Richard F. Quave Sr.

Richard Frank Quave, Sr., 80, of Vancleave, entered his eternal rest on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.

Richard was born on April 10, 1944 in Biloxi, MS and lived his first 8 years in Birmingham, AL before becoming a long-time resident of Vancleave, MS. He graduated from Vancleave High School in 1962. As a self-taught musician, he was well-known throughout his life for his musical talent and often played guitar and sang in the many Baptist churches he attended. Richard spent over a decade as a member of the bluegrass gospel band Bluff Creek, recording albums and performing at numerous festivals and events. He was a proud shipbuilder, retiring from Supervisor of Shipbuilding Gulf Coast in 2010. He served in the Mississippi National Guard and was called to active duty during Operation Desert Storm. He loved his family deeply and was a beloved husband, Dad, and Pawpaw. He breathed his last in his home on Quave Road, surrounded by his family while his grandchildren played in the snow in the front yard. 

Richard is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bertha (Cooley) Quave; and brother, Bobby Joe Quave.

Survivors include his loving wife of 59 years, Diane (King) Quave; four children, Rick (Tina) Quave of Millbrook, AL, Todd (Sheila) Quave of Vancleave, MS, Jason (Beth) Quave of Mobile, AL, and Elizabeth Quave (Mick Hawkins) of Adelaide, Australia; nine grandchildren, Caleb Quave, Dakota (Kaelyn) Quave, Olivia Quave, Logan (Travis) Kirkland, Aidan Quave, Laurel Quave, Henry Quave-Hawkins, Evangeline Quave-Hawkins, and Matilda Quave-Hawkins; seven great grandchildren, Whitney, Gabrielle, Saylor, and Drake Quave; Everleigh, Tritt, and Gentri Kirkland; and sister, Louise (Quave) Noble of Vancleave, MS.

Services will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, Vancleave Chapel. Friends may visit two hours prior. Burial will follow at Antioch Baptist Church Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Richard Frank Quave, Sr.