Leslie Laffere

Leslie H. Laffere died peacefully on December 23, 2018.

Mr. Laffere was born on a farm near Sharp, Texas to Charles F. And Olga M. Laffere on February 12, 1920. He attended grade school in the Duncan community near Sharp and later graduated as Valedictorian from Sharp High School. After graduation from high school, he attended college and began his lifelong pursuit of learning. He entered the Army Air Corp in April 1942, attending basic training in Wichita Falls, Texas and ultimately transferred to Kelly Field in San Antonio for active duty. In late 1943, he received his first overseas order and boarded a ship to Bombay, India, then ultimately flew to Kunming, China. He served until January 1946 when he was discharged as a Master Sergeant. After discharge from the service, he moved to Corpus Christi, Texas where he worked as the manager of a mortgage investment company. He married Mattie Lee Traxler in 1948 in Corpus Christi, Texas. Shortly after they married, the newlyweds moved to Uvalde, Texas where Mr. Laffere would begin his long and successful career in agriculture. Mr. and Mrs. Laffere had four children, Delanie, Charles "Bo", Don and Mark.

His farming career began as a partnership with his father-in-law, and two years later he began farming on his own. Over the course of over 40 years, Mr. Laffere continued to accumulate more farm land. The primary crops farmed were cotton, corn and produce.

In addition to his successful farming operation, he was actively involved in numerous agricultural related and civic organizations where he served as a Director and Chairman of the Board on many, including the Winter Garden Co-Op Gin in Batesville, Texas; First United Methodist Church, Uvalde, Texas; Uvalde Consolidated School District; Medina Electric Co-Op, Inc, Hondo, Texas; Uvalde Chamber of Commerce; Education Service Center, Region XX, San Antonio, Texas; South Texas Onion Committee, Mercedes, Texas; Gulf Compress, Corpus Christi, Texas; Nueces River Authority, Uvalde, Texas; Uvalde Production Credit; Texas Farm Credit Bank, Austin, Texas; National Farm Credit Board, Washington, D.C.; Texas A&M Research Center, Uvalde, Texas; Uvalde Rotary Club; Valley Co-Op Oil Mill, Harlingen; Texas Coastal Plains Production Credit, Robstown, TX; South Texas Plains, PCCA Pool Committee South Texas Division, Lubbock, TX; Texas Vegetable Association.

Mr. Laffere is survived by his children Delanie Wilson of Lufkin, son Don and daughter-in-law Mary Sue Laffere and daughter-in-law Sherry Laffere of Uvalde; his grandchildren Michelle Richardson of Lufkin, Sean Laffere and wife Whitney of Richmond, Shea Laffere, of Dallas, Brent Laffere and wife Chrissy of Dallas, Megan Laffere of Uvalde, Deidre Laffere of San Marcos, Brandon Laffere and wife Katie of Uvalde, Clint Laffere and wife Erin of San Antonio and Emily Bailey and husband Tim of Live Oak; great grandchildren Gavin Richardson, Charlie and Drew Laffere, Taylor and Connor Laffere, Madie, Caroline, Beau and Evelyn Laffere and Grady and Molly Laffere; and his wife Natalie of Palestine, Texas. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Mr. Laffere was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Mattie Lee of 46 years and sons Charles "Bo" and Mark Leslie Laffere. There will be a memorial service held for Mr. Laffere on Sunday, December 30, 2018 at 3:00 pm. at the First United Methodist Church, Uvalde, Texas. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to First United Methodist Church, 301 N. High St., Uvalde, Texas 78801, St. Phillips Episcopal School, 309 N. Piper Ln, Uvalde, Texas 78801 or the Uvalde Cactus Jack Foundation, PO Box 1707, Uvalde, Texas 78802-1707.

Pallbearers will be his grandsons and grandson-in-law. The family would like to recognize the loving care givers who became his special friends during the last several months of his life, Maria Luna, Diana Carreon, Michelle Ramirez and Emma Narvaez.

Visitation

RushingEstesKnowles Mortuary
220 S. Getty St.
Uvalde, TX  78801
Friday, December 28, 2018
9:00 a.m.

Service

Funeral Service

First United Methodist Church of Uvalde
301 N. High
Uvalde, TX  78801
Sunday, December 30, 2018
3:00 p.m.

Cemetery

Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery
1520 Harry Wurzbach Rd.
San Antonio, TX  78209