Wyatt Rufus Broadus, Jr., 89 of McHenry and known by most everyone as "Shoat", was reunited with his daughter Sherri Sunday morning, December 11th, at Memorial Hospital in Gulfport. He was born September 19, 1933, at the old Broadus home place off Riceville Road in McHenry. Shoat was the only son and third of four children to W. R. "Buck" and Cleta (Dickson) Broadus, Sr. and grew up on the outskirts of metropolitan McHenry. A rural country family, there was always work to be done around the family farm. Always. Animals to tend to or feed, crops to plant, plow, or pick, sheep to shear, cows to call up, hay to haul...always something that needed doin'. If there was any free time, it was a swim in Little Biloxi, which usually doubled as a bath as well. Shoat attended school at McHenry, riding his horse to school quite a lot. When school days were done there, it was on to Perkinston Agricultural High School and Shoat caught the bus at Blackwell's store. He enjoyed football, and was quite the athlete from all accounts, lettering during his time there. After graduating in the early 50s, he stayed around home for a while, helping out his dad on the farm. He and a friend went to Wiggins to watch a movie at the Straub Theater one evening. While there, a young lady who was there with her friend as well, happened to catch his eye and the rest, as they say, is history. After courting for a couple of years, Shoat and LaQuita were married April 23, 1962, and made their home in Wiggins for the first few years. Shoat worked as a night watchman at the pole yard, and they enjoyed going out to eat and to the movies, at both the Straub as well as the drive-in theater. The family moved to McHenry in the mid 60s, so he could be closer to home and help his dad with things. Shoat went to work in the logging woods and pretty much did that his entire career, working for Percy O'neal, Hercules, Inc., Hickman Logging, and a few others in his time. Eventually, they moved out on Riceville Road, just across from his old home place, and have lived there for the past fifty years. In that time, he hasn't strayed very far from McHenry, unless he absolutely had to. No, he would prefer to be around the house or barn, taking care of whatever needed to be done, and as usual, there was always something. Shoat eventually got away from the sheep but has kept his grandfather's line of Piney Woods cattle from his dad, and still has them today. He planted and grew gardens every year, growing his vegetables and some of the best watermelons and tomatoes every year. Yes, country life is how he was raised and how he lived. He is fondly remembered as a devoted and loving husband, father, and grandfather. Now if you truly knew him, then you know what type of man he was because that is how he was brought up. Shoat was firm when he had to be, wasn't afraid of work, and was most definitely "set in his ways", but he was also a fun-loving, personable man as well. He truly loved his family now, but his love was most visible with their daughter, Sherri. Shoat would hold and rock her all the time, cared for and bathed her daily, and would do whatever he could to bring a smile to her face, which he was pretty good at too. In what little spare time he had, Shoat played softball and was well-known for his pitching. He threw one of the highest, perfectly still knuckle-balls around. If the label on the ball faced you, you could literally read it as it approached the plate. Shoat was pretty good with the bat as well and had lots of fun playing over the years. There is so much more than could ever be contained in these few words about this man. For those who were close to him through the years, you know. For example, he could tell you, right down to the day, just how long he had lived at any given point. And by far the most endearing thing about him, was the names he gave out. Oh those closest to him...they were never called by their true name, rather Shoat gave you a name, and that is how he knew you. It is often said of people that "they broke the mold"...or "there won't ever be another". Well those things have never been more true...than in this case. Shoat will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him. He was preceded by his parents, Buck and Cleta Broadus, his sisters: Floy Stewart and Wilma O'Neal; and their daughter, Sherri. Left to cherish the many fond memories are: his loving wife and companion of over sixty years, LaQuita; their children: son Scott (Amanda) Broadus of Copperas Cove, TX and daughter Sandi (Gomez) Parker of McHenry; with one sister, Marlene (Lionel) Ladner of the Kiln. Shoat leaves a legacy of seven grandchildren: Steven (Jaimee) Broadus of CA, Alyssa (Shawn) Hood, Cassie, and Stephanie Broadus, all of GA, Brandon Broadus of TX, Zachary Portrey of LA, and Kaite (Jonathan) Borho of Saucier; ten great-grands: Alexa, Michael, Jaxon, Aubrey, Isaiah, Carter, Savannah, Ryan, Elijah, and Julian, with numerous extended family members and more friends and neighbors than could be counted. Shoat didn't want anything "fancy" for services, and his family is doing their best to honor his wishes. A graveside service is set for 2:00 PM Tuesday afternoon, December 13th, in McHenry Oaklawn Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest beside Sherri. Trinity Funeral Services is honored to serve the Broadus family in their time of need and asks that everyone remember them in your thoughts and prayers during this trying time.