Alan Lamar "Cowboy" Bush passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2017, after a long battle with COPD.
Alan was born December 16, 1946, in Pascagoula, MS, to Charles and Mary Hunt Bush and sisters, Emily and Mary. He graduated from Pascagoula High School and went to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. He pledged Sigma Nu, "majored" in Bridge and played Rebel football all four years. He was honored to be a 4th round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, where he played for a short time. Alan returned to Pascagoula and joined his parents in the family business, Bush Office Supply, at one time even opening and managing a branch of the business in Gulfport, and continued working in that industry until Katrina destroyed the business and brought havoc to his life and the lives of those around him.
Alan was an avid reader, talented writer, music lover, and gifted storyteller. He was an amateur fisherman (with ambition of doing it full-time), housekeeper, and repairman. Alan enjoyed political debates, seafood, and Ole Miss Football. Most of all, though, he loved people, and he was the best and most fiercely-loyal friend a man could be. Alan will be sorely missed by every single person who knew him.
After his second divorce, in the 1980's, he was able to return to his life as something of a bon vivant. In the late '80s, he co-founded and co-hosted a gathering popularly known as "OWIEOTLS" (pronounced just as it's spelled: oh-ee-ot-uls), which is an acronym for One Week Is Enough Of This Lent Stuff (for lack of a more printable word). The event initially was held on the Tuesday after Mardi Gras, but by popular demand among people who actually had to work on Wednesdays, it was moved to Saturday soon thereafter. Over a hundred guests came each year, and dozens of rooms at the Lafont Inn in Pascagoula, the host site, were booked for the event by people, who came from far and wide to attend.
Alan is predeceased by his son, Charlie, and his sister Emily.
He is survived by his sister Mary and her husband Charles Wall of Brandon, nieces Mary Hunt Hughes, Cindy Wall Wedel (Craig), Leighanne Wall Karnes (John), and nephew Chip Wall, M.D. (Rachel), along with numerous cousins and great-nieces and nephews.
He adored his step-grandsons Cole and Gray, and their mother Tonya, who was a great help to him as his health declined. His pride and joy the last few years has been Charlie's dog, Faith, a rescue from a storm drain during Katrina.
In recent years, Alan spent as much time as his health would allow at Apootka Creek Farm in Attala County, with his beloved companions, Faith, Flip, and Wayne. Faith swam and Alan fished, taking an occasional bream or bass out of circulation, which was obvious (but tolerable, given the small numbers) violation of the posted catch-and-release policy. The property includes the world-famous Apootka Creek, a tiny stream that lent its name to an annual spring gala hosted by Alan and Wayne (and Libby) for their Pascagoula High School classmates. This year's event will certainly include a celebration of Alan's life.
The family wishes to express its sincere thanks to Shani Coate, Alan's first wife, who, after 44 years with no contact (and another marriage for each of them), was a true blessing from God, as she was his constant companion and attended to his every need during his final stay in the hospital and hospice and provided much-needed comfort in his time of need.
A memorial service is being held on Saturday, February 11th at 4:00 P.M., at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
Parkway Funeral Home (online)
Alan was born December 16, 1946, in Pascagoula, MS, to Charles and Mary Hunt Bush and sisters, Emily and Mary. He graduated from Pascagoula High School and went to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. He pledged Sigma Nu, "majored" in Bridge and played Rebel football all four years. He was honored to be a 4th round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, where he played for a short time. Alan returned to Pascagoula and joined his parents in the family business, Bush Office Supply, at one time even opening and managing a branch of the business in Gulfport, and continued working in that industry until Katrina destroyed the business and brought havoc to his life and the lives of those around him.
Alan was an avid reader, talented writer, music lover, and gifted storyteller. He was an amateur fisherman (with ambition of doing it full-time), housekeeper, and repairman. Alan enjoyed political debates, seafood, and Ole Miss Football. Most of all, though, he loved people, and he was the best and most fiercely-loyal friend a man could be. Alan will be sorely missed by every single person who knew him.
