Catherine "Cat" Ely

Ms. Catherine "Cat" Ely, age 75, of Vancleave, MS., passed away on Friday, May 21, 2010, in Ocean Springs. Catherine was a lifelong resident of Vancleave and spent her whole life devoted to her family. She was a mother to many and there was not a child on the hill that didn't think of her as mom. She loved crabbing, attending the annual Pow Wow, and spending time with her family. She especially cherished spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and countless friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Rufus Ely and Celeste Ely Irwin, her brothers and sisters, Johnny Ely, Lillian Bang, Joe Ely, Margie Davis, Ethel Davis, Harriet Irwin, Howard Ely, and her great-nephew, Mark Wayne Prevost. Survivors include four children, Arnold "Tom" Ely, Tonya "Toni" Williams, Richard "Rick" (Connie) Ely, and Karen (Michael) Strandberg, grandchildren, Richard "R.T." (Jane) Ely, Steven Williams, Rebecca Williams, Joshua "Josh" Ely, Jessica "Sissy" Ely, Celeste "Paige" Strandberg, three great-grandchildren, Haley Ely, Kaylee Williams and Harrison Ely, two brothers, Gordon "Jimmy" Ely and Rufus "Juneboy" Ely II, sister, Frances "Fran" Brown, and a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends. Visitation will be on Tuesday, May 25, 2010, from 6 pm ~ 8 pm, at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Wednesday, May 26, 2010, there will be a 10 am chapel service in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Beulah Cemetery in Vancleave. Pallbearers will be Norman Bang, Randy Ely, Brandon Ely, David Prevost, Keith Prevost, Kevin Prevost, Brandon Parnell and Wayne Harper.