Irvin H. Gatlin Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Irvin Gatlin born was born November 14, 1929, and passed over into the arms of Jesus June 18, 2022, at the age of 92. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 24th from 9 a.m. until 11 a.m. at Memory Chapel Funeral Home, 3100 Audubon Dr., Laurel, MS. Funeral services will follow at 11 a.m. The burial will be at Hickory Grove Cemetery in Laurel. Rev. David Fedele will officiate. Memory Chapel Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. 601-428-5835 Mr. Gatlin was raised in Laurel, MS and started working at the age of 12 to help support the family. By the age of 16 he had joined the Army Air Corp and shipped off the Pacific theater to serve in WWII. He later decided that he would rather serve in the US Navy, and worked his way up to Chief Yeoman before retiring in 1966. While on active duty he finished high school and obtained his AA college degree. He traveled the world in the Navy and would be quick to share a story with anyone who might ask. During one of his Navy duty assignments in Kentucky he met Ireta Wallace, and they were married for 64 years until her death in 2018. Upon his retirement from the Navy, he moved back to Mississippi and bought a 72-acre farm and became a gentleman farmer raising cattle and teaching his son the trade. He worked for the Laurel Post Office for 3 years and then went to work for the city of Laurel serving as the building and zoning administrator until his retirement in 1989. He was a deacon and active member of Freedom Baptist Church, active in the masonic lodge, and active skeet shooter until he entered the retirement facility. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Gatlin and Leona (Thompson) Gatlin; two brothers, Laverne Gatlin and Joseph (Joe) Gatlin; and two sisters, Erma Nell West and Ethel Merle Doss. Mr. Gatlin is survived by his son, Tim Gatlin (Debbie) of Colorado; and grandchildren, Stephen Gatlin (Andrea) and Heather Gatlin both of Colorado Springs. He is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Freedom Baptist Church. Deacons of Freedom Baptist Church will serve as pallbearers. To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.

Irvin H. Gatlin

November 14, 1929 - June 18, 2022