After his second divorce, in the 1980's, he was able to return to his life as something of a bon vivant. In the late '80s, he co-founded and co-hosted a gathering popularly known as "OWIEOTLS" (pronounced just as it's spelled: oh-ee-ot-uls), which is an acronym for One Week Is Enough Of This Lent Stuff (for lack of a more printable word). The event initially was held on the Tuesday after Mardi Gras, but by popular demand among people who actually had to work on Wednesdays, it was moved to Saturday soon thereafter. Over a hundred guests came each year, and dozens of rooms at the Lafont Inn in Pascagoula, the host site, were booked for the event by people, who came from far and wide to attend.
Alan is predeceased by his son, Charlie, and his sister Emily.
He is survived by his sister Mary and her husband Charles Wall of Brandon, nieces Mary Hunt Hughes, Cindy Wall Wedel (Craig), Leighanne Wall Karnes (John), and nephew Chip Wall, M.D. (Rachel), along with numerous cousins and great-nieces and nephews.
He adored his step-grandsons Cole and Gray, and their mother Tonya, who was a great help to him as his health declined. His pride and joy the last few years has been Charlie's dog, Faith, a rescue from a storm drain during Katrina.
In recent years, Alan spent as much time as his health would allow at Apootka Creek Farm in Attala County, with his beloved companions, Faith, Flip, and Wayne. Faith swam and Alan fished, taking an occasional bream or bass out of circulation, which was obvious (but tolerable, given the small numbers) violation of the posted catch-and-release policy. The property includes the world-famous Apootka Creek, a tiny stream that lent its name to an annual spring gala hosted by Alan and Wayne (and Libby) for their Pascagoula High School classmates. This year's event will certainly include a celebration of Alan's life.
The family wishes to express its sincere thanks to Shani Coate, Alan's first wife, who, after 44 years with no contact (and another marriage for each of them), was a true blessing from God, as she was his constant companion and attended to his every need during his final stay in the hospital and hospice and provided much-needed comfort in his time of need.
A memorial service is being held on Saturday, February 11th at 4:00 P.M., at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
Parkway Funeral Home (online)
Alan Lamar "Cowboy" Bush passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2017, after a long battle with COPD.
Alan was born December 16, 1946, in Pascagoula, MS, to Charles and Mary Hunt Bush and sisters, Emily and Mary. He graduated from Pascagoula High School and went to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. He pledged Sigma Nu, "majored" in Bridge and played Rebel football all four years. He was honored to be a 4th round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, where he played for a short time. Alan returned to Pascagoula and joined his parents in the family business, Bush Office Supply, at one time even opening and managing a branch of the business in Gulfport, and continued working in that industry until Katrina destroyed the business and brought havoc to his life and the lives of those around him.
Alan was an avid reader, talented writer, music lover, and gifted storyteller. He was an amateur fisherman (with ambition of doing it full-time), housekeeper, and repairman. Alan enjoyed political debates, seafood, and Ole Miss Football. Most of all, though, he loved people, and he was the best and most fiercely-loyal friend a man could be. Alan will be sorely missed by every single person who knew him.
After his second divorce, in the 1980's, he was able to return to his life as something of a bon vivant. In the late '80s, he co-founded and co-hosted a gathering popularly known as "OWIEOTLS" (pronounced just as it's spelled: oh-ee-ot-uls), which is an acronym for One Week Is Enough Of This Lent Stuff (for lack of a more printable word). The event initially was held on the Tuesday after Mardi Gras, but by popular demand among people who actually had to work on Wednesdays, it was moved to Saturday soon thereafter. Over a hundred guests came each year, and dozens of rooms at the Lafont Inn in Pascagoula, the host site, were booked for the event by people, who came from far and wide to attend.
Alan is predeceased by his son, Charlie, and his sister Emily.
He is survived by his sister Mary and her husband Charles Wall of Brandon, nieces Mary Hunt Hughes, Cindy Wall Wedel (Craig), Leighanne Wall Karnes (John), and nephew Chip Wall, M.D. (Rachel), along with numerous cousins and great-nieces and nephews.
