LCDR Donald R. Graham

LCDR Donald R. Graham, USN, Ret., age 80, of Ocean Springs, MS, returned to the Lord, Wednesday, February 3, 2010. Don was born in Mitchellville, Iowa on July 18, 1929, son of Benner and Leona Beck Graham. He enlisted in the U. S. Navy in December 1947 and retired as a Lt Commander in 1970. Don served numerous deployments in Vietnam during the late 1960's. He met and married his life mate, Joyce Tacadena, in 1953. Together Don and Joyce spent their Navy years living in California, Guam, Ireland, The Philippines, Thailand, Virginia and Florida. Upon Don’s naval retirement, they moved their three girls to Ocean Springs, MS. Don worked from 1971 until 1991 at Litton Ingalls Shipbuilding as an engineering manager. Don and Joyce enjoyed their leisure years traveling and enjoying the company of their many friends in Knights of Columbus, The Shamrocks, The Hibernia Marching Club and their family at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Don was preceded in death by his parents, and two brothers, Benner Eugene Graham and Norman Davis. Don leaves, to mourn his loss and rejoice his life, his wife of 57 years, Joyce, his daughters Dawna, her husband Dennis Westbrook of Diamondhead MS, Denise, husband Robert Guttenberg of New Orleans LA, Derry, husband Derek Carroll of Miramar FL and foster daughter Tricia Thomas of Accokeek MD. Don also leaves the joys of his life his great-grandson, Cameron Bissett, grandchildren Duncan Loughridge and his wife Anna, Dawna Michelle Bissett and her husband Brent, Robert Guttenberg, Richard Guttenberg, Devon Westbrook and Bridget Carroll. Visitation will be on Friday, February 5, 2010, from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, 12:30 PM Rosary, and a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Biloxi National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Ocean Springs Knights of Columbus, St. Vincent DePaul or St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. 502 Jackson Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 39564. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.