James Dodson

James Michael Dodson went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 16, 2018.  He was born to Bingham Mayo Dodson and Martha Kilgo Dodson (later Davis) on February 26, 1955, in Jackson, MS and lived in many places in the United States, living in France for a time as a child, and then resided for many years in Vancleave, Mississippi.  He moved to Gulfport, Mississippi in 1977.  He was a member of Bayou View Baptist Church.
Mike was known for his work ethic.  He worked as a young man as a pipefitter at Ingalls Shipbuilding, then started his own business hanging and finishing sheetrock.  Helping his wife through school, he worked offshore for a period of time.  In 1985, along with his partner Joe Schafhirt, he started an air conditioning and heating business.  That business eventually became known as Eagle Mechanical, Inc. and continues in operation today.  Mike also built and remodeled houses in separate businesses.  He was a true car lover, owning and redoing many vehicles over the years.  In his younger years, he loved to race, especially his 1969 Z28.  He also loved motorcycles, once rebuilding a Harley Davidson which had been completely disassembled and sold to him in a box.  Mike was very skilled at building things, whether mechanical, structures or machines.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Kathryn Dianne Knowles, his nephew, David Reyes, and his father-in-law Orbie M. Patton, Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Lisa Patton Dodson; his children, Zachary and wife Candice Dodson and Samantha and husband David Kelley; his grandchildren, James Savell, III, Cheyenne Williams, Jayden Kelley, Tyler Kelley, and Nolan Kelley; his mother-in-law Shirley Patton; his brother and sister-in-law Berle and Brenda Reynolds, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law Mark and Joyce Patton and his sister-in-law Julie Farmer; nieces Amanda and Lori Coker-Reyes, Lindsay Farmer, and Debra Reynolds; nephews Zane Snelgrove and Ricky Reynolds; greatniece Vanessa Snelgrove; greatnephews Zackari and Zeke Snelgrove; great greatnieces Zailyn and Zyla Snelgrove; a number of cousins and other relatives.
The funeral service will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, MS at 1:00 PM, with visitation for family and friends from 11:00 A.M. until the service.  Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
The family wishes to thank and extends its gratitude to Dr. Allison Wall and the doctors and staff of the oncology practice and to the nurses and staff in the chemotherapy infusion lab at Memorial Hospital at Gulfport.  Mike loved all of you and was always thankful for your kindness, care and friendship.  We are most grateful for the gentleness and kindness with which you treated him.
An online obituary may be viewed and condolences and photos may be shared at www.riemannfamily.