Barbara Ann Caillavet Moon

Barbara Ann Caillavet Moon, age 91, died Saturday, May 18, 2024 in Gulfport, MS surrounded by her loving family.

Mrs. Moon was a native Biloxian. She was married to Lloyd T. Moon at St. John Catholic Church by Father Peter Killen on September 5, 1953. Mrs. Moon was a life-long Biloxian except for a period of 18 months, after marriage, when Mr. Moon was active duty at Fort Eustis, Virginia.

Mrs. Moon graduated Valedictorian in 1950 from Sacred Heart Academy Girls Catholic High School where she was a life-long member of the choir, graduating to the adult choir at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Cathedral. She remained one of the longest serving choir members, having shared her soprano voice from elementary school until just a few years ago.  She had a strong love of music and was a member of the Sacred Heart Academy Kiltie Marching Band, playing clarinet.

Mrs. Moon was devout in her Catholic faith. She was active in projects at her beloved Nativity BVM from 1956 until her death. One such role, was as President of the Parish Council in 1988, by which she was instrumental in the installation of a Pipe Organ in lieu of an electronic one.  She spear-headed the raising of funds to pay for the installation, a beautiful addition to our Cathedral that has served us well.

Mrs. Moon was heavily involved in the project to renovate the Sacred Heart Center, the building that once housed the Sacred Heart Academy that she attended. She remained on the Finance Committee for the Cathedral until her death and was active in many fund-raising efforts over the years focused on maintaining the Parish properties.

Sharing her faith was important to Mrs. Moon. She and Mr. Moon lead the RCIA program at Nativity for 10 years, welcoming new Catholics to our faith under Sister Mary Riordan. Joining the team as presenters were close friends, Mrs. Diane Cothern, the late Mr. Kenny Fournier, Mr. Jim Compton and Father Jim Russell.

She also had a strong love for gardening. It was a real passion for her to maintain her flower beds and that carried over in to her service of Nativity where she, for many years, led efforts to beautify and maintain the landscaping around the Sacred Heart Center enlisting friends and her grandchildren to help. One such friend was Mrs. Judy Steckler who furnished trees to beautify the grounds.

In 2012, Mrs. Moon was awarded the prestigious Lumen Christi Award for her service to the Nativity Cathedral Parish, the highest honor given to a lay person in the Church. She was a proud member of the Nativity BVM Catholic Elementary Grandparents’ Club where the 3rd generation of her family, her great-grandsons, currently attend.

Mrs. Moon, along with her husband, owned several businesses including Biloxi Hardware, Moon’s Gulf Station and later, Lloyd T. Moon Contractors. She began her career with Moore and Powell, CPA where she honed her talent for bookkeeping and accounting. She also worked for Mavar Seafood, Fort Eustis and Keesler Air Field.  

She was active in Mardi Gras including Gulf Coast Carnival Association and Young Matrons and held the honor of being Queen of both Mithras and Bilikins carnival organizations.

Mrs. Moon was always giving of herself to her family and friends, often taking care of her elderly aunts, uncles and cousins, some of which were Aunts, Sarah “Sadie”, Ruth and Susan “Sue Sue” Collins, Uncle, John T. Collins, Cousins, Mary Ellen and Beaumont Meaut. She was the last of her generation of the Collins cousins from John and Frances Collins.

Mrs. Moon was preceded in death by her mother, Anna “Anna Banana" Collins Caillavet; father, Edward A. Caillavet; sister, Doris Caillavet DeLano; brothers-in-law, Arthur A. DeLano, Floyd Moon and William “Bill” Moon; and sister-in-law, Elizabeth “Liz” Anderson (Walter).

Mrs. Moon is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Lloyd T. Moon; son, Lloyd “Tommy” Moon, Jr. (Debra Watson); two grandchildren, Victoria Anna Moon Conway (Joshua Conway) and Lloyd T. Moon III; two great-grandchildren, Jordan Conway and Gary Conway; sister-in-law, Lynn Moon; nephew, Arthur A. DeLano, Jr. and his two daughters, Clare Testerman (Phil) and Laura Clark (Jesse) and their families; along with many God children and cousins.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 23, 2024 at Nativity BVM Cathedral. Friends may visit one hour prior. Entombment will follow at Biloxi City Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a memorial to the music department at Nativity BVM Cathedral Parish or to the Nativity Sacred Heart Center.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Barbara Ann Caillavet Moon.