Joseph "Joe" Lester Latil

Joseph “Joe” Lester Latil, age 65, passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017. Joe was a lifelong resident of the MS Gulf Coast. He grew up in Biloxi and lived most of his adult life in Ocean Springs. He attended Biloxi High School and was a member of St. Alphonsus Church in Ocean Springs. He worked at his family’s business, Latil Motor Co. in Biloxi and later at Crown Dodge in Pascagoula. Joe was a great storyteller. He enjoyed entertaining people. He also liked to fish and enjoyed cruising the coast in his cars. Mostly, he loved to spend time with his family and friends. From a young age, Joe excelled at drawing and painting. By the age of 16 he was a professional artist. Completely self-taught, his ability to paint true realism went beyond normal interpretations. Some of the many accomplishments in his career include MS Ducks Unlimited Artist of the Year (1st two-time winner) and winner of the MS Waterfowl Stamp National Competition. His artwork was selected by MS Governor Fordice as the state’s official gift to President George Bush and his wife during their visit to MS. His artwork has been displayed in the White House and across the country. He is preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Ida Saujon Latil; grandparents, O.A. and Alice Albritton Latil; and Lester and Marcelette McCaleb Saujon. Survivors include his children, Nathan Latil and Jenna (Miles) Latil Quave; grandson, Jake Latil; brothers, Robert (Cheryl), Jack (Linda) and Mikey (Kerri) Latil; and sister, Ann Latil (Lee) Collins. Funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home at 1:30 p.m. Friends may visit from 12:30 p.m. until service time. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.