Mr. Israel Shemper

Mr. Israel "Buddy" Shemper, 76, of Biloxi, MS, died Wednesday, November 22, 2006, in Biloxi. Buddy was born in Gulfport and later moved to Pascagoula where his family opened and operated an army surplus store. He graduated from Pascagoula High School where he was a member of the Panther Big Eight Championship Football Team. In 1954 Buddy started Shemper Seafood Company, a retail, wholesale and trucking company. He spent many years hauling shrimp from Texas, Louisiana and Alabama to various shrimp packing plants in Biloxi. Buddy retired in 2000, leaving the company to be run by his two sons. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Biloxi. Mr. Shemper was an avid fisherman. When not buying shrimp you could fine him in his boat with a fishing pole in his hand and a cigar in his mouth. He was preceded in death by his parents, Israel and Carrie Sattler Shemper, and a daughter, Lynn Michelle Shemper. Buddy is survived by his wife of 57 years, Myrlene Cumbest Shemper; two sons, Gary Shemper and his wife, Vanna, and Jeffrey Shemper and his wife, Lisa; a daughter, Leah Welter, and her husband, Andy, all of Biloxi; three sisters, Sarah Edmonton and her husband, J. D., of Canton, GA, Goldie Husley and her husband, Kenny, of Woolmarket, and Lillie Joseph and her husband, Camille, of New Orleans, LA; a half-brother, Harold Shemper and his wife, Enid; a half-sister, Sheila Shemper all of Florida; six grandsons, J. J. and Niki Shemper, Maury, Brandon, Derek, and Aaron Shemper and Drew Welter; two granddaughters, Courtney Shemper and Mallory Welter, two great-grandchildren, Alex and Allison Shemper. The family would like to extend their special thanks to the nurses, aides, and chaplain from Southern Care Hospice for their wonderful care and love. Funeral services will be held Monday, November 27, 2006, at 1 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi where friends may visit from 11 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to the American Cancer Society, 417 Security Square, Gulfport, MS 39507, or to the charity of your choice.