He adored his step-grandsons Cole and Gray, and their mother Tonya, who was a great help to him as his health declined. His pride and joy the last few years has been Charlie's dog, Faith, a rescue from a storm drain during Katrina.
In recent years, Alan spent as much time as his health would allow at Apootka Creek Farm in Attala County, with his beloved companions, Faith, Flip, and Wayne. Faith swam and Alan fished, taking an occasional bream or bass out of circulation, which was obvious (but tolerable, given the small numbers) violation of the posted catch-and-release policy. The property includes the world-famous Apootka Creek, a tiny stream that lent its name to an annual spring gala hosted by Alan and Wayne (and Libby) for their Pascagoula High School classmates. This year's event will certainly include a celebration of Alan's life.
The family wishes to express its sincere thanks to Shani Coate, Alan's first wife, who, after 44 years with no contact (and another marriage for each of them), was a true blessing from God, as she was his constant companion and attended to his every need during his final stay in the hospital and hospice and provided much-needed comfort in his time of need.
A memorial service is being held on Saturday, February 11th at 4:00 P.M., at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
Parkway Funeral Home (online)
Alan was born December 16, 1946, in Pascagoula, MS, to Charles and Mary Hunt Bush and sisters, Emily and Mary. He graduated from Pascagoula High School and went to Ole Miss on a football scholarship. He pledged Sigma Nu, "majored" in Bridge and played Rebel football all four years. He was honored to be a 4th round draft pick by the Chicago Bears, where he played for a short time. Alan returned to Pascagoula and joined his parents in the family business, Bush Office Supply, at one time even opening and managing a branch of the business in Gulfport, and continued working in that industry until Katrina destroyed the business and brought havoc to his life and the lives of those around him.
Alan was an avid reader, talented writer, music lover, and gifted storyteller. He was an amateur fisherman (with ambition of doing it full-time), housekeeper, and repairman. Alan enjoyed political debates, seafood, and Ole Miss Football. Most of all, though, he loved people, and he was the best and most fiercely-loyal friend a man could be. Alan will be sorely missed by every single person who knew him.
After his second divorce, in the 1980's, he was able to return to his life as something of a bon vivant. In the late '80s, he co-founded and co-hosted a gathering popularly known as "OWIEOTLS" (pronounced just as it's spelled: oh-ee-ot-uls), which is an acronym for One Week Is Enough Of This Lent Stuff (for lack of a more printable word). The event initially was held on the Tuesday after Mardi Gras, but by popular demand among people who actually had to work on Wednesdays, it was moved to Saturday soon thereafter. Over a hundred guests came each year, and dozens of rooms at the Lafont Inn in Pascagoula, the host site, were booked for the event by people, who came from far and wide to attend.
Alan is predeceased by his son, Charlie, and his sister Emily.
He is survived by his sister Mary and her husband Charles Wall of Brandon, nieces Mary Hunt Hughes, Cindy Wall Wedel (Craig), Leighanne Wall Karnes (John), and nephew Chip Wall, M.D. (Rachel), along with numerous cousins and great-nieces and nephews.
He adored his step-grandsons Cole and Gray, and their mother Tonya, who was a great help to him as his health declined. His pride and joy the last few years has been Charlie's dog, Faith, a rescue from a storm drain during Katrina.
In recent years, Alan spent as much time as his health would allow at Apootka Creek Farm in Attala County, with his beloved companions, Faith, Flip, and Wayne. Faith swam and Alan fished, taking an occasional bream or bass out of circulation, which was obvious (but tolerable, given the small numbers) violation of the posted catch-and-release policy. The property includes the world-famous Apootka Creek, a tiny stream that lent its name to an annual spring gala hosted by Alan and Wayne (and Libby) for their Pascagoula High School classmates. This year's event will certainly include a celebration of Alan's life.
The family wishes to express its sincere thanks to Shani Coate, Alan's first wife, who, after 44 years with no contact (and another marriage for each of them), was a true blessing from God, as she was his constant companion and attended to his every need during his final stay in the hospital and hospice and provided much-needed comfort in his time of need.
A memorial service is being held on Saturday, February 11th at 4:00 P.M., at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157.
Parkway Funeral Home (online)
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