|
Jack Yelverton was a cowboy and a biker. He loved riding his horse and his
Harley. he jumped out of airplanes. He drove fast. He loved women. His son,
Stephen, once said: "My dad is a real chick magnet." And he was! He was a rock:
the strong, silent type. He could curse like a sailor, but knew how to be a
gentleman. Jack's career was dedicated to justice and law enforcement and to
mentoring young lawyers. He was the most ethical public servant Louisiana will
ever have. The Jack we knew began to disappear about seven years ago, as he was
diagnosed with vascular dementia. His long good-bye ended on Saturday, April 7,
2012, at Sunrise of Baton Rouge.
Jack Edward Yelverton was born June 7, 1933, in
Delhi, Louisiana, to Robert Edward and Bernice Bruce Yelverton, who were
sharecroppers on the Delco Plantation, on which Jack's grandfather was the
overseer. During the mobilization to support entry of the United States into
WWII, the family moved to Vicksburg, MS, where Jack's father became a machinist,
and where Jack graduated from Carr Central High School in 1951.
Jack served
three years in the U.S. Army, Airborne Division, during the Korean War.
Following military service, he attained his undergraduate degree in business
from Centenary College and LSU, using the G.I. Bill and working as a clerk on
the Illinois Central Railroad in Shreveport and Baton Rouge.
Jack continued to
work fulltime for the Railroad at night, while attending LSU Law School fulltime
during the day, achieving his law degree in February, 1963. Jack subsequently
served three Attorneys General of the state of Louisiana: Jack Gremillion, Billy
Guste, and Richard Ieyoub. He served as chief of the A.G.'s Criminal Division,
as First Assistant Attorney General, and as Executive Counsel. Jack was the
founding director of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association. He also
founded and directed the Criminal Justice Institute. During the 1980s, he served
as Executive Director of the National District Attorneys Association in Chicago
and Washington, D.C. H was also president and co-founder of the American
Prosecutors Research Institute, which worked with the U.S. Department of Justice
to provide standard reference and training manuals for investigating and
prosecuting child abuse cases and drug trafficking cases. In retirement, Jack
enjoyed traveling, and, much to his surprise, he became a cat person.
Jack is
survived by his children, Patsy Hudson and husband Steve, of Eureka Springs, AR,
Michael Yelverton, of Baton Rouge, Stephen Yelverton, of Covington,KY, and Tim
Yelverton and wife Margie, of Prairieville. His grandchildren are Chris Guerin,
Tyler Hudson and T.J. Hudson. He is also survived by his sister, Sue Sharp, and
her husband John, of Macon, GA, and their children, grandchildren and
great-grandchildren. Also surviving Jack is his wife of 15 years, Donna Vandever
Yelverton, of Baton Rouge. Donna fell in love with Jack at first sight nearly 40
years ago, and he has been the great love of her life.
Jack is also survived by
his favorite mother-in-law, Anna Leger Vandever, of Lake Charles, and Donna's
sister and three brothers and sisters-in-law, as well as 13 nieces and nephews,
and three great-nieces, all of Lake Charles and Brenham, Texas. His cats, Misty
and Dusty, already miss Jack and his lap.
Visitation will be held at Rabenhorst
Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd., on Tuesday, April 10, from 5 p.m. to 8
p.m. Visitation at The Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Blvd., on
Wednesday, April 11, from 9 a.m. until services at 10 a.m. Graveside service to
follow at Masonic Cemetery, Rayville, at 3:30 p.m., arranged by Mulhearn Funeral
Home of Rayville. Jack's family expresses many thanks to the caregivers at
Sunrise of Baton Rouge/Reminisence, and to Hospice of Baton Rouge. Thanks to
Alzheimer's Services for support over the last seven years. Thanks to Pat
Bellard and other caregivers from Home Instead Senior Care. Memorial donations
may be made to Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Siegen Lane, Suite A, Baton Rouge,
LA 70810.
Published in The Advocate from Apr. 9 to Apr. 10, 2012 |
