Frank J. Hightower

Mr. Frank J. "Tater" Hightower, III, 58, of Biloxi, MS, died Saturday, April 1, 2006, in Ocean Springs. "Tater" was a native and lifelong resident of Biloxi. He was a 1965 graduate of Biloxi High School and entered the U. S. Navy. He served eighteen months in Vietnam during his tenure with the navy. He attended Jeff Davis Jr. College two years, and was a member of the Biloxi Fire Department for a short time before entering civil service at Keesler AFB with the Civil Engineering Squadron. He was a lifelong member of Biloxi VFW Post #2434, a member of Biloxi Elks Lodge #606 and the Fleur de Lis Society. "Tater" Hightower bowled on the Gulf Coast for over 25 years. He bowled numerous high scores and won several coast area tournaments. "Tater" was elected to the Mississippi Gulf Coast Bowling Association (MGCBA) in 1985, where he served as a director for Beach Bowl Lanes and later for Keesler Gaude' Lanes. In 1995, he was elected to the MGCBA Hall of Fame for his hard work with the youth bowlers on the coast and his dedication to the sport of bowling. "Tater" reached the pinnacle of his bowling career in 1996 when he was voted life membership into the MGCBA by his bowling peers. "Tater" was proud of his Cajun heritage and adored jitterbugging and passing a good time. He was a true "Point Cadet" boy. He loved baseball and football and was an avid fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide. He loved spending time on the water, shrimping, fishing and crabing. Even through his illiness he was never disabled and never let anything get him down. He had a great love for his family, who were very close net, and was always the life of the party. He enjoyed spending time in the casinos. "Tater" was preceded in death by his mother, Electa Broussard Hightower, his father, John Hightower, Jr. and his sister, Sally Hightower Lewis. Survivors include his wife of 17 years, Susie Romero Hightower of Biloxi; two sons, Frank James Hightower and his wife, Kristina, of Charlotte, NC, and Michael Scott Hightower and his wife, Melinda, of Biloxi; a sister, Jennie Hightower Todd and her husband, John, of Fairborn, Ohio; one brother, Lawrence Hightower, of Saucier; four grandchildren, Tyler, Dylan and Paige Hightower and Kyra Beers and numerous nieces and nephews. Many thanks to a special sister-in-law, Linda Romero Young for the loving care she provided. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Wednesday, April 5, 2006, at 12 noon at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church where friends may visit from 10 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in the Biloxi City Cemetery. The Pass Road Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi is in charge of arrangements.