Kenneth Sommer

Kenneth Sommer, 77, of Biloxi, MS died Sunday, January 30, 2011 in Biloxi. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio and had been a resident of Biloxi since 1972. He was retired from the USAF and US Civil Service. He served in Vietnam where he was awarded a Vietnam Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. During the 1990's he coached many years for the Biloxi Girl's Softball league where he was awarded "The Man of The Year" for his community service work. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Betty Cruz Sommer, of Biloxi; his parents, Elmer August Sommer and Viola Younglas Sommer of Cleveland, OH. He is survived by his wife, Rita Farris Sommer of Biloxi; his sister, Janice Haddix of Lodi, OH; daughters, Roxanne Sommer Sharp of Biloxi, Teresa Sommer Evans and her husband, Mark Evans of Berlin Germany, Susan Sommer Elliott and her husband, Darrell Elliott of Columbus, OH and Viann Sommer Jackson and her husband, Paul Jackson of Birmingham, AL, Kyle Reid and his wife, Wendy Reid of Old Hickory, TN. His grandchildren are, Ashley Greenwood Ross and her husband, Matthew Ross of Saucier, MS, Michelle Broussard Close and her husband, Kyle Close of Plumas Lake, CA, Angela Broussard of Sacramento, CA, Ash Evans and his wife, Annie of Denver, CO, Leah Evans of Vidalia, GA, Chloe' Evans of Marietta, GA, Tanya Dobson Clark and her husband, Daniel Clark of Jackson, MS, Candice Elliott Olin and her husband, Chris Olin of Gulfport, MS, Darrelle' Elliott McKnight and husband, Bill McKnight of Gulfport, MS, Jessica Jackson, Drew Jackson, Lorianne Jackson and Amy Jackson of Birmingham, AL, Brent and Blake Reid of Oklahoma City, OK, Colton Reid of Old Hickory, TN. Mr. Sommer also has eight great-grandchildren. The family would like to thank the ICU staff at Keesler USAF Medical Center for their loving kindness and professional care. Visitation will be on Tuesday, February 1, 2011 from 12:00 p.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the Howard Avenue Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home, Biloxi. A graveside service will follow at 1:30 p.m at the Biloxi National Cemetery with full military honors.