William Burton Mauer

William Burton Mauer, “Mr. Bill,” gained his heavenly reward on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. A man who walked with the Lord, he loved greeting at First Baptist Church, Ocean Springs, where he was a member for the past 47 years.

Born in Pensacola, Florida to Charles and Minnie Ernestine Green Mauer on May 19, 1946, he grew up learning master gardening from his mother who, as her name states, had a green thumb. He attended J.M. Tate High School in Cantonment, Florida, where he pitched with Don Sutton on the 1962 State Championship Baseball Team. After high school, he owned a gas station, and his employee, Steve, introduced his sister to Bill—Deborah Bailey Mauer—who would become the love of his life and his wife of 56 years.

A journeyman carpenter by trade, he worked for Ingalls Shipbuilding and later for the Ocean Springs School District where he retired as their district carpenter after 27 years in 2011. Bill served his community both as a girls’ softball coach and dedicated band dad, occasionally adding pyrotechnics and flares to band shows, always at the crescendo. One of his favorite pastimes included watching NASCAR and listening to his favorite spotter—cousin Tab Boyd. He had a deep and abiding love for the Lord, whom he felt closest to in nature, while gardening, fishing, or secretly petting the stray cats he couldn’t resist feeding.

Bill shared love with others through his trademark smile, his unending patience, his brilliant sense of humor, and his cooking expertise. If you came by the house, you were sure to be treated like family complete with a Mr. Bill burger, some autumn soup, “mater sammiches,” an Elvis, or the best gumbo this side of Glory, cooked affectionately by this husband-and-wife team. If you were lucky enough to come by when he was frying oysters, you just might never leave.

Gone before him are his father and mother, Charles and Minnie Mauer, and his siblings, Tommy Mauer, Alex Mauer, and Mary Hefley. He leaves until later his wife, Deborah Mauer; daughter, Barbara Mauer Lee (Keith); grandchildren, Madeline Lee Aranki (Gabriel) and Jacob Lee; sister, Suzie Martino; and many other beloved family members and friends.

We would like to say a special thanks to Dr. Mike Barnett, Dr. Hugo Quintana, Dr. Allison Wall, Dr. William Striegel, DaVita dialysis team, and the doctors, nurses, and staff of Singing River Hospital who all encouraged him, gave him excellent care—mind, body and soul—and never gave up on him.

The family is establishing a scholarship in his memory at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to this scholarship in his name to the MGCCC Foundation, PO Box 99, Perkinston, MS 39573, with Bill Mauer in the donation or memo line.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00am on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at First Baptist Church of Ocean Springs. Friends may visit one hour prior.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of William Burton Mauer, “Mr. Bill”.