Thomas John Skrmetti, Sr.

Thomas John Skrmetti, Sr., 82, died Monday, June 2, 2008, in Biloxi. Mr. Skrmetti was a native and a lifelong resident of Biloxi. He attended Sacred Heart Academy, where he played varsity football before transferring to Biloxi High School for his senior year, graduating in 1943. During his senior year, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. During World War II, he was one of thousands of young sailors and Marines who saw the American flag raised over Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where he served as a machine gunner in the United States Marine Corps. He also fought in the battles of Saipan, Guam, and Okinawa. He later was recalled to active duty during the Korean War and served in Korea from November 1950 to May 1951. Mr. Skrmetti married Ursula Margaret Simmons in 1947 and together they had seven sons. Mr. Skrmetti was a life-long trawl maker and always maintained a love of the water. He served as president of the St. John’s Elementary School Parents Teachers Organization and as President of the Biloxi Southern Little League. He was a member of the Slavonian Benevolent Association, the Knights of Columbus, and St. John Catholic Church in Biloxi, where he taught CCD and was active in the St. Vincent DePaul Society. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ursula Margaret Simmons Skrmetti; his son, Captain Gregory Brian Skrmetti, Sr.; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Mateo Skrmetti, Sr.; and his sister, Mary Ann Cummins. Survivors include six sons, Dr. Thomas J. Skrmetti, Jr. and his wife, Susan, of Mystic, Connecticut; Michael P. Skrmetti and his wife, Patricia, of Biloxi; Anthony G. Skrmetti and his wife, Brenda, of Saucier; Major Peter F. Skrmetti and his wife, Jean, of Coweta County, Georgia; Joseph C. Skrmetti and his wife, Denise, of Ocean Springs; John Patrick Skrmetti and his wife, Lehwmon, of Biloxi; his daughter-in-law, Betty Lassabe of Ocean Springs; his brother, Patrick F. Skrmetti and his wife, Laurie, of Hattiesburg; 20 grandchildren, Jonathan Skrmetti of Washington, D.C.; Sara Skrmetti of Mystic, Connecticut; Jason Skrmetti of Daphne, Alabama; Tiffany Skrmetti of Biloxi; Amy Patterson and her husband, Wesley, of St. Martin; Jennifer Trivedi and her husband, Amish, of Iowa City, Iowa; Margaret Skrmetti of Lowell, Massachusetts; Thomas Curlin Skrmetti and Ann Skrmetti of Coweta County, Georgia; Christopher Skrmetti and his wife, Nikki, of Ocean Springs; Angela Forge and her husband, Alan, of Wiggins; John Ernest Skrmetti, Joshua Skrmetti, and Jacob Skrmetti of Biloxi; Gregory Skrmetti, Jr., Nicholas Skrmetti, and Maria Skrmetti of Ocean Springs; Michelle Taylor and her husband, Waylon, of Vancleave; Kari Pyron Seymour of Vancleave; and Blake Pyron of D’Iberville; and nine great grandchildren, Alexis Alexander, Jacob Alexander, and Arielle Alexander of St. Martin; Reagan Forge of Wiggins; Brian Skrmetti of Ocean Springs; Haiven Taylor and Hayden Taylor of Vancleave; and Austin Seymour and Aubree Seymour of Vancleave. The family would like to thank the doctors and the staff of Biloxi Regional Medical Center for their excellent care. Visitation will be from 6 to 9 p.m. with Rosary at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 4, 2008 at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes in Biloxi. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11 a.m. Thursday, June 5, 2008 at St. John Catholic Church in Biloxi, where friends may visit one hour prior to mass. Burial will be in Biloxi City Cemetery. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com