Richard "Butch" Harper, Sr.

Richard “Butch” Harper, Sr. 83 of Vancleave, MS passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 in Moss Point, MS.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Jackson County. He was a member of Larue Baptist Church. He was a retired carpenter from Ingalls Shipbuilding. He was a former member of the country road quartet. He enjoyed fishing.

Butch is preceded in death by his first wife, Ruby Lois Cowart Harper; and his son, Robbie Harper.

He is survived by his wife of twenty-six years, Hazel Goff Harper; daughter, Debbie Harper; three sons, Richard L. Harper, Jr., Shorty (Martha) Harper, and Terry L. (Kim) Harper; three sisters, Kay Kraft, Dianne Gregory, and Sheila (Brian) Josephs; two step daughters, Ann (Wake) Inabinette and Debra (Arthur) Davis; two step sons, Eugene (Donna) Mallette and Hal Mallette; nineteen grandchildren and thirty-six great-grandchildren.

Funeral Services will be Saturday, March 14, 2026 at 12 noon at Larue Baptist Church, Vancleave, MS. Friends may visit from 10:30 am until service time. Burial will follow Bonnie Chapel Cemetery.

Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Homes is honored to serve the family of Richard Harper, Sr.