Donald Milligan, Sr.

Donald Patrick Milligan, Sr., age 75, of Biloxi, Mississippi, passed away on Tuesday, November 1, 2022.

Don was born in Blythe, California, then lived in Iowa Falls, IA, where he went to Iowa Falls High School. He called Biloxi home.

Don was a veteran of the United States Navy, serving in the Vietnam War. He was a Navy Seabee and served in the Air National Guard.

He worked as a Wideband Superintendent and retired as a SMSgt in the Mississippi Air National Guard 255th ACS Gulfport, was a US Navy Construction Electrician “A”, and was CE2 at Navy Seabees (Unit MCB 62). He was Maintenance Supt. 2 at MDOT (Mississippi Department of Transportation) and later worked as a Crew Boat Captain at Candy Fleet.

Don had many hobbies: he enjoyed woodworking (& created so many beautiful pieces of furniture made for loved ones); grilling/BBQ (outstanding steaks, delicious fried turkey, incredible chili!); enjoyed great music (1950’s country, Merle, Willie, George Strait, and Jimmy Buffet were favorites); and was an avid book-lover (Grisham, Michener, and military fiction and non-fiction).  He especially enjoyed camping, boating, and sharing a good day with friends and loved ones.  He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6731 in D’Iberville and member of the D’Iberville Moose Lodge.

Don meant so much to so many people and enriched the life of everyone who was within his circle of friends and family. He was fiercely loyal and shared his life with his loving wife Mary Milligan by his side. Don valued all his friendships, and his decades-long friendships with Chuck Gordon and his family were especially gratifying and significant.

Don was quick to lend aid in any situation he could help with and brightened countless lives with his caring spirit. Whether it was lending a hand or lending his heart, he never hesitated to jump in with both feet to support the ones he loved. He was quick to love, quick to laugh, and had an easy smile that was immediately contagious. He was one in a million, and he will be missed beyond measure.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore Eugene Milligan & Leanora Ruth Dekens; his brother, Michael John Milligan; and his son, Donald Patrick Milligan, Jr. (James Clayton).

Survivors include his spouse, Mary Pagoria Milligan; his daughter, Shana Milligan Hare (Christopher Hare); his stepdaughter, Stephanie Cassatt (Charles Cates), his Goddaughter, Sarah Gordon Yancey (Shawn Yancey); and his siblings, Sharon Louise Milligan, Janet Marie Milligan Garnett (Steve Garnett), Rita Ann Milligan Stephan (Joe Stephan), and Greg Lynn Milligan (Jamie Milligan).

Friends are invited to join Don's family for services on Friday, November 18, 2022.  A Funeral Procession will leave at 12 Noon from Riemann Family Funeral Home, 274 Beauvoir Road, Biloxi, MS.  There will be a Graveside Service at 12:30 p.m. at Biloxi National Cemetery.  (Traffic Detour) – Beauvoir Road AT Highway 90 (Beach Blvd.) is closed to thru traffic until February 2023. Please take an alternate route and enter onto the north end of Beauvoir Road from Pass Road.