Ernest Ray Winters

Ernest Ray Winters, 95, a lifetime resident of Gulfport, Ms. went home to be with the Lord on April 1, 2024 at his home with family present.  He was born on February 21, 1929 in Gulfport to Owen Winters and Mary Esperance Semedel Winters.  

Ernie or E.R referred often to his higher education by saying he attended the " School of Hard Knocks" instead of a university.  He was a master mechanic and owner/operator of heavy equipment.  A small church in Delisle, Gulfport, and Biloxi are 3 examples of how he helped people by building what was needed. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Gulfport and a 32^nd degree Scottish Rite Mason for 65 years. 

Ernie was predeceased by his grandparents, Dr. Daniel D., and Emma Allen Winters; his parents, Owen and Esperance Winters; his beloved wife of 63 years, Daisy Bell Morehead Winters; his brother Owen James "Jimmy" Winters; and sisters- and brothers-in-law Ruby & Bill Gamble, Marie and William McCoy, and Albert Morehead, Martha Bradford Winters and Ronald Slay.

Ernest is survived by 4 children: 3 daughters, Patsy Winters, Ernestine Winters, and Linda Gammell, and a son, Daniel David Winters, 3 grandchildren: Mary Ann "Annie" Nuss and her husband Brad, Carly Lynn Tarpley, and Chelsea Winters; 3 great-grandchildren: Khloe Reese and Daisy Noelle Tarpley, and Penelope Daisy Nuss; a niece, Regina Winters; and nephew, Joel Winters; and a sister-in-law, Rose Slay.     

A celebration of life graveside service was held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday April 5, 2024 with interment at the Evergreen Cemetery in Gulfport.  A team from the Masonic Grand Lodge #422 of Gulfport officiated the service. Your presentation honored our father in a tremendous way. Thank you very much for making his service complete. It was beautiful and touched our hearts greatly.

We send a special thank you to our funeral director, Bubba Lang of Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home.  We will forever be grateful to you for representing the legacy of your family who personally walked through this journey of life with our father, grandfather, and great grandfather.