David Roy Andre

The family of David Roy Andre mourns the loss of their husband, brother, father, and grandfather who passed away November 2, 2013. At 70 years of age, David was a third generation resident of Gulfport. In 1961, he graduated from Gulfport High School where he was a member of the State Basketball Championship Team. David led an adventurous life, traveling and sailing throughout the world, before returning to Gulfport. He and his wife Kay Hursey lived in the historical Andre home in West Gulfport. Since retirement, David spent the last few years restoring the home which was heavily damaged in Katrina. David is survived by his wife Katherine (Kay) Hursey Andre, sons Benjamin Aaron Andre (Danielle) of Baton Rouge, and Hunter Neil Andre of New Iberia, La; stepchildren Gina G. Finney (Tim) and F. Ross Gatti IV (Amy) of New Orleans; his precious grandchildren Noah, Anna Claire, Connor, Eric, Jack and Sam; brother Steve Andre of Dallas, TX, niece Misha Andre of Biloxi, and favorite cousin, Ellen Andre Stewart of Gulfport. He was preceded in death by his parents Neil and Frances Rush Andre and older brother Rush Neil Andre. Second only to family, David’s passions in life were sailing and his commitment to his hometown of Gulfport. As a teenager, he raced and taught sailing in the Fish Class sailboats at Gulfport Yacht Club. He made his first Transatlantic voyage in 1963. As First Mate and Navigator, he sailed for one year and 30,000 miles aboard Ted Turner’s 12 meter “American Eagle”, which won the first World Ocean Racing Championship. Two additional Transatlantic crossings and numerous national and international races are in his log book. He once assisted in sailing a yacht from Portugal to Gulfport that was so large it had to dock in the ship harbor. After attending Auburn University School of Mechanical Engineering(1961-1965), he joined the US Naval Reserve, serving aboard the US Shangri La, an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean. He then worked for Offshore Logistics in Malaysia, Singapore, Borneo, India, Burma, Thailand Indonesia, Philippines, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and Trinidad-Tobago. In all, David traveled to 53 countries, living in three outside the U.S. David returned to the States, working as an oil and gas acquisitions consultant in Lafayette, LA, when he met and married Kay. In 1996, the couple moved into David’s family home in Gulfport, where he immediately became involved in community affairs. His nautical interests led him to push for the creation of the Mississippi Sound Maritime Historical Foundation, serving as President. He worked to secure state grants to preserve the old Carnegie Library to house the Mississippi Sound Historical Museum and Community Sail Training Center. After Katrina, he continued to work to secure grants for the revitalization of the city of Gulfport. David was a founding member of the West Side Community Association, Past President of the Gulf Coast American-Italian Association, member of the Gulfport Business Club, a candidate this year for City Council, and an active member of St. Peters-by-the -Sea Episcopal Church. David’s family and friends, of which there were many, rejoice in the memory of his life of service to his family, friends, community, and his faith in the Lord. They wish him well as he sails beyond 30 N to a brighter horizon. Visitation is Thursday, November 7, 2013 from 12 noon until 1:50 p.m. at Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home, 15th Street, Gulfport. The funeral service will follow at St. Peters by the Sea Episcopal Church at 2:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Biloxi City Cemetery, Biloxi with U.S. Navy military honors. The family prefers memorials to Trafficking Hope, 17732 Highland Road, Suite G-175, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 and write Dawn Andre on the memo line of check. View and sign register book at www.bradfordokeefe.com