Marshall Joseph Fayard, Jr., LTC (Ret.), age 78, of Ocean Springs, MS, passed away peacefully surrounded by his wife and family on Sunday, December 23, 2018 in Ocean Springs, MS from a yearlong battle with cancer. Marshall was born in Biloxi, MS on March 14, 1940. He was an alumnus of Biloxi High School, The University of Southern Mississippi (B.S.) and Syracuse University, where he received his MBA.
He was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army, having participated in ROTC, upon graduation from USM in 1962. Marshall proudly served two tours in Vietnam in 1966-67 and 1970-71 as an US Army Aviator. His subsequent career in the US Army included tours at the Pentagon and the US Army European Headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. After 21 years of service, Marshall retired from the US Army, having reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
Following his service in the US Army, he had careers with Ingalls Shipbuilding and Turnbull Metal Products. In his retirement years he was a volunteer for the St. Vincent DePaul Society.
Survivors include his loving wife of 55 years, Shannon Salathe Fayard; daughter, Suzette (Jeff) Pittman; son, Marshall J. (Marcia) Fayard III; grandchildren, Maegan, Ross, and Brice Pittman and Justin Krumm; and sisters, Mary Edna King and Maxine Fox. In addition to his parents, Helen Ibele and Marshall J. Fayard, Sr., he was preceded in death by sisters Phyllis Hines and Deanna Windom; and brother David Fayard.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Ocean Springs at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church on Friday December 28, 2018 at 11:00 am. Visitation will be held between 10:00am and 11:00am at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church before Mass. The family will have a gathering for family and friends following the Mass at the Ocean Springs Yacht Club.
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Society of St. Vincent DePaul-St. Alphonsus Conf., 502 Jackson Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS. 39564. 228-875-5419.
The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.