James Michael Dupree

James Michael Dupree, age 77 of Diamondhead, MS passed away on Thursday, September 9, 2021 in Gulfport, MS. He was born on August 19, 1944 in New Orleans, LA. He was a graduate of Vancleave High School and Baton Rouge Vocational Technical School- Automobile Mechanic. He was awarded the Automotive Service Councils of Louisiana, Inc., Certified member Ford Motor Corporation Registered Professional Service Technician, Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), Certified Master Technician and Advanced Level Specialist, National Automotive Technicians Certification Board (NATCB), and Certified Master Automotive Technician. James was employed at the Kar Klinic, Inc. and Ford Motor Company in Baton Rouge, LA, and Chrysler Corporation (Atlanta, GA; Syracuse, NY; Detroit, MI; and Metairie, LA) as a technical advisor. He enjoyed grilling, woodworking, golfing, fixing things, spending quality time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He attended as many car shows and auto racing events he could, and when the grandchildren were not around, he researched and analyzed complex geopolitical issues and automotive technical updates. He was preceded in death by his parents, Howard C. Dupree and Alma Ashburn Dupree; brothers, Gary Dupree and Jeffrey A. Dupree; sisters, Vina Dupree Schoenick and Marilyn Dupree Andries. James is survived by his spouse, Gloria C. Delancey Dupree; children, Jacqueline Dupree LaFontaine, J. Jacob (Gaile) Dupree, Jesse F. (Debbie) Dupree, and Jennifer Dupree (Charles) Lee; grandchildren, Kevin LaFontaine, Tara LaFontaine, Lauren Dupree, Addison Dupree, Ethan Derouen, Haley Derouen, Monica Cortez, Cortney Cortez, and Louis Cortez; great-grandchildren, Raimey LaFontaine, Rowen LaFontaine, River LaFontaine, and Violet Derouen; and sister, Cathy Dupree Milazzo. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family request donations be made in his memory to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, www.stjude.org, or a charity of your choice. For anyone not able to attend the service, it will be livestreamed on Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home’s Facebook page. A visitation will be held from 1:00 pm -2:00 pm with a service at 2:00 pm on Thursday, September 16, 2021 at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 911 Porter Ave., Ocean Springs, MS. Burial will follow at Antioch Cemetery, 10431 Antioch Rd., Vancleave, MS 39565. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. James Dupree.