“Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me?” Jeremiah 32:27

Ira Ned Formby, Sr, age 79, of Picayune, MS, passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday, October 10, 2015. Funeral services will be held Thursday, October 15, 2015, at 3:00 p.m. at McDonald Funeral Home Chapel. Visitation will precede the services from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.; interment will follow at New Palestine Cemetery under the direction of McDonald Funeral Home.

Dr. Keith Warden will officiate at the service, assisted by Rev. Lourie Formby.

A native of Picayune, MS, Ned Sr. started his career with Southern Pacific Railroad in New Orleans. He later became an electronics technician at Stennis Space Center for

the Apollo Moon Missions (later, the Space Shuttle Program) until 1977, when a test-stand accident forced him into early retirement.  During his career at Stennis, he invented and made many money-saving process improvements that are still in use today. Ned Sr. also worked as a volunteer fireman for the city of Picayune, and he was a small-business entrepreneur for many years. Ned Sr. never met a stranger. He had a love of telling jokes and anecdotes and always made people smile. He was an avid gardener and fed many folks with his vegetables and fruits. He also enjoyed researching local history and doing genealogy research.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lourie Negbert Formby, Sr, and Bertha Adell Stockstill Formby; his grandson, Christopher James Formby; his sisters, Hilda Formby Hoffmann, Hazel Formby Dailey, and Sara Lynn Formby Huffman; and his brother, Lourie N. Formby, Jr.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 60 years, Virginia Nell Watkins Formby; his children: Ned (Amy Jo) Formby, Jr., Cindy Formby (Jay) Penton,  James Dean (Mary) Formby, and Don Formby; 7 grandchildren: Summer Penton (Jody) Browder, Ashley Penton (John) Mitchell, Angie Formby (Terry) Libby, Tony (Juana) Secondine, Jesse Secondine, Brent Secondine, and Derek Formby; 11 great-grandchildren: Ava and Landon Browder, John and James Mitchell; Mason, Riley, and Elizabeth Libby, Todd (Mandi) Kramer, Cade and Kailey Secondine, Ariana Secondine, and Madalynn Secondine; and great-great-grandson, Gunner Kramer; his sisters, Mary Ellen Formby Davis and Frances Formby Beeson; his sister-in-law Patricia Stuart Formby;  his brother-in-law, Toxie Keyton (Delores) Watkins; and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Ella’s Light Children’s Ministry.

Obituary, register book, and driving directions can be found on the Internet page at www.mcdonaldfh.com.