As people go, he was one of the best, Kevin James Hartigan, 57, died unexpectedly Tuesday, July 11, 2017 at North Miss. Medical Center from a blood clot a day after knee replacement surgery. Kevin and his family are the owners of Rebelanes. He was born on June 2, 1960, in Binghamton, New York to the late James and Lillian Decker Hartigan. He received his high school degree from Susquehanna Valley High School in Conklin, N.Y and later received a BA in History from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA where he was a member and past President of the Kappa Sigma Phi Fraternity. In l999, Kevin and his family relocated to Tupelo, MS. where they purchased and operated Rebelanes Bowling Center in Tupelo. Kevin’s life centered around bowling, his family, friends and faith. He had bowled successfully for 51 years, since age 6. Kevin was the first Junior bowler in New York State to average 200. Throughout his life, he bowled competitively in tournaments across the country winning state tournaments in New York and Mississippi. His bowling accomplishments included 18 “perfect” 300 games and 18 800 series in his career. Kevin loved the sport of bowling. He was past President of Bowling Proprietors Association of America, Miss./Ala. Chapter. Kevin traveled the state of Miss. to make bowling a high school sport recognized by MHSAA. He was inducted in the Mississippi Bowling Hall of Fame and was MS. High School Bowling “Coach of the Year” back to back years. Kevin loved all sports and was a avid New York Giants football fan and New York Yankees baseball fan. He enjoyed collecting sports memorabilia, esp. baseball cards and playing fantasy sports. A strong family man, he mentored his 3 sons in bowling but most important to him was that they were good men. He loved being “Gramps” and spoiling his grandsons. He was the most wonderful husband and best friend to Lisa for 30 years. He loved, coached and was a father figure to many young people. He was a big guy with a bigger heart and a generous soul and a devout Catholic. He faithfully attended St. James Catholic Church and Adoration each week.
A Mass will be recited at 10 AM Saturday, July 15, 2017 at St. James Catholic Church in Tupelo with Father Lincoln Dall presiding. Burial will follow in Tupelo Memorial Park on Joyner St. Visitation will be from 5 PM-8PM Friday, July 14, 2017 at the Tupelo Chapel of Holland Funeral Directors. A rosary will be recited at 8 PM. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
Those most special to him surviving include his wife, Lisa Wall Hartigan, to whom he married on May 16, l987; his three sons, Matthew “Matt”, Timothy “Timmy” and Lucas Hartigan all of Tupelo; 2 grandsons, Noah and Mattox; his brother, Christopher “Chris” (Liz) Hartigan of Pittsburgh, PA, two “special” brothers, Rudy ( Kristie) Kasimakis and Tom Cleary, his step mother, Agnes Hartigan and step sister, Meg (Stephen) Stone all of Binghamton, NY. His nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Julia, Mark, Jamison, Siena and Sydney. He was preceded in death by his Mom, Lillian and his father, James and his mother in law Sally Wall
Pallbearers will be Rudy Kasimakis, Austin Laney, Brandon “Woody” Wood, A. J. Bratton, Jamison “Jamie” Stone, Caleb Goonan, Will Lowrey, Aubrey Boren and Brian Dudley. Honorary pallbearers will be Cody Chambers, Frank Arvonio, Kayla Drish, Shaune Holliday, Aubrey Boren and the TCPS Bowling teams.
Memorials may be made to TCPS sports programs, 5440 Endville Road, Belden, MS. 38826 or to American Diabetes Association, 2451 Crystal Drive, Suite 900, Arlington, VA. 22202
