Mary Phyllis Hussey

Mary Phyllis Logan Hussey, passed away peacefully at her home on Tuesday, March 27, 2007. She was lovingly attended by family and friends. Mary "Phyllis" Logan was born in Kansas City, Missouri to the proud parents of Samuel James Logan and Elizabeth Veronica (Hickey) Logan. She was an identical twin to her sister, Elizabeth Patricia Logan who died from pneumonia as an infant. She also has a younger sister, Jacqueline Logan Hand. She and Jackie remained close friends throughout their lives. As a child, Phyllis was featured in dance recitals at the Helen Gifford Studio, Country Club Plaza Building, in Kansas City. She graduated from Westport High School and then, the family moved south where Phyllis attended Louisiana State University. While at L.S.U., Phyllis was a member of Alpha Chi Omega Sorority and Lambda Honor Society. Phyllis's Uncle Will, "Bill" Hickey, was the Secretary of the PGA and owner of Brookside Park Golf Shop in Pasadena, California. On a visit to him in 1941, she met Everett Charles Hussey. Though he was born in Eureka Springs, Arkansas; his parents resided in Pasadena. His older sister, Edith Hussey was the first Post Mistress and only office employee of the City of San Marino, California in those early days. Phyllis' grandfather was a physician in Hollywood at one time, so perhaps Chuck and Phyl were destined to meet in California, although both were born in the Midwest. Phyllis left L.S.U. in 1943 to marry Chuck. They were married on October 29, 1943 and remained married for 52 years until his death in 1995. They were married at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana and held their reception at the Court of Two Sisters. Chuck and Phyl resided happily in San Diego, California where Chuck was a tool designer at Consolidated Vultec Company until he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his discharge from the service, he was employed as an Engineer for Behr Aircraft Company in Chula Vista, California. While in San Diego, they were blessed on December 26, 1947, to become the proud parents to Charles Logan Hussey. Soon the call came from Phyl's father, S.J. Logan, to join him in his many businesses on the Gulf Coast, including the Military Stores in Biloxi and Gulfport. Phyllis and Chuck worked many years with S.J. and Elizabeth Logan until her father's death in 1957. By this time though, their second blessing had made his appearance, James Max Hussey who was born on June 07, 1953 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas. After S.J.'s death, Chuck then took a job as an Engineer with Monitor Panel Company in Bay St. Louis. The Hussey's became permanent residents of Jackson County in 1959 and Chuck would commute to the Bay. Later, Chuck and Phyllis opened Gulf Wood Products in Ocean Springs. Phyllis would sell his products almost faster than he could make them. They enjoyed going to trade shows in places such as Dallas. In 1963, the Hussey's opened Tony's Spaghetti House, the first business in the Spring Plaza Shopping Center, which was modeled after her parent's original restaurant Tony's located on Biloxi Beach which was ultimately lost in Hurricane Camille. Many years later, Chuck went to work for Wang Laboratories and Phyllis opened Hussey Realty in Ocean Springs. Phyl and Chuck retired from their businesses and enjoyed activities at the Biloxi Yacht Club and boating on their 31 foot Chris Craft which was docked behind their Gulf Hills home. Besides boating, Phyllis was an avid canasta player. She was an active member in many organizations. Phyllis was a charter member of the Ocean Springs Business and Professional Women's Club and a charter and lifetime member of the 1699 Historical Committee. She was president of the Ocean Springs Woman's Club and enjoyed her membership with the Biloxi chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Colonial Dames, Gulf Hills Garden Club, and the Gulf Coast Symphony and Opera Guilds. As a member of the Ocean Springs Genealogical Society, she was proud of her Scottish Logan ancestry as depicted in the book, "Americans of Gentle Birth and Their Ancestors". Surviving Phyllis are her two sons, Dr. Charles Logan Hussey, Chairman of the Chemistry Department at the University of Mississippi who resides in Oxford with his wife Jolee and James Max Hussey, a marketing representative with Total Safety, who resides in Diamondhead with his wife, Debrah; her three grandsons, Charles Thomas Hussey and wife, Lindsay who resides in Birmingham, Alabama, along with newborn daughter, Olivia, and James Scott Hussey attending the University of Mississippi and Mark Logan Hussey attending Mississippi State University, both of Diamondhead: sister, Jacqueline Hand of Ocean Springs and California; nieces, Janet Hand Pauley and husband Mark, Jane Hand, Lynn Pauley, and Katrina Hand, all from California, Josette and Christopher Hadlock of Houston, Texas; and Juliette Vos and husband Jan, and their son Ian of Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Mary Phyllis Hussey was visited by many of her family members prior to her passing and she will be greatly missed. A private family ceremony will be held. Internment will be at Southern Memorial Cemetery in Biloxi on April 3, 2007. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to Hospice of Light, 2101 Hwy. 90, Gautier, MS 39553 or they may be contacted at (228)497-2400. Arrangements being made by Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue, Biloxi, (228)374-5650. View and sign register at www.bradfordokeefe.com