Laurance Lee Doby

Laurance Lee Doby, age 96, of Gulfport, MS, passed away Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Armed Forces Retirement Home in Gulfport, where he lived for the past 11 years. Mr. Doby was born May 17, 1928, in Hamlin, TX. He is the son of the late John R. and the late Nancy Bride (Mason) Doby. He married Helen Marie Davis on December 6, 1954; she preceded him in death on July 15, 2011. Before moving to Gulfport, he had retired in Lucedale, MS, with wife Helen and was a member of Sandhill Baptist Church.
He served in the Air Force as a flight engineer for 21 years during the postwar withdrawal era of WWII and during the Korean and Vietnam wars. After retiring from the Air Force as a Senior Master Sergeant, he served in the Dept. of Army's civil service as an Aircraft Equipment Specialist in the helicopter division to ensure quality control and parts procurement for the "Huey" and Sikorsky helicopters.
Mr. Doby enjoyed many hobbies throughout his life including fixing up old cars (despite incurring his wife's ire every time she found out he provided the service for free!), driving along the coast sightseeing, going out for pizza when visitors came to town, and trouncing unsuspecting guests at Mexican Train Dominoes. He was known for his kind, gentle heart who loved company and made friends everywhere he went. Special memories include lovingly raising his step-daughter as his own, rescuing his eldest daughter's car from a ditch and restoring all the damage before it was discovered by her mother, sparking his eldest son's interest in a career as a mechanic as he welcomed him to the garage to hold a wrench or help bleed brakes on the family car, engaging in long talks with his youngest son, spending rare, one-on-one father/daughter time taking his youngest to the zoo in the middle of winter when it was so cold only the polars bears dared brave the weather (guess who still loves polar bears?), and his steady, unassuming faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Laurance Doby will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by daughter, Karen Elaine (Karen Lynn Edwards) Doby of Lake Mary, FL; son, Kenneth Richard (Pamela Kay) Doby, Sr. of Lucedale, MS; son, Ronald Alan (Darala Antoinette) Doby of Dumfries, VA; daughter, Cheryl Annette (Bernard Arnold Jr.) Bigham, of Castle Rock, CO; 7 Grandchildren; and 8 Great Grandchildren.
Mr. Doby is predeceased by wife, Helen Marie Doby; step-daughter, Linda Faye (Ralph Dangberg) Sorrick; granddaughter, Teresa Marie Doby; brother, Lewis Elmer Doby; sister, Ruby Sarah Mae Graham; sister, Myrtle Lois McGinnis; brother, Willie Arthuer Doby; and brother, Cyril Albert Doby.
The funeral will be held at 10:00 am on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at Sigler Funeral Home, 4248 Main St., Lucedale, MS, with Rev. Michael Gibson officiating. Burial will be in Magnolia Cemetery, Lucedale.
Calling hours will be Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 9:00am-10:00am at Sigler Funeral Home, 4248 Main St., Lucedale, MS.
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