Cover photo for Willie D. "Bill" Fairley's Obituary
Willie D. "Bill" Fairley Profile Photo

Willie D. "Bill" Fairley

d. June 8, 2015

Willie D. "Bill" Fairley

Dr. Willie D. "Bill" Fairley, age 93 of Ocean Springs Mississippi, died Monday, June 8, 2015. He was a lifelong resident of Mississippi, having been born to Wesley Floyd Fairley, Sr., and Juna Hickman Fairley on April 23, 1922, in D'Lo, Simpson County, MS. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 66 years, Helen Parden Fairley; his parents; three brothers, Wesley Floyd Fairley, Jr., James E. Fairley & Gerald Fairley; three sisters, Marie Fairley Galle, Janie Lou Fairley and Dorothy Fairley. Survivors are three daughters, Nell (Elwin) Cropp, Mobile AL area, Patricia (Dr. Bill) Lobrano, Ocean Springs, and Donna (Jim) Huebsch, Clearwater, FL; five grandchildren, Mike and Julie Cropp, Mobile, AL, Cori Rigsby and Kerri Cambre, Ocean Springs, and Kimberly Huebsch, Clearwater, FL. He attended public schools in Mississippi, graduating from Agricola High School in George County. He received his Bachelors, Masters and a Doctorate from Mississippi State University. He served the public schools of Mississippi for 30 years. He began his school administrative experience as Principal of the Wade School in Jackson County. While serving as Principal of Wade School the school was consolidated with Hurley and a part of the Tanner Williams District. The consolidated school was East Central. Thus he became the first principal of East Central School. Later Dr. Fairley retired from the position of Superintendent of the Vicksburg Municipal School District in 1978. After retiring from the public schools of Mississippi he worked at Quality Shipbuilders in Moss Point, MS for a period of eight years, the last five years serving in the position of Vice President and General Manager. He was a Veteran of WWII, having served three years active duty, part of that time was in the Philippine Islands. He was a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the Beta Beta Beta Honorary Biological Fraternity and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society at Mississippi State University. He was an avid genealogist, having researched his Scottish ancestry twelve generations that extended back to the middle 1600's. He was escorted on a trip to his Scottish homeland by his daughter and son-in-law, Dr. Bill and Pat Lobrano, where they found records two generations beyond those previously known. He was also a man of letters, penning a page-turning, captivating autobiography for the whole extended family to treasure as a keepsake forever. As a golfer he enjoyed living on the golf course in Gulf Hills for the past 15 years and loved riding around the neighborhood in his golf cart. Fishing was perhaps his favorite hobby of all time. He enjoyed fishing with all his sons-in-law but perhaps the most exciting fishing trip ever was the one he took with his good friend, Dr. Wayne Shelton, of Starkville. They went to Alaska for six weeks one summer and caught, smoked and canned many pounds of beautiful Alaskan salmon to bring home and delight family and friends for months to come. He not only enjoyed catching fish but fish fries were always his specialty. Eventually everyone began to look forward to celebrating his birthday in April when many fish and hush-puppies were fried and served along with all the trimmings. His children, grandchildren and numerous family, friends and neighbors recently celebrated his 93rd birthday in this manner. At his request there will be a final Fairley fish-fry for family and friends immediately following the funeral/burial service which will be Thursday, June 11, 2015 at 11am at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home. Family and friends may visit from 10am until service time. Burial will follow in Crestlawn Memorial Park. The family would like to thank those caring neighbors who always attended to his needs, especially his dear friends Jim and Dorothy Clapp. A thanks to the wonderful people at Home Instead who helped make home a comfortable place to be. And a special thanks to his dearest caretaker for the past few years, Joyce Meleady, for her loving care and compassion.
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Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, June 11, 2015

10:00 - 11:00 am

Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home - Ocean Springs

911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Service

Thursday, June 11, 2015

Starts at 11:00 am

Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home - Ocean Springs

911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Cemetery

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

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