Jerry Arnold Dalgo, Sr.

Mr. Jerry A. Dalgo, Sr., 81, died at Ocean Springs Hospital March 21, 2008, after a two year battle with lung cancer. Jerry was born January 18, 1927 and resided in Ocean Springs for 50 years. He joined the United States Merchant Marines at the age of 17 and served his country 16 years, helping supply troops around the world. During this time he traveled to every navigable port in the world. Jerry was employed by John Gimma's Chrysler-Plymouth in Biloxi as general manager for 15 years. In 1976, he opened Crown Dodge Chrysler in Pascagoula, MS, which he owned and operated with his wife, Mattie, until his retirement in 1999. During this time, he became somewhat of a coastal celebrity while hosting the weekly program, Crown Theater. Jerry loved his family deeply, none more so than his wife, Mattie. They were introduced by his sister, Helen, in 1952. Helen is proud of saying that she "Watched over" Mattie while Jerry was away at sea. On December 13, 2007, Jerry and Mattie celebrated 54 years of marriage. They have three sons and nine grandchildren. Jerry loved life and talking with people. He would do almost anything to see his grandchildren laugh. He also had a wonderful way of making his views known clearly and succiently. Everyone always knew how Jerry felt. After retiring, Jerry enjoyed traveling with Mattie, meeting with his morning coffee crowd at Master Grill, and participating in his monthly Merchant Marine Meetings. He was instrumental in securing the site for the Seaman's Memorial on the beach in Ocean Springs. Preceding him in death were his parents, Angelo Dalgo and Grace Canaan Dalgo of Biloxi. Jerry is survived by his wife, Mattie Sumrall Dalgo; sons, Andy and his wife, Loree, and their children, Leila, Adam, Cody and Savannah; Jerry, Jr. and his wife, Judy, and their children Eric and Emily; Robert and his wife, Vicki, and their children, Caitlin, Chase, and Bailey; brother, George Dalgo and his wife, Doris, of Maryland; stepmother, Gladys Dalgo Garcia of Biloxi; and sister, Helen Foretich and her husband, Al, of Biloxi. Funeral services will be held Monday, March 24, 2008, at 2 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs where friends may visit from 11 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Crestlawn Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials made to the American Cancer Society, 417 Security Square, Gulfport, MS 39507, or Christus Victor Lutheran Church, 275 Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS 39564, or to the First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs, 602 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 39564.