BRANDON — On Dec. 28, 2013, Calvin “Don” Brantley, 93, left his earthly home to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Funeral services are 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013, in the chapel of Ott and Lee Funeral Home in Brandon. Interment will follow in Lakewood Memorial Park in Jackson.

Visitation will be today from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home, and Tuesday from 9:30 a.m. until the service.

Don was born to Fermon and Minnie Brantley in Sebastopol, on March 5, 1920, and grew up in Walnut Grove. In 1940, he married his sweetheart, Dorothy Boyles. They were married for 70 years until her death in 2011. He joined the Merchant Marine during World War II and made several trips across the Atlantic and Pacific during his service.

After the war, Don and Dot moved to Jackson, where he was a butcher and meat market manager for A & P Grocery Store. In 1951, he helped form Bill’s Institutional Commissary (B.I.C.), serving on the board of directors and as president of the meat processing division (National Sales Meat Processing Co.). He worked there for 38 years helping to develop it into one of the largest food distribution companies in the Southeast.

He retired in 1986. During his lifetime, he enjoyed golf, spending time with family and friends, going to sporting events and going on vacations.

After his retirement, and until his death, he loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Don was a kind, friendly Christian man who never met a stranger and if he had a long enough conversation with you, he would somehow figure out he was related to you.

Up until he was 90, he went to the fitness club on a daily basis and drank coffee with his buddies after his workout. He was a faithful member of Alta Woods Baptist Church for 60 years.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Dorothy; a sister, Genelle; and two brothers, Eugene and William Junior.

He is survived by his sons, Terry Brantley (Jodi) of Jackson, Michael Brantley (Tiffany) of Vicksburg, and Kevin Brantley (Patti) of Brandon; 10 grandchildren, Lauren Ball (Ron), Rollyn Childers (Todd), Keith Brantley, Jr. (Jamie), Emily Halbach, Chris Halbach, Rush Halbach, Ryan Brantley, Jenna Brantley, Kyle Brantley, and Blair Brantley (Jena); seven great-grandchildren, Jordan, Julia, and Ryne Ball, London Childers, Emme Louise Brantley, Grayson Halbach and Anna Laurie Gray; a sister, Bonnie Sartin (Sedgie) of Prosper, Texas; and a sister-in-law, Inez Boyles of Louisville.

The family would like to thank the staff at Briar Hill Rest Home for their wonderful and compassionate care during the last two years.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Alta Woods Baptist Church, 168 Colonial Drive, Jackson, MS 39204