Dana Maree DeRossette Walker passed away at home on Monday, November 25, 2024 at the age of 77 years old.

Dana was born in Florala, Alabama on July 2, 1947. Her family moved to Pensacola from DeFuniak Springs, FL  when she was six years old, and she has called this her home ever since. She is a graduate of Escambia High School, class of 1965, Pensacola State College, class of 1967, and Florida State University, class of 1969.

After graduating college with a bachelor's degree in sociology, she began her career with the State of Florida. Dana was a probation and parole officer during a time when very few women filled those positions. She ended her career as a supervisor and retired after forty years of service. Although she was only 5' 1", she could be very commanding in managing her clients. Dana said that her greatest reward was helping a client succeed in life.

Dana was born into a family of dog lovers and never lived without one by her side. Her first corgi came into her life in 1981 and through the years she raised six more that filled her heart and life with much love and joy.

Dana had many hobbies including collecting recipes, cooking, and sharing food with family and friends. She especially loved her brothers-in-law cooking and texted often for recipes after enjoying meals with the family. Dana was also a voracious reader and loved books, especially biographies and historical writings. Traveling was an activity that Dana took very seriously and made it a mission to travel as often as she could. Along with being stationed with her family in Guam when her father was in the U.S. Air Force, she traveled all over the United States and took trips with dear friends to Italy. Other activities included crossword puzzles and exercising, as Dana was not one to sit still often. She and her best friend from childhood also shared a love of movies, especially the golden age of classic movies, and could win a game of Trivial Pursuit hands down.

Dana was definite in her opinions, to say the least, and was also giving and loved her family deeply. Dana lost her battle with congestive heart failure that she struggled with the past few years, but her heart was full of love and joy until the very end. Her family is now left with a hole in their hearts as they celebrate the magnificent life she lived.

Preceding her in death was her father and mother, Marion and Mary (Infinger) DeRossette.

Surviving Dana is her sister, Gail (DeRossette) Ohler Osborne and her husband Chris; her niece, Sarah Ohler; her nephew, Ben Ohler and his wife Ali, and her great nephews, Bram and Bayne Ohler. Dana greatly loved her niece and nephew and constantly doted on them, even into their adult years.

A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, March 22, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Harper-Morris Memorial Chapel in Pensacola, FL.