Dorothy S. Crapo

Dorothy S. Crapo Uchello, age 84, of Biloxi, passed away Wednesday, May 14, 2014. Dorothy was born in Columbia, MS and graduated from Columbia High. She has been a resident of the MS Gulf Coast since 1947. She was the owner and operator of Merchiston Hall Galleries. She was a member of several organizations including: Gulf Coast Chamber of Commerce, National Retail Home Furniture Association, MS Retail Merchants Association, United Way of Harrison County, Gulf Coast Carnival Association, Coast Area Transit, American Red Cross, MS Coast Crime Commission, South MS Goodwill, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Advisory Committee, and Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral. She was a past queen of Les Femmes and Revelers Carnival Associations. Dorothy was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Biloxi, Community Service Award from the United Way of Harrison County and Certificate of Appreciation from Coast Area Transit. Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Luther and Dessie Alexander Stewart; first husband, Leo K. Crapo; second husband, Louis Uchello; sisters, Verna Stewart, Nelma Beets, and Aimee Martin; brothers, Ephraim Stewart and John Stewart; grandson, Joshua S. Bozeman. Survivors include her daughters, Deborah C. Batia (Gene) and Pamela C. Bozeman (Mike); son, Gregory K. Crapo; sister, Hilda S. Fiorenza; grandchildren, Melissa B. Williams (Troy), Kempton E. Batia (Natalie), Angie B. Taggart (Johnny) and Bryan L. Bozeman (Melony); and four great grandchildren, Grayson, Brayden, Presley, and Joshua Bello. The family would like to acknowledge Ms. Marlene Hilsinger and Ms. Gennieve Magee who became Dottie’s extended family over the course of these past five years. Their loving care brought Dottie comfort and joy, along with Ms. Debbie O’Keefe and Ms. Johnnie Fayard who assisted them along the way. In lieu of flowers the family prefers donations be made to Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral, Debt Reduction Fund, 870 Howard Avenue, Biloxi, MS 39530 or to de l’ Epee Deaf Center, 1450 North Street, Gulfport, MS 39507. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, May 20, 2014 at Nativity B.V.M. Cathedral at 11:00 a.m. Friends may visit from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Southern Memorial Park. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.