Michael Tippetts

Michael Edward Tippetts, 64, of Saucier, MS, passed away at his home on Saturday, September 25, 2021. He was born in Colorado Springs, CO on November 29, 1956, to Patsy Babcock Tippetts and the late Milo Eugene Tippetts. He traveled and lived in San Antonio, TX, Okinawa, until his father retired in Gulfport, MS from the United States Air Force in 1967­­­­­­. He attended Harrison Central High School and Jefferson-Davis Junior College. Mike obtained his USCG Captain’s License in the early 2000’s.

Mike was married to his wife, Stacy, on August 3, 1979, and had been married for 42 years.  They built their home in Saucier, MS, where they raised their greatest accomplishments and Mike’s pride and joy in their three beautiful children.  He instilled his favorite pastimes with his children, which included bow shooting, fishing, hunting, and horseback riding.  He was known as a father who was always there for his children at any time of day. The word no was not an option when they called him. His love for his children showed as he enjoyed spending endless hours getting Tiffany’s horse ready for her horse shows, dance recitals, coaching little league baseball games, and watching and encouraging Tiffany, Logan and Emily at swim meets and Logan’s baseball games while they were growing up.  During this time, he instilled his best qualities of himself in his children, which included work ethics and respecting their elders along with many others. His children worked right beside him on whatever he needed them to do, whether it was Tiffany and Ryan pulling the well line for endless hours, Emily getting blisters helping to dig a ditch for the electricity and water lines to be buried for the horse, or Logan helping out with heavy lifting, car, truck or boat repairs, oil changes, and many other times when help was needed from them.

His family grew with the marriage of Emily to Robert in the spring of her graduation.  Robert didn’t just become a son-in-law to Mike, but another son and friend. With Robert’s military career, which included many moves for Robert and Emily, they found Mike was still only a drive away to help in hanging enormous TV’s, moving furniture, and hauling crawfish for some delicious crawfish boils that usually ended up with friends and a party.  Logan also added his best friend, Hailey, to our family, whom Mike dearly loved.

Later in life, his next love was his first two grandchildren.  Katelynn and Ryan were a welcomed addition to him.  They became a big part of his life and spent holidays and weekends visiting him. His oldest granddaughter, Katelynn, recently followed in his dream and became a U.S. Marine, while his grandson, Ryan, who was aka Pawpaw's helper, was there any time he was needed.  In the past 3 years he was blessed with 2 more grandchildren Landen, whom Mike referred to as “Big”, and Mckenzie, who talked to her Pawpaw every day on Facetime.

Pawpaw had already made two trips to visit her and was looking forward to the holidays to spend time with both.  When Landen came to visit, he quickly became his Pawpaw’s sidekick, as the other children and grandchildren had.  He loved going every morning to feed Belle, sitting on her back while she ate, and going on long walks at his house while Pawpaw took the dog on a walk.

Mike is survived by his spouse: Stacy Tippetts of Saucier, MS; two daughters: Tiffany Tippetts of Saucier, MS; Emily (Robert) Rauch of Jacksonville, NC; a son: Logan Tippetts of Norfolk, Virginia; four grandchildren,  Katelynn Tippetts, Ryan Beach, Landen Rauch, and Mackenzie Rauch; his mother: Pat Tippetts; three sisters, Cindy(John) Renot, Connie (Russel) Sonnier, Linya (Charlie) Cospelich; one brother, Kenneth Tippetts; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The ALS Association Louisiana-Mississippi Chapter or to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society for AML Research.

Michael will be greatly missed.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 PM until 2:00 PM, Monday, October 4, 2021, at Gateway United Methodist Church, 16020 South Swan Road, Gulfport, with a funeral service beginning at 2:00 PM. Interment will follow at Beulah Cemetery.

Riemann Family Funeral Home, Gulfport, is serving the family.