hall will follow. Chita's friends are invited to join the family at Pensacola Beach at sunset when her ashes and those of her daughter Jennifer will be released into the Gulf of Mexico. Chita and Jennifer will travel the world together.

Contributions in her memory may be made to the American Cancer Society or Stetson University.