William "Mike" Fitzpatrick

William Michael "Mike" Fitzpatrick, age 72, of Biloxi, MS, loving husband and devoted father, died suddenly Thursday, October 21, 2010 in Gulfport, MS. Mike was born in Lexington, KY, on March 28, 1938, the son of Samuel and Alma Fitzpatrick and brother to Yvonne and Peggy and Mary Ann. Mike came to Biloxi, MS where he served in the Air Force for 4 years, and met the love of his life, Edie Firth. On November 23, 1961, Mike and Edie were married. On March 10, 1963, Mike and Edie were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Michelle and on November 17, 1970 they were blessed again with the birth of another daughter, Nicole. After the military he took a Civil Service job teaching electronics at Keesler Air Force Base. It was at this time he began taking classes at the University of Southern Mississippi where he obtained a degree in accounting. He ran his own accounting business for years until landing a job as the Director of Finance at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum, where he worked for 20 years. He then held jobs as the Harrison County Comptroller and the General Manager of the Sea Wolves hockey team. The occupation that he loved the most was serving as a City Councilman for Biloxi for 12 years. He dedicated every moment of his life to better his community and took great pleasure and pride in serving those in his Ward. Mike is preceded in death by his father, Samuel; mother, Alma; step-father, Ollie; sisters, Yvonne, Peggy and Mary Ann. He is survived by his wife, Edie; daughters, Michelle Hickey and Nicole Hymel; granddaughters, Candice and Meagan; grandson, Robin and his two great-great-granddaughters, Renay and Madsyn. Mike will be loved and forever missed by everyone whose lives he has touched. Funeral services will be on Monday, October 25, 2010 at 12:00 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Biloxi. Friends may visit from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will follow in Biloxi City Cemetery.