Jewel L. Huch

Jewel Huch was born in Fenton, MS, Hancock County to Victor and Paola Moran. She was the youngest daughter of 7 children. She graduated at the age of 17 from the New Orleans School of Cosmetology and moved to Biloxi to begin her career at Marinello's Beauty Shop. At the age of 19, she acquired ownership of the shop, only to sell it a few years later after meeting her future husband Oliver Huch.
Jewel began her life as a military wife in 1945 starting a program to aid and assist other military families to adjust to military life. She has been an ""Angel of Mercy"" giving of herself 100 percent to help friends, relatives, and neighbors in need while raising her own family. In 1980, Jewel became a giver of life donating a kidney to her youngest brother Ludger Moran. For this she was recognized at the 2001 Gift of Life Gala in Memphis, TN.
She gave to her community through many social and community service organizations including the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks as an Auxiliary Member and later as one of the first female Members, American Legion Auxiliary, Veterans Association, Krewe of Venus, Red Hat Society, Hibernia Marching Society, and was a charter member of the Long Beach Yacht Club. She served our veterans for 14 years with twice monthly Bingo and ice cream socials, earning a VA Award for 1000 hours of service. She received awards from the Elks as ""Lady Elk of the Year"" while an auxiliary member in 1980 and later ""Elk of the Year"" in 2004. She was an honorary founder of the Elks National Foundation and served as Chaplain for 7 years. Jewel was a charter member of the Krewe of Venus and was honored as their tenth Queen for this organization as well as serving as Queen for the American Legion and the Elks.
Never one to sit and always up for adventures, Jewel did a tandem jump with her son Craig in 1998. When asked if she would do another, she said no because it made Craig too nervous. She had a great desire to dance and had both knees replaced in the past decade in order to maintain her dancing skills.
Jewel is preceded in death by her husband Oliver C. Huch; her sisters Ruby Dubuisson, Ernie Ory, Cleo Bean, Effie Garriga; her brothers Agnel Moran and Ludger Moran. She is survived by her children Craig Huch and wife Dixie Peterson, Paula Huch, Kim Huch and husband Leon Bedwell; grandchildren, James Allen Bedwell and Livia Jewel Bedwell, step-grandchildren, Jason Peterson and Regina Peterson; longtime companion, Al O'Banion; and a multitude of nieces and nephews.
Jewel, this is a tribute to you for all you have done for your family and for others. She was a girl that grew up in the Kiln, went around the world and loved life. We love you and will miss you! May you dance!
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 am, Monday, March 7, 2016 at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Long Beach. Visitation begins at 9:30. Burial services will be at the National Cemetery in Biloxi at 12:30 pm. Reception will follow at the Long Beach Yacht Club at 1 PM.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Elks National Foundation Lodge #978 in memory of Jewel Huch. (Elks.org/donate).
The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, Long Beach, is serving the family and an online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com