Paul Lawrence "Butch" Halat

Paul Lawrence “Butch” Halat, age 79, of Ocean Springs, died on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, in Ocean Springs MS after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born in Biloxi, MS on December 7, 1944 to Paul John and Margaret (Skrmetta) Halat.

His father owned the Biloxi Seafood Packing Company, and he loved spending time fishing, hunting, and being on the water. One of his many jobs when he was young was renting boats and selling bait to fishermen at 4am at “Ladner’s Fisherman's Wharf”. 

He was elected class president of Central Jr. High and later of Biloxi High School, where he graduated in 1962. He won many honors and loved playing all sports. He was voted Worthy Master of Phi Kappa fraternity and King of the Debuteen Sorority.

He had great discipline as a student and went on to obtain a degree in Political Science from LSU, a Juris Doctorate from University of Mississippi, and later, a teaching credential from UCLA.

After college he made the bold decision to move to Southern California to pursue a career in entertainment law. His southern charm, no-holds barred personality, and skill at playing tennis allowed him to easily make friends and rub shoulders with many celebrities in the area. He could talk to anybody and had a unique gift of words. He read hundreds of books and wrote profusely about his experiences with the people he met as well as his travels.

While studying for the Bar exam, he took various teaching jobs at private schools around Southern California and later ended up teaching a number of years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. He was well loved by his many students over the years, as he would interweave stories from his life with the lessons he was teaching.

He met the love of his life, Christina, in Pacific Palisades, California. They married, bought a small house, and he settled down to a more domestic lifestyle. They had one child, Rachel. Being a father was one of his greatest joys.

Later, the family returned to the Gulf Coast where he enjoyed his retirement years in Ocean Springs.

He was raised in the Catholic faith, but still searched for truth and the “meaning of life” through his many readings and people he met. Later in life, he came to understand the forgiveness and peace that can only come from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as savior.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Margaret Halat, and his sister, Barbara Halat.

He is survived by his wife, Christina Halat, daughter, Rachel Krause, granddaughter, Vivian Krause, sisters, Joyce and Sandra Halat, brother, Michael Halat, nephew, Ron Franklin, Jr., and niece, Tasha Franklin.

The family is deeply grateful to all the caregivers and staff at The Lighthouse Memory Care Cottages where he lived during the final three years of his life.

A funeral service will be held at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 911 Porter Ave., Ocean Springs, MS on Saturday, October 5, 2024 at 11am. Visitation begins at 10am. Interment will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Paul Lawrence Halat.