Buron Dewell
Jeffcoat
(06-26-2008)
Buron Dewell Jeffcoat, 88,
long time resident of Dubach passed away on Sunday June 22 at his
home in Knoxville. Funeral services will be held on Saturday at 2
p.m. at First Baptist Church of Dubach, Louisiana. Bro. Terry Gainey
will officiate the service with internment to follow at Pine Grove
Cemetery, Bernice, LA.
Mr. Jeffcoat was born in Forkville, Mississippi, and moved to the
Hilly area as a young child. He played basketball, football, and
baseball at Dubach High where his baseball team went to the state
championship three times, winning state two times. He married his
childhood sweetheart, Lois Gray, in Vienna, LA in 1940.
Mr. Jeffcoat served his country in combat during World War II in
France, Belgium, Holland, and finally Germany with Co. E of the
508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, the Red Devils of the
All-American Division, attached to the 82nd Airborne. He made 9
jumps, with 5 being in combat and fought in the Bulge. During the
occupation of Germany, his regiment served as General Eisenhower’s
honor guard in Frankfort where he built furniture for the General’s
personal office. He also played center field on the company baseball
team. After the war, he and Lois lived in Bernice, where he was a
member of the Bernice Lions baseball team, winners of the Big Eight
pennant in 1949.
Mr. Jeffcoat was a carpenter and a contractor in Ruston for many
years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman and taught many young
people to enjoy and respect the natural world. |
He was a member of the First Baptist
Church where he sang in the choir.
He is survived by his sister, Helen Jeffcoat Delony of Russellville,
AR; sons, James Rodney Jeffcoat and wife Louise of Florence, Ala.,
and John Kervin Jeffcoat and wife Ann of Dubach; daughter, Sharon
Jeffcoat Bartley and husband Ed of Knoxville, Tenn.; and 10
grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Jeffcoat is preceded in death by his wife of almost 68 years,
Lois Gray Jeffcoat; parents, Henry and Mary Jefcoat of Hilly, LA;
daughter, Delois Ann Jeffcoat Barnett of Minden, LA; brothers Hays
Jefcoat of Sulphur, R.C. Jefcoat of Lafayette, and George Malcolm
Jefcoat of Ruston, and sisters, Ezell Destafano of Monroe, Birdell
Pogue of Monroe, and Milbur Owen of Dubach; and a grandson, William
Shawn Barnett of Minden.
Pallbearers are grandsons De Wayne Barnett, Jeffrey Dewell Thompson,
and Jon Patrick Jeffcoat; nephew, Johnny Jefcoat, and great-nephews,
Cass Jefcoat and Mitchell Jefcoat. Honorary pallbearers are the
members of the James Hamilton Sunday School Class, First Baptist,
Dubach, LA.
The family would like to especially thank Dr. Jeffrey Robinson of
Knoxville for his concern and care; the nurses and staff on 3rd
Riverstone, and 4th Montvue of Parkwest Hospital, Knoxville, and the
Adventa Hospice of Knoxville.
Visitation for friends and family will be Friday from 5-8 at
Kilpatrick’s Funeral Home in Ruston and Saturday at 1 p.m. till
service time at First Baptist, Dubach. |
(courtesy of B. Lynn Couch)
Grave marker for Buron D. Jeffcoat and spouse in
the Pine Grove Cemetery, Bernice (Union Parish), Louisiana.
Buron enlisted in the Army at Camp Beauregard, LA
on 14 April 1944.
After completion of basic training and jump school
he was sent overseas.
On 13 February 1945 Pvt Jeffcoat was transferred
from the 3rd Replacement Depot to Company E, 508th which by that
time was acting as Honor Guard in Frankfort, Germany. |
