Joseph "Joe" Elliott Harper's Obituary
Joseph Elliott HarperNovember 16, 1921-March 23, 2016Joseph “Joe” Harper was born in Jackson, AL to Leroy and Willie Harper. He was the first born of eight children and is survived by brother, Roland Harper and sister, Nita Brown. Joe was the devoted husband of 60 years to Joyce Freeland Harper who preceded him in death in 2007. Joe left this world to join his sweetheart Joyce on March 23, 2016. Joe was the father of Taylor Harper (Julie), Grand Bay, AL, Sharon Harper Deason (Don), Gautier, MS and Cindy Harper Teate (Gary), Powder Springs, GA. He was Papa Joe to Leigh-Taylor Harper, Mobile, AL, Paul Olson, Nashville, TN, Scott Harper, Florence, AL, Sara Teate Davies, Cardiff, Wales, UK, Shari Deason, Gautier, MS and Patrick Teate, Atlanta, GA. He was proud to be Great Grand Father to 6 energetic kids.Grand Bay, AL was Joe’s home for many years but he and Joyce also spent 12 happy years as residents of Dauphin Island, AL serving as volunteers at the Dauphin Island Sea Lab and worshipping at Dauphin Island United Methodist Church. Joe returned to Grand Bay following Joyce’s death and lived with his devoted brother Roland and wife, Mary Lou and in his final years he was a resident at Country Gables Assisted Living Home. Joe was a longtime member of the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Bay and a faithful attendee at the St. Elmo-Grand Bay Senior Citizen Center. The family thanks all those who supported Joe in his later years.Joe was a career employee with the Mobile Press Register working in Advertising for over 35 years. He enjoyed getting together with fellow retirees to swap stories about all the years working at the old Government St. location.Joe was an avid freshwater fisherman, gardener and artist. His numerous sketches are displayed throughout the Grand Bay area and were featured in a Press Register article celebrating his work in 2013.A highlight of Joe’s life was being selected to participate in the Honor Flight of South Alabama honoring World War II Veterans. He cherished the memories made on the trip to Washington, DC with fellow members of The Greatest Generation.The service to celebrate Joe’s life will be held on Monday, March 28, 2016. Visitation will begin at 10:00 AM at Serenity Funeral Home, 8691 Old Pascagoula Rd., Mobile, AL. Service will follow at 12:00 Noon with internment at the Grand Bay Cemetery.In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Friends of the Grand Bay Library, PO Box 274, Grand Bay, AL 36541 or the First Presbyterian Church of Grand Bay, PO Box 287, Grand Bay, AL 36541.
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