Rodney Joseph Lavergne

Rodney (Mike) Joseph Lavergne, 76, of Tacoma, WA passed away January 24, 2014 in Tacoma, WA. A military memorial service will be held at the Tahoma National Cemetery in Covington WA on February 21, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. He was born in Rayne LA, to Lionel and AnnaMae Lavergne, on September 29, 1937, although we didn't know his real date of birth until he became eligible for Medicare. We had always believed his birthdate to be October 13, 1937. He joined the military as a teenager and served in the US Army for over 20 years. While stationed in France, he met and married Marie Claude Texier, they had 3 daughters together. He served in the US, Korea, Vietnam, France and Germany, and after 20 years of service, he retired and settled in Washington State. He was awarded the National Defense Service medal, the Bronze Star, the Army Commendation Medal w/10LC, Good Conduct Medal (5th award), and the Meritorious Service Medal. He then found employment in Saudi Arabia in the field of Logistics from 1980 to 1989. When he returned to the US he made his home in Louisiana, where he married Linda Fisher, his second wife and sat down to indulge in his favorite past time, watching college football and collecting LSU Tiger paraphernalia. After his marriage to Linda ended, he turned to Jesus and was baptized October 7, 2012. He returned to Washington the summer of 2013 to be closer to his three daughters and their families and resided at Point Defiance Retirement Village. It was at his residence where The Lord peacefully called him home. He will be missed by his family and friends. Rodney is preceded in death by his wife Marie Claude Lavergne, his parents, Lionel and AnnaMae, and one brother Russell Lavergne. He is survived by his sisters Ramona Broussard, Sylvia DeVille, Goldie Comeaux and brother, Rayford Lavergne, his ex-wife Linda Jo Lavergne, and his three daughters, Sandra Skidmore, Sylvia Gwynn and Carole Edenfield, six grandchildren, Tamara Tyler, Steven Daniels, Andrew Edenfield, Amanda Edenfield, Brittany Evanson and Aaron Edenfield and seven great grandchildren, Jaxon Gilbreath, Isabella Marie Duff, Lillian Marie Evanson, Kylie Marie Edenfield, Preston Daniels, Korbyn Lindan and Taliya Tyler. Please sign in and share your memories.