William L. Hardaman

William L. "Bill" Hardaman, 84, of Gulfport died Tuesday, August 18, 2009 in Gulfport. He was born August 29, 1924 in Sylacauga, AL. In 1925 the family moved to Miami, FL and he attended Miami Edison High School. At age 17 he quit school and went to work with a neighbor on a tow boat on the Mississippi River working as an oiler and wiper. Shortly after the beginning of World War II at the age of eighteen, he joined the Merchant Marine. He traveled all over the world in a ship's engine room, studied and took tests to advance himself. When he was eligible he enrolled in Officer's Candidate School and graduated as a Third Assistant Engineer. After two more tests he left the Merchant Marine and became a Chief Engineer on the Mississippi River tow boat that he left as an oiler and wiper. While working the river he married, Evelyn Saucier, the mother of his children, and made his home in Gulfport. After retiring from the river, he worked several different jobs, but boats were in his blood. He joined with some friends, bought a tug boat, and formed The Gulfport Towing Co. They starting working the Gulfport State Port docking and undocking ships. Shortly before Katrina they sold the company and he retired again. Bill became a Master Mason in Louisiana at age 23 and received his 60 Year Pin and Certificate from the Gulfport Masonic Lodge. He was a Knight Templer with the Gulfport York Rite Bodies, a 32nd degee Mason with the Gulfport Scottish Rite Bodies, and a Noble Mystic Shrine with The Joppa Shrine Temple. He was an active member of Gulfport Elks Lodge #978 where he held many offices and was King Fidelity 2005. He was a member of The Merchant Marine Retirees Association, the American Legion, The Long Beach Yacht Club, Gulfport Propeller Club, and past member of D'Iberville Moose Lodge. He was preceded in death by his parents, George Dewey and Sally Grace Williams Hardaman; his wife, Mary Wilson Hardaman; and a brother, Harold Ray "Hal" Hardaman. He is survived by a daughter, Jana Jarrell (Phillip) of Gulfport; a son, James W. "Jim" Hardaman (Shirley) of Gulfport; a longtime friend, Elliott McGrew of Gulfport; and three granddaughters, Ashley Jarrell, Emily Jarrell, both of Gulfport, and Stacey Seruntine of New Orleans, LA The funeral service and Masonic Service will be on Friday, August 21, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. at Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport where friends may visit two hours before the service. A private graveside service with military honors will be held at Biloxi National Cemetery. The family prefers memorials to Shriner's Children Hospital, C/O Joppa Temple, 13280 Highway 67, Biloxi, Ms 39532 View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com