Barbara Ann Lamm

"Old Nurses never die, they just fade away" Barbara Ann Lamm, 78 of Gulfport, MS passed away on Sunday, October 22, 2017 in Gulfport. Mrs. Lamm was a native of Miami, FL and a resident of the Coast for over 50 years. She was a Retired Nurse and a member of Bel Aire Baptist Church in Gulfport. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Skories and Jean Kerr Skories, both European Immigrants and her sister, Maureen Skories Dawson. Mrs Lamm is survived by the love of her life and husband of 55+ years, Werner R. Lamm of Gulfport, MS; five children, Eric Robert Lamm (Akiko) of St Augustine, Florida; Heidi Margaret Lamm Stokes (John) of Argyle, TX; Ingrid Maureen Lamm of Argyle, TX; and Monica Jean Lamm of Gulfport, MS plus Richard Werner Holley (Kelly) of Sidney, Nova Scotia, Canada. Mrs. Lamm has nine surviving grandchildren; Stephanie and Michelle Lamm in Florida, Alexander Riesenberg in Texas and Michael Riesenberg serving overseas with the USAir Force, Christina and Anthony Bobinger in Mississippi along with Joshua (Diana), Adam and Jessie Holley and a great grandson Lucas Holley all living in Canada; and her many nieces and nephews. An awesome wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her, including family, friends and colleagues. Although Barbara Ann was born in Bronx, New York she was raised in Miami Florida, traveled the world with her family finally settling in Southern Mississippi. She attended Miami High School and studied nursing at St Francis School of Nursing on Miami Beach, Florida, graduating with her nursing degree in1960, practicing her skills in many hospitals as the family followed her husband's military assignments throughout the world having been on five continents. During her travels as a military spouse she practiced and utilized her skills to aid families of service members in a variety of hospitals assignments throughout the world. She bore him four children, one boy and three girls plus one step-son of which the last two were twins. She met her husband Werner at her Aunt Dots farm while on vacation in Andes, NY. She worked at hospitals in NY; Wiesbaden Germany and the VA in Biloxi, Mississippi. In 1980 while stationed in Wiesbaden, Germany, the Lamms were intimately involved with the return of the American hostages after 444 days of captivity in Iran. Barbara was a civilian Air Force nurse at the hospital where the hostages were processed for medical care prior to returning to the U.S. Along with her husband, she was also a member of the hostage team assigned to the state department supporting a need for dealing with 55 nationalities in public releases of data and documents, since she was bilingual in German. In Wiesbaden, Germany she worked in a variety of nursing positions including dental surgery. She was an active scout leader with over 40 years experience that offered the opportunity to travel throughout Europe visiting, sightseeing, hiking and camping in every NATO country with the units Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Explorers. She attended Woodbadge at Gillwell Field, England by special invite in 1976. She also was a one of a kind leader that along with her husband lead the Wiesbaden Scouts to Kandersteg, Switzerland and hiked with the troops over the alps to Juliet Lowes, International Scout Camp in Adelboden, Switzerland. She was a former Girl Scout, Explorer, Weblos Leader, Ast Scout Master, Woodbadge Leader/Trainer and other local and national leadership positions. With over 40 years of recognized scouting experience both stateside and abroad Barbara and her husband Werner enjoyed having served together as staff members at several National and International European Boy Scout Jamborees and High Adventure programs to include, Kandersteig, Austria and Adelboden, Switzerland. Some of her fondest memories were family camping throughout the Scandinavian countries and seeing the mid night sun. She and her husband traveled many years though out Europe square dancing with the Kuntry Kuzins of Wiesbaden, Germany being recognized multiple times in various publications to include the American Square Dance magazine. Upon returning to the US and assigned as a floor nurse with the Biloxi Mississippi VA, she had a job related stroke in April 1989. After several weeks of CCU we were fortunate to have Barb recover and not make an early departure from our earth. The VA determined her to be disabled and was medically retired the same year. Ms Barbara was a very active member of Bel-Aire Baptist Church in a variety of events including the church prayer chain, Passion Play participant and teaching Sunday School classes over many years. She enjoyed serving on multiple committees, supporting the church's Senior Adult trips, character playing/acting and sewing outfits for multiple events especially the Christmas Nativity and Easter Passion Plays. An awesome wonderful wife, mother, grandmother and friend to all who knew her, including family, friends and colleagues. Her strength, wisdom and guidance was a God given blessing that she shared while traveling throughout the world with her Air Force husband and family, first moving to the Gulf Coast in 1965 .After 30 some years at College Park, the family moved to Lyman, north of Gulfport, MS the summer of 1999. Her pick of a two story Cajun home on a fine wooded three acre landscape that filled her dreams of living in the country. She was always a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed cooking for the holiday family meals. She shared her talent and artistry of canvas paintings with everyone for many years. A woman of tireless energy and drive, she will be missed by a loving family, dear friends and untold numbers of folks she touched throughout her life time in addition to her nursing career. In lieu of flowers the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to the Bel-Aire Baptist Church, 15080 Dedeaux Road, Gulfport, MS 39503 The family would like to express their deepest gratitude to all the staff at the St Joseph Hospice facility for the wonderful care and love shown to our mother. Visitation will be Saturday, October 28, 2017 from 10:30 am – 12:00 pm at Bel-Aire Baptist Church, 15080 Dedeaux Rd, Gulfport. The funeral service will begin at 12:00. Graveside services and interment will be at the Biloxi National Cemetery on Monday October 30, 2017; at 11:00 am A reception will follow the service in the church Fellowship Hall where the family will receive friends. Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home O’Neal Road in Gulfport is in charge of arrangements