Dr. Edson McCabe

Dr. Edson McCabe, age 83, of Gulfport, peacefully passed away surrounded by his family at Garden Park Hospital in Gulfport on Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

A World War II U.S. Navy Veteran, Dr. McCabe was a graduate of Gulfport High School, received a BS degree from the University of Tennessee, and was a graduate of the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry. He was a member of Alpha Tau Omega and Delta Sigma Delta fraternities.

Dr. McCabe was past president of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame, which honored him in 1988 with the Chapter's Contribution to Amateur Football Award. He was also past president of Gulfport Commodore Booster Club, Gulfport Gridiron Club, and Gulfport East High School Booster Club. He was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church in Gulfport, The Greater Gulfport Dental Society, Mississippi Dental Association, American Dental Association, Windance Country Club, Great Southern Country Club, Gulfport Yacht Club, and Gulfport Century Club.

Dr. McCabe was the recipient of the Dr. Archie Hewes Sports Medicine Award for his contributions to Gulfport sports programs. He initiated mandatory mouthpieces for Gulfport athletes several decades before they became common place or mandatory in high school sports programs. He donated countless hours in fitting and making mouth pieces each year for Gulfport's players.

Dr. McCabe was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 2000.

Dr. McCabe was preceded in death by his parents, Charles Edson and Lillian Janin "Jelly" McCabe and Mary Burt Powell; a grandson, Wesley Symmes McCabe, and his special friend, Willie "Duck" Peters.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Poem Clark McCabe, of Gulfport; two daughters, Pam McCabe Garth and her husband Bill of Birmingham, AL, and Carolyn Poem "Cissy" McCabe Quinn and her husband Rick of Gulfport; two sons, Dr. Mike McCabe and his wife Cindy of Gulfport, and Dr. Tim McCabe and his wife Debbie of Pass Christian; two siblings, Joan McCabe Day of Gulfport and Janice Powell Bryan of Jacksonville, FL; ten grandchildren, Jeff Garth, Lauren Garth, Michael McCabe and his wife Yvonne, Dr. Matthew McCabe and his wife Morgan, Katie McCabe, Dr. Brandy McCabe Hyde and her husband Eric, Tim McCabe, Jr., Amy Bertucci Rudolph and her husband Ryan, Mindy Bertucci Boyce, and Jamie Quinn; three great-grandchildren, Wesley Hyde, Elsie Poem Hyde, Louise McCabe.

We would like to express our heartfelt appreciation to Dr. Boyd Benefield for the exceptional care and the constant attention which he has given to our family.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Association of Retarded Citizens of the Gulf Coast, 3109 Gulf Ave., Gulfport, MS 39501; and South Mississippi Regional Center, 1170 West Railroad St., Long Beach, MS 39560.

The Funeral Service will be Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 12 noon at Trinity United Methodist Church in Gulfport. The family invites friends to a coffee reception from 10:00 a.m. until service time. Burial will follow at Floral Hills Memorial Gardens, Gulfport.

The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Gulfport, is in charge of arrangements.

An online obituary may be viewed and a guestbook signed at www.riemannfamily.com.