James Benjamin McKinstry

EOCS James Benjamin McKinstry, Jr., United States Retired Navy, (also known as, Mac, Jack and J.B.) age 80, of Ocean Springs, MS., died on Saturday, August 16, 2008, at his longtime home in Ocean Springs with family and friends. Mr. McKinstry started his United States Navy Career in Montgomery, Alabama. He was a Seabee Retired Veteran. His tours of duty took him from San Diego, California, Oxnard, California to the French Morocco, Africa, and Newfoundland. He came back to the states, then to Cuba, Alburqurque, New Mexico, Las Vegas, Nevada, Port Hueneme, California, Adak, Alaska, Phillipine Islands, then to Guam, Marianna Islands, Kingsville, Texas, Okinawa, Thailand, back for second tour of duty in Vietnam, Washington, D.C., Davisville, Rhode Island, then to Gulfport, MS., and finally home in Ocean Springs. He was an SCPO, E-8 Retired United States Navy, EOCS and Sr. Chief Equipment Operator. He received four Bronze Stars, National Defense Service Medal, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device. He was preceded in death by his loving wife of thirty eight years, Jackie F. McKinstry, two sons, Timothy James Stone and Michael Lee McKinstry, his mother and father, James B. McKinstry and Juanita Elenor Bellotte McKinstry and a brother, Eugene (Plug) McKinstry. Survivors include a granddaughter, Mandy Lee McKinstry of Harrison County and two great-granddaughters, Alexis Lee and Destiny Dawn Williamson, a sister, Barbara McKinstry Brown of Alabama, and three brothers, Tom McKinstry of Alabama, Jimmy McKinstry and Gilbert McKinstry, both of Georgia. Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 19, 2008, from 6-8 PM, at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. On Wednesday, August 20, 2008, there will be a 2:00 PM chapel service in the funeral home. Burial will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to the Hospice of Light, 2101 Highway 90, Gautier, MS., 39553. They provided comfort, care and compassion for our family.