Anthony Arnold Taranto, Jr.

Anthony "Arnie" Taranto, Jr., 64, of Biloxi, MS, died Sunday, March 7, 2010, in Ocean Springs. Arnie was born October 4, 1945, in Biloxi and remained a lifelong resident of the coast. He was a 1964 graduate of D'Iberville High School and worked overseas 15 years. After returning home he owned and operated "Taranto's Crawfish" in Woolmarket. Arnie was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony "Arnold" Taranto, Sr. and Trula Tapper Taranto. He is survived by his wife, Debra Taranto; his children, Anthony A. (Gindy) Taranto, III, Shelly Taranto (Kelly) Walker, Anna Marie Taranto and George "Tony" (Wendy) Dodge, IV; sister, Sheila Taranto (Ralph) Borries; brothers, John "Tommy" (Brenda) Taranto, David Taranto and Patrick Taranto; his grandchildren, Nick, Courtney, Kyle, Caleb and Peyton; and his former wife, Tookie Gollott. Arnie will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. In lieu of flowers the family prefers memorials in Arnie's name to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 409410, Atlanta, GA 30384-9410, or through www.americanheart.org. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 1 p.m. Thursday, March 11, 2010, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church where friends may visit from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in a private cemetery on the corner of Hwy. 15 and Railroad Bridge Creek Road. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 675 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, is in charge of services.