Cover photo for William  Joseph "Bill" Demoran's Obituary
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William Joseph "Bill" Demoran

d. November 25, 2018

William Joseph "Bill" Demoran

William Joseph (Bill) Demoran, 91, born January 10, 1927 in Biloxi, Mississippi passed away on November 25, 2018 in Ocean Springs, MS. He was the son of the late Albert Edward and Gladys Gill Demoran. Bill lived his entire life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, enjoying the sunsets and never tiring of the beautiful summers. During his childhood and early adulthood, he took great pleasure in sailing and fishing in the Mississippi Sound. He was educated in the Biloxi School System. A veteran of World War II, he left school during his senior year in high school and enlisted in the United States Navy, serving as a Pharmacist Mate. When the war ended, Mr. Demoran returned to Biloxi High School, graduating in 1947. He attended the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg and graduated in May 1952, with a Bachelor of Science Degree. During his time at the university, he was a class officer and a charter member of Alpha Tau Omega Social Fraternity, where he served as Worthy Chaplain. After graduation, Mr. Demoran was employed by Gulf Coast Marine Research Laboratory in Ocean Springs, summer of 1952, where he worked for forty years, retiring July of 1992. During his tenure at the laboratory, he was appointed by five different Governors as the Marine Biologist for the State of Mississippi. He was also appointed to the Mississippi Marine Conservation Commission and served on the Mississippi Air and Water Pollution Control Commission and the Marine Resources Council. He was a state biological consultant to Alabama and a private consultant to Louisiana. At GCRL he was Head of Fisheries Management Section, with emphasis on oyster research. Many of his biological papers are still being re-printed and used for references. He was a member of Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission and Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Commission. Mr. Demoran was active in his community. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Ocean Springs, where he served as a Deacon and a twice seated Elder. He served as President of Gulf Hills Civic Association and was instrumental in getting Gulf Hills established as a Bird Sanctuary, was treasurer of the Fort Bayou Volunteer Fire Department, board member for many years of the Coast Community Concert Association, and an active member of the Jeff Davis Chapter of Sons of Confederate Veterans. He was a life-long member of Biloxi Yacht Club, a member of Metropolitan Dinner Club, Great Southern Club, Gulf Coast Carnival Association, the Krewes of Mithras and The Revelers. He was King of the Krewes of Mithras, Billikins, and LaMasque, was a Duke in the Courts of Billikins and The Revelers, and served as Captain and Ball Chairman of the Revelers in 1991. He danced many a mile and loved life, living it to its fullest. In 2017, on the occasion of his 90th birthday, Mr. Demoran was honored with proclamations by the Lieutenant Governor of the State of Mississippi, the Mississippi State Senate, and the Mississippi State House of Representatives for his exemplary service to the conservation of the marine resources of the State of Mississippi, with their greetings and thanks. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Fern Scott Demoran DeJean, of San Mateo, California. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 51 years, Theresa Ann Spigener Demoran of Ocean Springs, a son, Philip Edward Demoran (Tina), also of Ocean Springs, a grandson, Nicholas Edward Demoran (Cherie), and great granddaughter, Stella Katherine Demoran, all of Tupelo, Mississippi, a niece, Brenda DeJean Coovert (John) of Scottsdale, Arizona, a nephew, Mac DeJean (Parise) of Lake Vista, California, two great nephews, one great niece, two great-great nephews, and two great-great nieces. Visitation will be Thursday, November 29, 2018, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 30, 2018 at First Presbyterian Church in Ocean Springs, where friends may call from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Interment will be held at Southern Memorial Park in Biloxi. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Past Services

Visitation

Thursday, November 29, 2018

5:00 - 7:00 pm

Bradford O'Keefe Funeral Home - Ocean Springs

911 Porter Avenue, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Visitation

Friday, November 30, 2018

10:00 - 11:00 am

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs

921 Ocean Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Service

Friday, November 30, 2018

Starts at 11:00 am

First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs

921 Ocean Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564

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Cemetery

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