Lon E. Booker, III

Lon Edward Booker III, age 77, of Gulfport, MS, passed away Friday, February 7th, 2025 at home with his family and was reunited with his bride, the love of his life of 45 years, Carolyn. He was born on October 5th, 1947 in Natchez, MS to parents Lon Edward and Mary Elizabeth Booker, of which he preceded in death. 

Lon grew up on the family owned Booker Dairy Farm in Natchez, MS, with his three surviving siblings, Carolyn Ballard (Don), Richard Booker (Carolyn), and Mark Booker (Patricia). When he wasn’t helping out on the farm, he was shuttling his siblings to and from school, swimming in the cow pond and playing football. He always said if you played football, the teacher was the coach, so everyone got a pass on their bad grades. He loved cars and racing. He would go to the local track and race for money and bragging rights. His mother went once and vowed she would never go again because she was a nervous wreck thinking he was about to crash. Lon had four loves in his life: Alabama football (ROLL TIDE), his ‘69 Z28 Camaro, his wife Carolyn, and his family. 

Lon moved from Natchez, MS to Butler, AL where he enlisted in the Army National Guard and was assigned to 1165th MP Company. He started off his career as a paper maker at American Can Company in Butler. On his time off at Camp Shelby he would go to the honky tonk downtown in Hattiesburg, MS, and this is where he met Carolyn. It wasn’t long courting each other that at a local county fair they exchanged vows with an ordained one legged pirate. Lon and Carolyn then moved their family to Mcgehee, AR, where he continued his paper making career at Potlatch Corp with 35 years under his belt at retirement. He also volunteered his days off as an Auxiliary Officer for the McGehee Police Dept. He stayed busy but he always made time to take Carolyn boot scootin’ at the Selma Stomp just outside of town. 

Lon and Carolyn moved to the coast, Gulfport, MS, to be closer to her family. Here he served for Gulfport Police Dept as a CST for many years. His chief always told him he wished he had ten more just like him. He was hard-headed, outspoken and never scared to tell you just how it was gonna be. He’d tell you once, but never “Twice’t.” After his wife passed in 2018 he stayed busy with work and put all his energy into his family and being his daughter’s biggest fan as she went through nursing school. “May the force be with you,” he would always say before and after exams. The force being himself and mom. He always said he was waiting for the yellow cab to show up with Carolyn and pick him up. He missed her so much. 

Lon moved back to Arkansas with his daughter in 2021. He had a massive hemorrhagic stroke in 2022. He stayed a short time at an assisted living and then moved back in with his daughter where he could live his life as he wished, with his family. His time at home was nothing short of his one of a kind comedy antics, random dancing, outburst of the most random facts, and ever longing to take the family pig, Girdie, to the butcher– always denied this, but hilariously persistent to do so. He was caught with the tape measure running from snout to tail, trying to figure how much she would cost to be processed. He spent the remainder of his time being the best friend to his two year old granddaughter, River. They colored together, danced, had their morning coffee with princess movies, and never stopped chasing her around because he was worried she was going to get hurt. She was his boss and he listened to only her some days. 

 Lon was surrounded by his family the day Carolyn finally showed up in that yellow cab to pick him up and take him home. - As Big As The Sky. 

Surviving children: Tony Booker and Christina Kilcrease (Heath). 

Grand-Children: Emily Kilcrease (Caleb), Austin Hicks, Gracie Booker, Matthew Hicks, Bella Hicks, Phoenix River Kilcrease. 

Great Grand-Children: Caroline Avery Phillips. 

Friends are invited to join Lon's family for a time of Visitation and Gathering on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Riemann Family Funeral Home, 11280 Three Rivers Road, Gulfport, MS, from 10:00-11:00 AM. 

Then there will be a Graveside Service at 3:00 p.m., where Lon will be laid to rest at Sanford Warden Family Cemetery in Sumrall, MS.