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Lujane Donaldson Neudecker, a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on December 3, 2023, at the age of 90 in Fort Walton Beach.  Lujane was born on August 4, 1933, in Bainbridge, GA, and raised in Bainbridge in a Christian home.  She was the middle of three children born to Bobbie (Jones) Donaldson and Frank Donaldson, Sr.  Lujane and her two brothers, Frank Jr. and Tom enjoyed their experience growing up in a small town and she always recounted her childhood in Bainbridge as a wonderful chapter in her life where she developed many life-long friendships.

She graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1950 and attended Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, GA, and later Florida State University.  Lujane was a winner of several beauty contests in the region including; the 1950 Queen of the Southeast Tobacco Festival in Moultrie, GA, Miss Apalachicola 1950, a two-time winner of the Miss Bainbridge Pageant, and runner-up to the Miss Georgia Contest in 1953 where she won the charm division for her talent of dress designing and making her own gown for the pageant.

Her first marriage in 1954 to Air Force Lieutenant James Few produced four sons and took the family all over the United States for the next 16 years, eventually settling in Fort Walton Beach in 1970.  Lujane worked at Barnett Bank of Fort Walton Beach, and later First National Bank & Trust in Destin throughout the 1970s and remarried in 1979 to her second husband, Jerry Neudecker, an American League umpire.  She enjoyed many years of travel with Jerry and the two opened and operated Pro Sports, Inc. in Mary Esther for many years.

Lujane was a great and devoted friend and touched many lives.  Anyone who met her was immediately drawn to her because of her sweet nature, beauty, and delightful sense of humor and fun.  She enjoyed her life to the fullest and her family was her greatest joy.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 18 years, Jerry Neudecker, her parents Frank and Bobbie Donaldson, her brothers Frank Donaldson, Jr., and Tom Donaldson, Sr.

She is survived by her four sons, Jimmy Few, Kirk Few, Karl Few (and wife Lori), and Kent Few, and her grandchildren Dylan Few and Troy Few.  She is also survived by her sister-in-law, Carolyn Donaldson, and many nephews and nieces as well as grand nephews and grand nieces who dearly loved their Aunt Lujane, and she loved them.

The family wishes to express gratitude for the caregivers at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation, as well as for the care and encouragement by Emerald Coast Hospice.

Visitation will be from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM on December 11, 2023, followed by a celebration of Lujane’s life from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at McLaughlin’s Mortuary Chapel (17 Chestnut Avenue SE in Fort Walton Beach) with burial to follow at Beal Memorial Cemetery (316 NW Beal Parkway).

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Emerald Coast Hospice.

Expressions of sympathy may be viewed or submitted online at www.McLaughlinMortuary.com