Thomas Harhamson Atkinson

Mr. Thomas H. Atkinson, Jr., 77, of Biloxi, MS, died Tuesday, July 30, 2013, in Biloxi. He was born August 14, 1935 at King's Daughter Hospital in Gulfport to Thomas H. Atkinson, Sr. and Julia Austin Atkinson. He graduated from Biloxi High School in 1953. After setting the State record for the mile, he received a full track scholarship to the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. In 1958 he received his BS Degree in Geology and minored in Biology. Tom's petroleum career began when he was employed by John Mecom, an independent oilman, as a well site geologist and roughneck in Haiti, Honduras and Columbia, S.A. In 1960 he moved to Alaska and worked for Western Geophysical. He became part original owner and manager of petroleum Publications, Alaska Scouting Services, Alaska Map Service, Alaska Directory Company, Alaska Microfilm and Van Cleve Printing Company, and Alaska Industry Magazine. For health reasons, he sold most interest in his companies to Petroleum Information, a subsidiary of A.C. Neilson Company in 1975 and moved back home where he helped start up Caffey, Inc., a construction company. He was a member of the Biloxi Lions Club and past Board member. The Lions honored him with two prestigious awards; the Melvin Jones Fellow Humanitarian Services award and the Leader Dogs for the Blind award. He was a member of the Beauvoir United Methodist Church in Biloxi where he served as an usher and also served on the Men's Group. A grateful 23-year heart transplant recipient, Tom remained an avid kayaker and fisherman. He enjoyed family get-togethers and the humorous retelling of the exploits with his lifelong friend, Larry Reed. His family and friends will remember Tom's honesty, non-judgmental and gentlmanly ways. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Ester Lee Renner Atkinson; parents, Thomas H. Atkinson, Sr. and Julia Atkinson and his nephew, Nicholas Mazara. He is survived by his closest friend and companion, Gayle Levens; son, Michael P. (Carrie) Atkinson; grandson, Aiden; granddaughter, Winter, and great grandson, Kieran, all of Anchorage, Alaska; his sister, Libby McQuillan; nieces, Cindy Hill, Carol Vaughn, Suzanne Schekenberg; ten great nephews and nieces, and eleven great-great nieces and nephews all of the Mississippi Coast. The family prefers donations made to the American Heart Association, P. O. Box 840692, Dallas, TX 75284-0692, or to the Biloxi Lions Club. Funeral services will be 12:00 p.m. Friday, August 2, 2013, at Beauvoir United Methodist Church in Biloxi where friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens. Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 2511 Pass Road in Biloxi is in charge of arrangements.