April 8, 1924 – Dec. 16, 2013

RIDGELAND— Funeral services for Joe K. McPhail, 89, of Jackson, formerly of Natchez, who died Monday, Dec. 16, 2013, at Hospice Ministries in Ridgeland, will be at 1 p.m. today at Wright and Ferguson Funeral Home in Ridgeland.

Burial will follow at 10 a.m. Thursday, in Lakewood South Cemetery.

Visitation will be from noon until service time today at the funeral home.

McPhail was born April 8, 1924, in Carthage, the son of J.D. and Bonnie Grace McPhail.

He married Jean Arthur in 1946 and they lived together in Natchez and Jackson. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps in Corvalis, Ore., in 1941 and 1942. He served in the Merchant Marines during World War II from 1943 until 1946.

A born salesman, he owned McPhail Oldsmobile-GMC in Natchez until he sold the business in 1969. He continued buying and selling until the last few years of his life.

He always had a wonderful way with people, a great sense of humor, a practical joker and a natural born optimist. He helped many who had fallen on hard times during his life. The joy of his life was spending time with family, his children, grandchildren, great-children and reaching out to those who needed a hand.

He was a member of the Optimist Club, the Civitan Club and was a pro at convincing you to take some fruitcakes during the holiday season. He was an active member and deacon of Salem Primitive Baptist Church in Natchez and Jackson Primitive Baptist Church in Jackson after moving there.

Survivors include his wife, Jean; two daughters, Twana Crenshaw and husband, Edwin, of Tupelo, and Terri Todd of Hotchkiss, Colo.; grandchildren, Corinne McNamara and wife, Reeve, Bryan Todd, Barrot Lambdin and wife, Heena, and Yancey Todd; brother, John A. McPhail; two great-grandchildren and two on the way; and a number of nephews and nieces.

In lieu flowers, donations may be made to Hospice Ministries, 450 Town Center Blvd. Ridgeland, MS 39157 or the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, 34 Washington St. Suite 200 Wellesley Hills, MA 02481.