William Matkin

William Royce Matkin, 80, of Pass Christian, MS died Thursday, February 1, 2007.
Mr. Matkin was born February 24, 1926 in Enloe, TX. He was preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Burton Matkin and Dollie Deason Matkin, four sisters and three brothers.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Laurie Stephens Matkin, a daughter, Diane Matkin Gallagher, Pass Christian, a son, William Royce Matkin, Jr., Pass Christian, eight grandchildren, Joseph Scott Niolet and his wife Jennifer, Pass Christian, Robert Paul Niolet and his wife Alicia, Gulfport, Shirley Niolet Bates and her husband Jeff, Greenwood, MS, Kevin Tyler Gallagher, Oxford, MS, William Andrew Conner Gallagher, Pass Christian, and Margeaux Matkin Anderson and her husband James, Watkinsville, GA. He is also survived by two sisters, Dorothy Findley and her husband Jim, Tyler, TX and Fannie Higgins and her husband Bob, Houston, TX, a brother, D.E. """"Hub"""" Matkin, Houston, TX, sister-in-law, Pat Ratliff and her husband Paul, Hawaii, brother-in-law, Jack Chatam, San Antonio, TX , as well as many nieces and nephews.
Mr. Matkin was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church where he formerly served on the Vestry and as Superintendant of the Sunday School. He was a member of the Pass Christian Yacht Club and reigned as King of the Bards of Binnacle. He was a member of several carnival associations and reigned as King Christian of the St. Paul's Carnival Association in 1965.
He was a veteran of WWII where he served in the Air Force as an Aircraft Radio Operator. He and his family moved to Pass Christian in 1956 where he was employed as a land man with Ratliff Oil Company. In 1960, he was employed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as project manager responsible for acquiring the land for Stennis Space Center. He continued his work with the Corps of Engineers in Mobile, AL as Chief of Land Management, Mobile District, until his retirement in 1990. After his retirement from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, he was presented an Outstanding Civilian Award by Stennis Space Center.
He was a sportsman and loved to hunt and fish. He played polo with the Pass Christian Polo Club and tennis with the Ambassador Tennis Club. He was also an avid LSU Tiger fan.
The visitation will be Monday, February 5, 2007 from 12 - 2 pm at Trinity Episcopal Church, Pass Christian. The funeral service will be at 2 pm in the church.
Interment will follow in Live Oak Cemetery.
His grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Ambassador Tennis Club and the Wednesday Lunch Group.
Memorials may be made to Trinity Episcopal Church Building Fund or Live Oak Cemetery, P.P. Box 459, Pass Christian, MS 39571 or to a charity of your choice.
The Riemann family's GULF COAST FUNERAL HOME, Three Rivers Road Chapel, Gulfport is in charge of arrangements and an online guestbook may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com