Joseph "Joe" Franklin Gazzo

Joseph Franklin (Joe) Gazzo II, 69, of Biloxi MS, passed away Wednesday, July 27, 2016, after fighting a courageous battle with liver disease and cancer. Joe was a Biloxi native who was proud to say he was from Possum Neck/The Point, where the Gazzo family had lived for more than 100 years. He had fond memories of his childhood where he had the freedom to explore the woods, build forts in the trees, play football in the street, and ride his bike wherever he wanted, usually with a dog following along. Joe attended Dukate Elementary, Central Junior High, and Biloxi High School, graduating in 1965. Joe lettered in both track and football while at Central Junior High and Biloxi High School, and was selected best defensive lineman on the Indians football team as a junior and senior. He also was a member of the Biloxians Choral Group, and elected by the student body as the Wittiest Boy in his senior year. Joe attended USM, MGCCC in Perkinston, and Mississippi College on football scholarships. His sense of humor, strong will, and love of life never wavered. One of his favorite sayings was, "This is a new day and nobody has lived in it." Joe married his high school sweetheart, Jean, in 1968 and they had five children. He was very involved with his children's activities. He was president of the Biloxi High Touchdown Club for many years, and helped organize the first booster club for the BHS girls' softball team. Joe also coached pee-wee football and was affectionately called "coach" throughout his life by former players. He was a member of the Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. He followed in his father's footsteps by becoming a Mississippi State Trooper. He loved being a trooper and was recognized for a job well done by the patrol and numerous organizations over the years. He was a charter member of the "100 Club" for making over 100 DUI arrests in a year. He retired after 30 years of dedicated service in 2008. Joe was preceded in death by his mother Claudia and father Joseph. He is survived by his wife Jean, his children and grandchildren - Joseph III (Nicole), Mason and Matthew; Jon (Amy), Luke and Emma; Jake (Amy), Kiley and Jacob; Jason (Jessica), Coleman and William; Jena Smith (Martin), M.J., Joelle, and Claudia, and brother- Vernon (Belinda) Gazzo. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, July 29, 2016. Family and friends are invited to visit from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. Interment will follow at Biloxi City Cemetery. The Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.