Patrick Peterson

Patrick Frans Peterson, 66, of Biloxi passed away peacefully Friday, Oct. 21, 2022, with family at his side.

He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and friend.

Patrick grew up in Crowley and Clinton, Louisiana. He graduated with a journalism degree from Louisiana State University and started his career at The Jackson Daily News in Mississippi’s capital, where he established himself as a talented feature writer.

Patrick took a detour after his first journalism job, enjoying several years of snow skiing in the mountains of New Mexico while he earned a living tending bar.

He then returned to journalism, working as a feature writer at the (Newport News, Virginia) Daily Press.

Returning to the Deep South, he spent 17 years as a senior reporter, columnist, and weekend metro editor at the (Biloxi, Mississippi) Sun Herald.

He distinguished himself with three trips to Iraq, including coverage of the U.S. invasion in 2003. He was embedded on the trips with Mississippi-based Marines and Seabees. His dispatches from the war were published nationally.

Patrick loved spending time on the water and fishing. He earned his charter boat captain’s license while living in Biloxi, taking out weekend charters or fishing with friends. He named his boat ConspiraSea.

He was a musician as well, singing and playing guitar with his band, also named ConspiraSea. The band played at weddings, Mardi Gras events, and local parties. For his 40th birthday, his band performed at a big bash held at the Walter Anderson Community Center in Ocean Springs.

In addition, Patrick was a proud member of the recovery community, with 30 years of sobriety from alcohol. He always encouraged others on their recovery journeys.

He was a doting father who said that he considered his daughter, Alix Peterson Dearing, to be his greatest accomplishment.

In 2005, Patrick went to work as a business writer and senior reporter at Florida Today in Melbourne. He covered technology companies and the U.S. space program, expanding his skills to include videography. As a metro editor at the newspaper, he taught reporters to file stories from the field using wireless technology.

While working as a journalist, Patrick won numerous writing awards.

He worked as a freelance writer after retiring in 2013 from daily journalism.

Patrick and his wife, Lisa Cook Peterson, a singer, enjoyed getting together with musician friends in Orlando, referring to their sessions as “hootenannies.”

The couple also enjoyed fishing in Key West for tarpon, and in Oak Hill for redfish and sea trout.

Patrick and Lisa recently relocated to Biloxi. They enjoyed spending time with family, including Alix, her husband, Mike Dearing, and their grandchildren, Lorelei and Zachary.

Patrick also leaves behind a sister, Kathy Thomas, and her husband, Larry; a brother, Matthew Peterson, and his wife, April; niece Ashley Thomas, and nephews Andrew and William Peterson.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Eleanor Byrnes Peterson, and father, Freddie Joseph Peterson.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

A celebration of life will be held for family and friends at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 11, 2022, at Ocean Springs community Center, 512 Washington Ave., Ocean Springs, MS 39564.

A memorial service will be held in Clinton, Louisiana, to be scheduled for the spring.

The Riemann Family Funeral Home, Biloxi, is serving the family and online condolences may be offered at www.riemannfamily.com