Andrew James Melancon,

Andrew James Melancon, Sr. of Biloxi, MS passed away on October 6, 2012 at the age of 93. Andrew was born in Grand Coteau, LA but moved to Biloxi when he was less than a year old. He had a very diverse career having started to work in the seafood factories at the young age of 8 standing on a box to reach the picking tables. At 14 he became First Mate on the sail-powered wooden schooners where he trawled for shrimp and dredged for oysters. From the Gulf, Andrew went to work at Tremmel and Sons Roofing Co. as supervisor of a roofing crew. In 1940 he enlisted in the field artillery branch of the army where he was awarded the “expert” medal for outstanding marksmanship. Soon after his enlistment, two new air fields opened and because he made the highest test score in his class he was offered the choice to join the air force branch of the service which he then elected to do. He was stationed at Keesler when it was still “tent city”. Andrew was the first Biloxi graduate of the Aircraft & Engineering School at Keesler Air Force Base. He became a flight engineer instructor on both B-24 and B-17 heavy bombers. Honorably discharged after five years he returned to Keesler where he worked as an aircraft mechanic. After Keesler we went to work for the Daily Herald newspaper as a teletype setter machine operator and then moved to the press room where he eventually retired in that capacity. He was preceded in death by his parents, Anita “Nita” Romero Premeaux Melancon, J.O. Melancon and Step-Father Sidney Premeaux, two half-sisters Buelah Premeaux and Leatrice Premeaux, three half-brothers, Anthony Premeaux, Rayford Premeaux and Murphy Melancon. Andrew is survived by his beloved wife of 70 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Mangin Melancon, five children, Annette (Pete, deceased) Barhonovich of Biloxi, Andrew, Jr.,(Debi) of Garden Grove, CA, Robert (Lynell) of McKinney,TX, Richard (Sherry) of Corona, CA and Michelle (Bill) Moore of Pearland, TX, twelve grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. Andrew is also survived by two half-sisters, Neldeen Premeaux (Jim) Bradford of Angleton, TX, and Shirley Melancon (Charles) Guilbeau of Lafayette, LA, and sister-in-law Louise (Edward) Mangin, and brothers-in-law, Albert Mangin, Jr., and John (Melse) Mangin. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. Mass of Christian burial will be Thursday, October 11, 2012 at 2:00 pm at the Cathedral of Nativity B.V.M. Visitation will be two hours before services. Burial will be at the Biloxi City Cemetery. Arrangements are handled by Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home, Howard Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Nativity Parish Bereavement Committee. The family would like to thank Saad’s Home Health Care and the entire staff of Greenbriar Nursing Center.