Obituary Record

Randolph J. Ladner succumbs at Orleans after siege of illness

Business Man and County Leader Passes away at 54 - Was affiliated with many substantial enterprises -beloved by all who knew him.

Hancock County was called again Sunday to surrender to the inevitable another of its leading citizens following a long line of prominent and successful men of this city and county who have crossed the bar within a comparative short span of a few years.

Randolph J. Ladner, native of Lakeshore, aged 54 years, and son of the late Victor and Winnie Ladner, also of Lakeshore, passed away at Hotel Dieu Sunday morning at about 10:30 o'clock, surrounded by his loved ones.

He had long been ailing from time to time. Recently on several occasions his condition would take a bad turn, but the excellent care he received would cause him to rally and he would return home from hospital apparently with new lease on life. However, a victim of heart ailment, and subsequent complications that set in, his last attack (thrombosis) caused him to lose a valiant fight he had put up.

Mr. Ladner was a man of indomitable will. He wanted to live. He had much to live for, family and friends and varied interests that meant so much to the community. He fought the fight bravely, like a good soldier, but in the last finality of things all was in vain and he paid natures debt.

Mr. Ladner was educated in the public schools of Hancock county. Born in the country this proved no handicap for he was self-made, self-reliant and self-determined. He was ambitious and a man of enterprise. A doer not only for himself but always with the welfare of others in mind. He created jobs for others and was never known to turn away anyone in quest of help.

He was a member of the board of directors of Hancock County Bank, his services valued highly. While he had served from time to time in various capacities, at the time of his death he was chairman of the Board of Election Commissioners of Hancock county, a trust he had held repeatedly.

He was a firm believer in the possibilities of livestock raising in Hancock county and placed his faith to the active test. His herd of livestock in and around Lakeshore was always large and consisted of animals in fine condition. It was a living exhibition of one of the many things that one may do in Hancock county.

Engaged in the piling business from 1913 to 1922, he retired for a time from active business. But a man of active mind and doing, he was soon back in business and in 1924 purchased the Bay Ice Company with a number of associates, he, however, retaining the larger and controlling portion of his business made quite a go. However, his health failing, he disposed of the ice-making plant to the present owner from Laurel, Miss., and also disposed of the ice sub-station in Waveland.

Rallying, his active business mind had to find an outlet and he purchased the Bay Canning Company, operators and shrimp and oysters. This was quite a large business and he again became quite active and successful. The business grew to such successful and large proportions that he decided to relinquish the responsibility and sold his interests to others, now known at the Marine Foods, Inc.

Associated with his sons, Ladner Bros. Fishing Camp, at the time of his passing he was interested in the Ladner-Chouest Cordwood Company, dealers in pulp wood for local paper mills, which was carried on an extensive scale.

He was the type known as the pioneer and developer of local resources. He was a man of vision and succeeded in whatever enterprise he embarked. Later years, however, he was handicapped by illness, which preyed on his mind but this apparently did not deter him from pursuing an active life. He was business man in every sense of the word.

In private life his charities were many, even though he ever attempted to conceal them. He gave freely and assisted every cause. He turned none from his door. He was ever willing to listen, to assist and his counsel was largely sought.

He is survived by his widow, the former Miss Corinne Walters; one daughter, Miss Beulah Ladner, three sons, Lloyd, Randolph J. Jr., and James. Three sisters, Mrs. Henry Green, Mrs. Robert Colly and Mrs. Victor Ladner; and three brothers, Dan, Carlos and Forest.

He was past master of Bay St. Louis Lodge, No. 429, F. & A. M., and was buried at Lakeshore cemetery from the Fahey Funeral Home.

Source: Sea Coast Echo