Joseph Robert Thornton

Joseph Robert Thornton III, age 84, passed away Saturday, January 7, 2017. Joe was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on August 21, 1932. He was a lifelong resident of Biloxi, Mississippi. He and his wife were founders/operators of the Southern Sports Fishing, Inc., Due South Fishing Club, Inc., Southern River Estates, Coastal Cruise Line, and former owners of The Factory Restaurant. Joe was the first to have a dockside gaming license issued. He was a Mississippi State Golf Champion, a member of LSU/Biloxi Golden Gloves Champions, and achieved many other accomplishments. Joseph is preceded in death by his parents, Joseph R. Thornton II and Rosa Lee Latimer Thornton; his son, Robert Michel Thornton; daughter-in-law, Marianne Tauzin Thornton; his sister, Linda Sue Thornton Corso; and his brother, William Eugene Thornton. Joseph's survivors include his loving wife of 64 years, Shirley Ann Mickoul Thornton; his daughter, Jo Love Thornton; his son, Gregory Mickoul (Lisa Marie) Thornton; sister, Patsy Bell; brother, Wayne (Donna) Thornton; three grandchildren, Robert "Robbie" Thornton, Michel "Mickey" Thornton, Atalie Leslie Thornton; and two great-grandchildren, Jacob Thornton and Ava Thornton. Visitation will be held Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with a noon service, all at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park.