Kenneth Willis, Jr

Obituary Kenneth Howard Willis, Jr., 60, of Pascagoula, MS, passed away in Lucedale, MS, and made his final crossing of the bar to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, February 12, 2016. He was born in Durham, NC, on November 8, 1955, to the late Kenneth H. Willis, Sr., and Nancy Knight Willis. Kenneth has made his home for the last 55 years in Pascagoula and Lucedale, MS. He graduated from Pascagoula High School in 1975, and attended his Freshman Year at University Of Mississippi. Then, following a family tradition, he attended several Mariner Schools including Navigation, Radar, Ocean Safety, Fire Fighting, Hazardous Cargo Preparation and Transportation, and dedicated himself to a career in the Merchant Marine. Kenneth worked with Sabine Towing and Transportation and Seabulk Towing and Transportation from 1977 until 2008, when he retired as a Chief Mate. His work took him to the West Coast, Alaska, Hawaii, Spain, Italy, Puerto Rico, and seaports on the East Coast . Though his career kept him away from home for extended periods of time, Kenneth always kept close contact with family, friends, and classmates. After retirement, he became very active in the Masonic Lodge, becoming a Master Mason, and was currently serving as Worshipful Master of Pascagoula Lodge #419. He was also a member of the York Rite Body and Scottish Rite Body. Kenneth was also an active member of Pascagoula Chapter #151 Order of the Eastern Star. Kenneth was a member of First United Methodist Church of Pascagoula. He assisted the Good Samaritan Sunday School Class in serving food at Our Daily Bread in Pascagoula. Kenneth is preceded in death by his father, Kenneth H. Willis, Sr. of Pascagoula; maternal grandparents Clarence O. Knight, Ethel Mitchell Knight, and (step-grandmother) Ellen Dean Knight of Guilford County, NC; paternal grandparents William H. Willis, Sr., and Fannie Pake Willis, and paternal uncle William H. Willis, Jr., all of Carteret County, NC. He is survived by his mother, Nancy Knight Willis of Pascagoula, sister Betty Joy Willis Gorman, brother-in-law William A. Gorman, Jr., niece Ashley C. Gorman, nephew William H. Gorman, great niece Amaya C. Ramos, and great nephew Tommy Joe Ramos. Kenneth is also survived by numerous aunts, uncles and cousins in Jackson County, MS; Carteret, Guilford, and Stokes Counties of NC; as well as a host of life long friends who will never forget him Kenneths family will receive family and friends at Heritage Funeral Home, Moss Point, MS, on Wednesday, February 17, 2016, from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., with funeral services beginning at 2:00 p.m. Presiding over services will be Reverend Eddie Kirby and Reverend Earl Greenough. OES Funeral Services will be held during the visitation, and the Masonic Rite will conclude the funeral service. There will also be a visitation at Brooks Funeral Home, Morehead City, NC from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. on Saturday, February 20. A graveside service will follow at 12:30 p.m. at Ocean View Cemetery, Beaufort, NC with the Rev. Dennis Goodwin officiating. Visitation 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM ,Saturday, February 20, 2016 Brooks Funeral Home 201 Professional Circle Morehead City, NC 28557 Graveside Service 12:30 PM ,Saturday, February 20, 2016 Ocean View Cemetery 1300 Ann Street Beaufort, NC 28516 Services You can still show your support by sending flowers directly to the family, or by planting a memorial tree in the memory of Kenneth Willis, Jr