Henry Clay "Happy" Sevier, Jr.- Submitted for the
USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier March 9, 2016
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Henry Clay
"Happy" Sevier, Jr.- Madison Parish,
Louisiana
From New
Orleans Advocate March 9, 2016
Henry
Clay "Happy" Sevier, Jr. peacefully passed away on Friday, March 4,
2016, at his home in Covington, Louisiana. Happy was born on September 22,
1925, to Henry
Clay and Retta Brooks Sevier in Tallulah, Louisiana. He was
predeceased by his beloved wife of 67 years, Marilyn Smith
Sevier; his grandson, Andrew Clayton Elkins; and his sisters, Carolyn
"Callie" Yerger Ratcliff and Roberta
"Beta" Gandy.
Described
by his friends and family as a "true Southern gentleman," Happy was a
graduate of Darlington School in Rome, Georgia, where he was voted "Most
Likely to Succeed." WWII interrupted Happy's
college years. He served three years active duty in the U.S. Navy and was
stationed at Manila in the Philippines (Asiatic-Pacific Theater Medal, American
Area Medal, Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal, and Good Conduct
Medal).
After the
war, Happy returned to LSU, where he was a member of Kappa Alpha Order. He
received his BA from LSU in '48. In 1950, he received his LLB from LSU Law
School, and he joined his father's law firm in Tallulah. At the time of his
retirement in 1997, Happy was the senior member of the law firm of Sevier,
Yerger, and Bishop.
Happy
served on the Board of Governors of the Louisiana State Bar Association and had
been a member for 66 years. He also served as President of the Sixth Judicial
Bar Association, the Madison Parish Chamber of Commerce, the Tallulah Rotary
Club and the Tallulah Country Club. Happy served as Secretary of the LSU Alumni
Federation, as a member of the Board of Directors of Tallulah State Bank and
Trust Company and the Madison Parish Port, Harbor, and Terminal District. He
was a member of Scott Nicols Voak
Post #100 of the American Legion and retired as Captain in the United States
Air Force Reserve (JAG). Happy was ordained as an elder of the Tallulah
Presbyterian Church.
After his
retirement in 1997, he and Marilyn moved to Covington, where they were members
of Covington Presbyterian Church. In his retirement, Happy enjoyed reconnecting
with friends from his Lookout Mountain Camp days, and from college. Happy
enjoyed hunting, golf, and photography. A great storyteller, he entertained his
grandchildren with his stories, his Southern charm, and his rendition of
"Chattanooga Choo Choo."
Happy is survived by his four children, Linda Mann (Joe), Janet Favrot (Thomas), Mary Kate Elkins (Gary), and Henry Clay
Sevier, III (Tammie Morgan); 12 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren, 1
great-great grandchild, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Happy was
the direct descendent of John Sevier, first Governor of Tennessee and
Revolutionary War hero. Happy's family would like to
especially thank the Care Team at the Maison Grace
Memory Care Community of The Trace, and to Passages Hospice, for their loving
care of Happy. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Tallulah
Presbyterian Church, 301 Cleveland St., Tallulah, LA 71282, or to Isidore Newman School (memo line: Andrew Elkins Memorial
Fund), 1903 Jefferson Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70115.
A memorial
service is scheduled for Monday, March 21, 2016, at 11 a.m. at Tallulah
Presbyterian Church, 409 Cleveland St., Tallulah, LA 71282, with a reception to
follow.