William Harvey McNeese

Bill McNeese, age 92, went to meet his Lord and his beloved wife, Tommie on January 5, 2011. He was born April 4, 1918 in Franklinton, LA. He lived most of his life in Bogalusa, LA and White Sands, MS. He moved in recent years to Gautier, MS to live with his daughter, Beth Foil. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He served overseas in the Army during WWII in the Philippines and Aleutian Islands with the Corp of Engineers from 1941-1945 as a Staff Sergeant. He worked as a millwright until retiring in 1983. He was a member of Byrd's Chapel Methodist Church in Carriere, MS., and was a former member of White Sands Baptist Church, where he was ordained a deacon. He was also a lifelong member of the Masonic Lodge. Bill was preceded in death by his spouse, Tommie Ruth Warner Brown McNeese; stepson, Arthur N. Brown III; parents, Willie and Nancy McNeese; three brothers, Estus, Jesse and Leroy (Joe) McNeese; five sisters, Lilly, Lucy, Lula, Frances and Letha. Survivors include his stepdaughter, Beth (Steven) Foil of Gautier, MS; grandsons, Brian Brown and Jeff (Christi) Foil; granddaughters, DeEtte Burns (Glen) and Missy (Tommy) Dauzat; great-grandchildren, Hayden and Larsen Foil, Kate and Walker Dauzat, Nicholas and Abbey Burns, John Arthur, Ashley and Emily Brown and numerous nieces, nephews and friends. The family would like to extend a special thanks to the Nursing Staff of GNW at SRH and all his special friends at the Country Gables Assisted Living Home and to special friends Glen and Maxine Davis, Wanda Smith and LaHoma DuBrock. Thank you for your friendship, concern and prayers. His loving spirit and generous heart will be missed by his family, especially his grandchildren who adored their PaPa Bill. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. with an 11:00 a.m. Service on Saturday, January 8, 2011 at First Baptist Church of Vancleave. Services will be conducted by Dr. John Gibson and Dr. Don Boone. Interment will follow at Byrd's Chapel Cemetery in Carriere, MS at 2:30 p.m. His grandsons and son-in-law will serve as pallbearers. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.