James "Jimmy" Henry Gautier

James “Jimmy” Henry Gautier 75, of Gautier, Mississippi passed away on Monday, May 23, 2022. He was born April 17, 1947 in Pascagoula, Ms to Gerald and Elizabeth Gautier.

Mr. Gautier attended Gulfport High School where he was a member of the graduating class of ’65.  He was a star basketball player for the Commodores. He received much recognition with many awards and accolades for his basketball skills at Gulfport High. Receiving a basketball scholarship, he continued his education at Perkinston Junior College in Perkinston, Ms., graduating in 1967 with a degree in Business.

He worked in retail management for many years before he went to work as an import/export ship inspector.  Mr. Gautier also served in the United States Army during the Vietnam era.  

Sports were always a part of his life. He enjoyed watching the New Orleans Saints and he was a big fan of the SEC teams…he cheered the loudest for the Alabama Crimson Tide (Roll Tide) and the Mississippi State Bulldogs (Hail State). 

Growing up on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Jimmy was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed saltwater fishing with his dad and his brother, Jerry. Many of their more exaggerated fishing stories came from fishing at the scrap-yards and out at the islands.  He also liked to go “old school” floundering with a gig and lantern while walking the shallow beach shore. As a youngster, he had fond memories crabbing off the local piers with his brother and cousin Buddy. 

Mr. Gautier is known by many of his friends as Jim or Big Jim but to his family, he will always be called Jimmy.  Known for having a compassionate heart, he often befriended those that many of us would have passed on by. He would help whomever needed help. Up until the days right before his passing, he still referred to others as Ma’am and Sir and he never forgot to say thank you.  If he asked you one time, he would ask you twenty more times if you were doing ok. He genuinely wanted to make sure that you were in fact doing ok or if you needed anything. His family takes solace in knowing that he was secure in his salvation and he was ready to move on to his eternal home when the Lord was ready for him. 

Mr. Gautier was preceded in death by his father, Richard Gerald Gautier, Sr and his mother, Mary Elizabeth (McCullough) Gautier. 

He is survived by his brother, Richard Gerald Gautier, Jr. of Gautier, his three sisters, Linda (Bob) Abernathy of Grand Bay, AL, Janie Gautier of Gautier, and Nancy (Greg) Stuck of Cascilla, Ms. He is also survived by his daughter and grandchildren, who brought new light into his life. He leaves behind several nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. 

Following in the footsteps of his dad and his uncles Henry and Doug Gautier, he wanted to leave one last word on the matter…that the correct pronunciation is Go-Chay. 

Visitation will be Wednesday, May 25, 2022, 2:00-3:00pm, at O’Bryant-O’Keefe Funeral Home in Pascagoula.  Funeral Service will begin at 3:00pm in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Gene Baugh officiating.  Committal service will be Thursday, May 26, 2022, 9:00am, at Biloxi National Cemetery with military honors rendered.  You may send condolences to his family or share a  memory of him on the Tribute Wall. 

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