Jack Morris Grace Jr

A Celebration of Life for Jack Morris Grace, Jr., 74, of Saint Joseph,LA, will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Saint Joseph on Friday, February 03, 2017, at 10:00 AM with Rev. Wanda Smith officiating. Interment will follow at Legion Memorial Cemetery, Newellton, LA, under the direction of Young's Funeral Home. Jack Morris Grace, Jr., was born on Tuesday, September 22, 1942, in Warren County, MS, and passed away Monday, January 30, 2017, at River Regional Medical Center in Vicksburg, MS. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of St. Joseph. In 1960 Jack graduated from Joseph Moore Davidson High School in Saint Joseph and enrolled into Louisiana Tech University where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. After serving in the ROTC, he graduated in 1965 with a degree in Finance and was commissioned into the United States Air Force as a First Lieutenant. He served his country during the Vietnam War stationed at Hurlburt Field, Eglin Air Force Base in Fort Walton Beach, FL, and Clark Air Force Base in Manila, Republic of the Philippines. Jack married Qualeen Whitehead, of Cottonwood, AL, on March 13, 1967. He received an honorable discharge with the rank of Captain in April 1969. Jack returned to Saint Joseph to his high school and summer job at the Bank of Saint Joseph & Trust Co., now known as Cross Keys Bank, as a Teller. He worked his way up to Executive Vice President/Chief Operations Officer. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 1986. He retired from Cross Keys Bank in 2008 with 48 years of service. He served as a bank director for 30 years until 2016. Throughout his life he enjoyed photography, fishing, hunting, antiquing, playing cards, winning at BINGO, vacationing with family, golf, tennis and every sport his children and grandchildren participated. Jack was very active in the community. He served as an alderman for the city of Saint Joseph for 36 years. He served on the Tensas Academy school board as Treasurer. He spent many years involved with Dixie Youth Baseball and the Boy Scouts of America. He served as president of the Saint Joseph Arts. He was integral in organizing the Turkey Trot and Jake fun runs. He volunteered countless hours to the Tensas Athletic association. He was active in the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars, American Legion, and Rotary International. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack Morris Grace, Sr. and Katherine Payne Grace. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Qualeen Grace of Saint Joseph, LA, his son Paul Grace and wife Lisa of Orlando, FL - children Kaitlyn and Sean, son Kevin Grace and wife Nicole of Petal, MS - children Ryan, Sawyer, Jack Riley, and Vivian, son Travis Grace and Kelsey Leake of Saint Joseph, LA, brother Mike Grace and wife Peggy of Baton Rouge, LA, Aunt Joyce Payne Tidwell Wall, and 12 nephews and nieces. Pallbearers will be Ben Watson, Brooks Watson, Scott Watson, Darrell VandeVen, Donnie VandeVen, and Hank Rabb. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Saint Joseph, Tensas Academy, or Millsaps College football in Jackson, MS. Honorary Pallbearers will be the Current and Former Cross Keys Bank Directors and the Men's Prayer Breakfast Group of the First United Methodist Church of Saint Joseph. The family will receive friends at Young's Funeral Home in Ferriday,LA, from 6:00 PM til 9:00 PM, Thursday, February 02, 2017. To leave an online condolence for the family please visit www.youngsfh.com.

Jack Morris Grace Jr

September 22, 1942 - January 30, 2017