John W. Cuevas

John W. Cuevas

Historian of Cat Island and the Mississippi Gulf Coast
 March 10, 2024
 Gulfport, Mississippi

In the early morning of Sunday, March 10, 2024, John W. Cuevas, age 81, departed his earthly home in the arms of his wife Janice and began his journey to his eternal home into the arms of Jesus Christ his Savior.
 

John's life began October 28, 1942, in King's Daughters Hospital of Gulfport, Mississippi, when parents Oliver John and Gladys Louise joyfully welcomed their only son and second child. John enjoyed an enchanted childhood on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. He graduated Class of ’61 from Gulfport High School where he first began to hone his creative and artistic talents. John attended college at the University of Southern Mississippi and graduated with high honors.
 

John was devotedly married for 60 years to Janice Gaines Mosley (Class of ’63) and together they moved to Atlanta, Georgia in 1966 where John established a long and illustrious career as a Commercial Artist and Graphic Designer. He would eventually create his own advertising company, Cuevas & Associates. In 1967 they were blessed with a son, their only child, Bryan J. Cuevas.

After retiring from advertising in the late 1990s, John launched his second and most rewarding career as a historian, writer, and public speaker. He published five widely popular books and spoke frequently on the history of Cat Island, Juan de Cuevas and the Cuevas Family, the historic Biloxi Cemetery, and life on the Gulf Coast in the heyday of the 1950s.

In 2018 John and Janice eventually returned home to Gulfport. During his years on Earth, John forged timeless friendships. He was beloved by all who came to know him. He was immensely creative and a profound thinker who appreciated the gift and mysteries of life; he had a keen sense of humor and marvelous dry wit.
 
 His wife, son, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and in-laws, survive him.
 

A Mass of Christian Burial and Celebration of Life for John W. Cuevas will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, Gulfport, at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024 on John and Janice’s 60^th wedding anniversary. Friends may visit one-hour prior to Mass. Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15^th Street, Gulfport, MS is proud to serve the family of John W. Cuevas.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Descendants of Juan de Cuevas Family Association at https://cuevasofcatisland.org/join-donate/.

 Goodbye, John, Husband, Dad, Brilliant and Devoted Son of Gulfport!
 May you forever enjoy the glory of heaven and God's eternal comfort and peace.