Graveside services for Otis Thornton Carollo, 84, of Baton Rouge, LA and formerly of Leland will be at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 21, 2015 at Leland-Stoneville Cemetery. He died Saturday, May 16 in Yazoo City.
He was born on November 4, 1930 in Leland, MS to Charles Joseph Carollo and Lucile Thornton Carollo. He attended Leland High School and upon graduation in 1949 he joined the U. S. Army and was stationed at Fort Sill, OK. Later he served active combat duty in the Korean War. After returning in 1951 he enrolled in Sunflower Junior College. He went on to Delta State Teachers College where he graduated in 1955. He enjoyed a stellar athletic career, and was a member of the 1954 undefeated football team at Delta State. He went on to become a longtime educator and coach, spending most of his teaching years in Baton Rouge, LA. One of his fondest memories was as head coach of Doyle High School in Livingston, LA in 1970-72. He loved to dance and never met a stranger. Otis was a kind soul who loved his family deeply.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Michael Fox Carollo, and three brothers, Johnny “Big John” Carollo, Paul Carollo and Sammy Carollo.
He is survived by his son, Marvin Carmel Carollo (Natalie) of Madison; two daughters, Gayla Love Carollo of Covington, LA and Mitzi Jeanette Carollo Tompkins (Lance) of Edwards; five brothers, Charles “Jr.” Carollo of Greenville, William “Billy” Carollo of Leland, Alphonse Carollo (Wanda) of Tuttle, OK, James Carollo of North Port, AL and Mike Carollo (Vicki) of Madison; five sisters, Roselyn St. Clair (Ed) of Denham Springs, LA, Camille Doiron (Warren) of Vicksburg, Sarah Marie Stanton of Greenville, Linda Winter of Jonesboro, AR and Barbara Ivy (David) of Brandon; six grandchildren, Paige, Megan, Mahlon, Jacob, Nathan, and Hailee; three great grandchildren and lots and lots of nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends from 9:30-11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 21 at Boone Funeral Home, Leland. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. James Catholic Church, Leland.