James C. "Hamp" Gullatt, age 79, went to meet the Lord on Tuesday morning, September 26, 2006.

Hamp was born in Shawmut, AL but resided in Pensacola for the past 60 years. He was a member of the Myrtle Grove Baptist Church, the Hadji Shrine Scottish Rite Lodge 296, Brownsville Masonic Lodge and American Legion #240.

He was a World War II veteran and served with the Sea Bees as a Machinist Mate 1st Class in the Philippines.

Hamp retired from Gulf Power Company after 37 years, where he began his career in appliance repair and retired as supervisor of building maintenance for northwest Florida.

Hamp was a competitor and a racer. In his early years, he raced cars at Five Flags Speedway. In his middle years, he raced boats as a 20-year member of the American Power Boat Association winning two National Points Championships, and in his later years, raced lawn mowers. He found his nitch in designing and fabricating outboard racing propellers. He was cupping propellers four years before Klekhaefer Mercury patented the idea as their own in the early 70's. Hamp was inventor, innovator, machinist, mechanic and cook. His basting and barbeque sauce were known to friends and relatives as better than any on the market today.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Marveline Bailey Gullatt; three children, Linda Salter, James "Bubba" Gullatt (Charlotte) and Jeffery Gullatt (Jackie); seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Peggy Shelton.

For those who knew and loved him, he will be greatly missed.

Funeral services will be held at Pensacola Memorial Gardens Funeral Home Thursday, September 28, 2006 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Alton Butler and Rev. Ron Lentine officiating. Visitation will be at 12:30 p.m. until service time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Covenant Hospice, West Team.

Active pallbearers will be Chris Salter, Jason Gullatt, Brian Gullatt, Clayton Gullatt and Chris Rogers