Jack Pelletier Leavel

March 6, 1942 – January 1, 2018

            Jack Pelletier Leavel of Cary and New Bern, North Carolina died peacefully on January 1st, 2018 from complications related to Parkinson’s disease. Jack was born on March 6th, 1942 in Greensboro, North Carolina. He was the son of the late Lynn R. and Ruby P. Leavel. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Janet Bryan Leavel; his son, Robert L. Leavel and wife, Paige, of Moseley, Virginia; his granddaughter, Kristen Leavel; his sister, Beth Leavel; and nephews T.J. and Sam Milne; as well as cousins and extended family.

            Jack grew up in a Navy family in Greensboro, North Carolina and Oakland, California before moving to Raleigh, North Carolina during middle school. He was a member of the class of 1960 at Broughton High School in Raleigh. It was at Broughton that he began dating his future wife, Janet Bryan, in the ninth grade. After high school graduation, Jack and Janet married in June of 1960 before Jack enrolled at North Carolina State University. Jack graduated from N.C. State in 1964 with a degree in business.

            After graduation, Jack and Janet lived in the Raleigh area where both worked and Jack served in the National Guard. They eventually moved to the New Bern, North Carolina in 1968 where Jack began working full time for a construction company started by his father-in-law in 1957. Jack learned the business from his father-in-law and began to expand his role in the company while he and Janet started a family in 1969.

Upon the death of his father-in-law in 1971, Jack formed a partnership with another principal in the company to keep the company open and moving forward. Trader Construction continued to grow and expand under the partnership and would become a very successful company with many of their projects visible throughout Eastern North Carolina. Jack continued the successful partnership for almost forty years before selling his portion to his partner and retiring in 2009.

            While living in New Bern, Jack was an active member of the community. He served on the Board of Wachovia Bank, served as President of the New Bern Rotary Club, was a Paul Harris Fellow in the Rotary Club, and supported many charitable organizations. Jack took both time and resources to support numerous local causes and individuals often times behind the scenes with no desire for recognition.

            Jack loved spending time with his family and travel was a popular hobby. Numerous trips abroad with Janet and father and son hunting trips to Scotland and fishing trips to British Columbia were a few of his favorites. He also enjoyed spending as much time as possible with his granddaughter watching her grow up and attending as many volleyball matches and other important events in her life as possible He was extremely proud of his family and his family, friends, and co-workers were extremely blessed to have had him in their lives.

            A service will be held at Centenary United Methodist Church at 309 New Street in New Bern, North Carolina at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 14, 2018. After the service, a reception will be held in the church fellowship hall.

            In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made to fund Parkinson’s research or to another charity of your choice.

            Arrangements are by Strickland Funeral Home, Louisburg, www.stricklandfuneralhome.net.

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