Douglas Ray Bonifay, 97, of Gulf Breeze, FL passed away peacefully at home on Wednesday, September 13, 2023.

Born on July 11, 1926, in Pensacola, FL, to Ralph Bonifay and Hildred Oldmixon Bonifay, Doug was a direct descendant of early Pensacola pioneer, Mariana Pingrow Bonifay. He attended Catholic schools and played football for Pensacola High School. Upon graduation he joined the US Army and served in the Philippines during WWII. He was part of the force that would have been in the land invasion of Japan if the war had not ended. After his discharge in 1947, he attended Florida State University. This was the first year the school was co-ed. Many of the men attending FSU that year were WWII veterans and they decided to form a football team at the previously women's school. An avid supporter of that first football team, Doug stood up on a table at a restaurant in Tallahassee and yelled, "FSU one time! FSU two times! FSU all the time!" That cheer was heard at Seminole football games for many years.

He married Dorothy Stanton and, after living a few years in East Hill with their young son and daughter, the family moved to Gulf Breeze. After retiring from Daniel Construction Company where he was a buyer, Doug pursued his love of fishing. He was a faithful member of St. Ann Catholic Church, in Gulf Breeze.

Doug is preceded in death by his parents; sister, Marion "Tookie" Edwards; brothers, Ralph Lamont Bonifay, Hubert Bonifay, Clif Bonifay, Bill Bonifay, Clem Bonifay, and Jerry Bonifay.

Survivors include his wife, Dot Bonifay; son, Marc Bonifay of Gulf Breeze; daughter, Renee Keyes (Steve); as well as grandsons, Sam Keyes and Luc Keyes, all of Austin, TX.

Visitation will be held 10:00am until a Funeral Mass to begin at 11:00am Monday, September 18, 2023, at St. Ann Catholic Church, Gulf Breeze, with Msgr. Luke Hunt celebrant. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery with military honors.