Joseph Harrell Irby

Joseph H. Irby, age 88, of Gulfport, passed away on January 3, 2014.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James W. Irby and Eunice Irby, 6 older brothers and 1 younger sister, gaining him not only his first name but his nickname ""the seventh son.""
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Ruth Carr Irby, his children, Joe (Kris) Irby, and Patricia (Tommy) Harvey, 3 grandchildren, Kristin Harvey, Bryan Irby, and Meredith Irby, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He left high school at the age of 17 to join the U.S. Marine Corps and served 3 years in the Pacific Theater during WWII. After the war, he came home and studied under many tutors but considered himself to be self-educated. During his business career, he founded 7 different corporations including Irby Steel and the Coastliner. Mr. Irby was a true entrepreneur creating many jobs over the years and his integrity allowed him to treat others the same way in which he liked to be treated. He was active and a lifetime member of the Elks in Gulfport and Biloxi and served in the Gulfport Lodge 978 as Exalted Ruler on 2 different occasions and recently became a member of the Biloxi Lodge. He was also a lifetime member of the VFW Post, Gulfport, and the America Legion Joe Graham Post 119. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and traveling. He enjoyed timber farming and was selected as a Timber Farmer of the Year. He was a charter member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Bayou View where he served on the building committee for the new church. He had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed spending time with his family.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, January 7, 2014, from 12:30 - 2 pm at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 11280 Three Rivers Rd, Gulfport. The funeral service will be at 2 pm in the funeral home chapel. Interment will be in Floral Hills Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be sent to the Nourishing Place, P.O. Box 7785, Gulfport, MS 39506.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com