Martin Villere Crane

Martin Villere Crane of Gulfport, 43, died Thursday, July 19, 2007. Mr. Crane was a lifelong resident of Gulfport. He graduated from Gulfport High School and the University of Mississippi. He was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. He was employed with the regional sales division of Office Depot and owned a construction company entitled, Crane Properties, Inc. Mr. Crane was a member of the Home Builders Association and a member of the Gulfport Yacht Club. He enjoyed sailing and was an avid musician. Mr. Crane is survived by his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Edmund and Gwendolyn Crane of Gulfport; a brother, Mr. Edmund “Ned” Crane and his wife Virginia Crane of Des Moines, Iowa; a sister, Dr. Gwendolyn Crane Torp and her husband, Dr. Eric Torp of Biloxi; a sister, Miss Catherine Crane of Atlanta, Georgia a brother, Mr. David Crane of Gulfport; a brother, Mr. Kevin Crane of Panama City, Florida; and a sister, Mrs. Ruth Crane Matthews and her husband, Mr. Robert Shaw Matthews of Gulfport. He is also survived by five nieces and one nephew: Misses Judith Crane, Adele Crane, Susan Crane, Jeanne Torp, Anastasia Torp, and Master Harry Crane. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Gulfport on Monday, July 23, 2007 at 11:00 am where visitation will take place between 9 until 11 am. Interment will follow at St. Paul Cemetery in Pass Christian. The family prefers donations to St. Vincent de Paul Society in care of St. John the Evangelist Church, 2417 17th Street, Gulfport, MS 39501. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, O'Neal Road, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com