Roland "Ronnie" Joseph Poirier

Roland Joseph “Ronnie” Poirier, Jr departed this life on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, where he passed peacefully in his sleep. He will be forever loved by his family and friends. Ronnie was born to Emma Jones-Poirier and Roland Joseph Poirier on January 14, 1945 in Biloxi, Mississippi. After WWII, the family returned to North Attleboro, Massachusetts, where Ronnie Poirier grew up with two brothers, Danny Poirier and Phillip Poirier. Upon completion of high school Ronnie moved to Mississippi where he attended the University of Southern Mississippi with a football scholarship. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Drafting and Design. Ronnie entered the Army and rose to the rank of Captain as the Ordinance Officer of the HHC 46th Support Group. He was stationed in South Korea for one year. During his service he received the National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, the Armed Force Expeditionary Medal and Expert Sharpshooter. Ronnie met Withee Ann Carver of Pascagoula, Mississippi and they married in 1967. Their first child “Jody”, was born while he was stationed Monterey, California. Jason, their second son was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. After serving seven years in the Army, Ronnie received an honorable discharge when separating from the Army. Both Withee and Ronnie returned to the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. Ronnie was employed by Ingalls shipbuilding for eighteen years where he worked in drafting and design for many of the most prominent ships in the US Navy. Ronnie enjoyed hunting, fishing, “tinkering’ in his shop, auto mechanics, working in the yard and drawing. He enjoyed visits with his grandparents Winnie and Calvin Jones of D’iberville. He always kept in close contact with his family in North Attleboro, Massachusetts. He loved to travel and camp and he visited most states in the US. He continued to live in Pascagoula and later met Charlotte Abbott. They married in 2000 and resided in Gautier, Mississippi. He owned a Corvette, which he cherished. After surviving Hurricane Katrina, he continued to live in Gautier. He was loved and enjoyed by his neighbors who always talked about his humor and funny way of making them laugh. He is survived by his mother, Emma Jones-Poirier, age 92, of Plainville, Massachusetts, Phillip Poirier and his wife Perian of Bourne Massachusetts, Danny Poirier and his wife Sally Poirier of North Attleboro, Massachusetts, and many nieces and nephews in Massachusetts. In Mississippi he is survived by his children Jason Andrew Carver Poirier of Ocean Springs, and Jody Poirier, his wife Jeannie, and his two grandchildren, William and Camille Poirier. He is also survived by his Uncle and Aunt Moreno and Sue Jones of Ocean Springs as well as other cousins. His family wishes to thank everyone for their support of Ronnie throughout the years. He was loved and dear to us all. May he walk in peace to serve the Lord our mighty God, and may his spirit remain in peace and love for eternity. A memorial service will be held at 6pm at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. Friends may visit from 5-6pm.