Capt. John McClelland Foretich, Sr.

Captain John McClelland Foretich, Sr., 88, passed away on December 24, 2011. He was born on June 2, 1923, in Biloxi, MS, and resided in Gulfport, MS the remainder of his life. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Gulfport. John received his first U.S. Coast Guard license in 1940 at age seventeen. He joined the U.S. Navy soon after the attack on Pearl Harbor, where he became a signalman and gunner with the U.S.Armed Guard. The U.S. Navy Armed Guard was commissioned to protect the Merchant Ships crossing the Atlantic during World War II, and John served during seven successful convoy crossings of the North Atlantic. He also participated in the Invasion of Normandy, and Oran North Africa. He was also the recipient of the Purple Heart. After World War II, John returned home to become a charter boat captain. In 1959, he became a bar and harbor pilot, guiding 5,969 ships to safe harbor through the Gulfport Ship Channel, to and from the Port of Gulfport. During his thirty-four years of service, John was instrumental in the fight to widen and deepen the Gulfport Ship Channel, which now allows for much larger vessels to navigate the port. As owner of the Foretich Marine Contracting Company, and Gulf Marine Towing, along with his partnership with Gulfport Towing, John worked to build harbors and piers, transport goods, and provided marine salvage services across the entire Gulf Coast. He was president of the Gulfport Pilots Association, and a member of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots. John was past commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart of America, member of the U.S. Navy League, Veterans of Foreign War, and Joe Graham Post of the American Legion. He was a 32nd degree mason, having joined the Gulfport Masonic Lodge in1953. He was a charter member of the Shiner Joppa Temple of Gulfport, Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, Order of the Eastern Star, Mississippi Coast Shrine Club, and a lifetime member of the Gulfport Elks Club #978. He was preceded in death by his parents Charles Joseph Foretich, and Mae Charlotte McCleland, his first wife of forty years Rose Margaret “Tee” Rice Foretich and infant son, siblings Mignonette Foretich Davis Rippy (Bill), Eunice Foretich Meadows (Billy), Alice Joyce Foretich Laird (I. W.), Rosemary Foretich Rice (Sonny), A.J. Pat Foretich, Gerald Foretich (Kay), Billy Carroll Foretich, and half-brother Charles Foretich. He is survived by his wife of twenty-five years Dean Heflin Foretich, his sister Katherine Foretich Rahrer, sisters-in-law Mary T. Foretich and Johneil Rice Clark Dunaway (Robert). He is also survived by his children Sharon Foretich Smith (Terry), John M. Foretich, Jr. (Gail), Jan Foretich Carter, Rose Margaret “Rosie” Foretich Gammell (John), Charles J. Foretich II (Susan), Charlotte Foretich Ryan (Chuck), Richard “Rick” Rice Foretich (Tara), and step-children Melissa Heflin Peden (Bobby), Michele Heflin McMahon (Will), and Melanie Harris Heflin. His grandchildren include Terry Wayne Smith, Jr., Carl Christopher Smith, II (Michele), Kimberly Smith Fain (Billy), Dawn Foretich Beatty (Brent), Jimmy Leslie “Jimbo” Carter (Renee), Jennifer Carter Krajicek (Dayton), Jacquelynn Carter Curry (Tony), Michelle Ryan Blackmon (John), Kelle Ryan Parker (Tommy), Charly Ann Ryan, Kyle McCleland Foretich, Eryn Marie Foretich, Austin Peden (Sarah), Robert Peden, Wesley Peden, Lindsey McMahon, Leah McMahon, Mallory Harris, Myles Harris. Grandchildren by marriage include Kim McCann Sawyer (Scooter), Patrick McCann (Laura), Kasey McCann, Ryan J. Marshall, Tiffany Marshall Burgess, Adam G. Marshall, Randall S. McBride, fourteen great-grandchildren, and three great-great grandchildren. His wife Dean would like to recognize and thank his grandchildren Wayne Smith, Jr., Mallory Harris, Myles Harris, and great-grandson AJ Ryan for their loving care for their grandfather. May God grant fair winds and following seas on your final journey Visitation is Wednesday, December 28, 2011 from 6 until 8:00 p.m. at Bradford- O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The funeral service will be Thursday, December 29 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church, Gulfport where friends my visit one hour before the service. Interment will be in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens with military honors by the U.S. Navy. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com