Jack LaValley

Jack (John C.) LaValley, age 68, of Lawton Foster Road North, Hope Valley, died Monday, June 20, 2011, at The Westerly Hospital. He was the husband of Barbara J. (Jeanne) LaValley.
Jack was born in 1942 in Cranston, R.I., to the late Victor and Ruth (Hegberg) LaValley.
Early on, he was employed by Leesona Corporation, then spent the last 40 years as a contractor, carpenter and timber framer.
Jack was a mentor to many, a true "Swamp Yankee", and loved fishing, hunting and hockey. He had a keen knowledge and love of nature and wildlife, bird watching and "his" chipmunks.
He was also well known for his cooking and amazing desserts.
Jack's wealth of knowledge made him the "go-to" man for troubleshooting almost everything. His self-built post and beam home is known to many for its character, workmanship and true Yankee ingenuity, and is known to all as "The House that Jack Built."
He generously gave of himself and his possessions to anyone who was in need. Thus, there are not many people who knew him who are not the recipients of something he's crafted or advice he has imparted. His spirit will live on in his handiwork.
Besides his loving wife, this gentle giant will be greatly missed by his children, Brian K. Johnson of Hope Valley, and Noel C. Johnson and his wife, Donna; as well as his four grandchildren, Nickolas and Nathan Johnson of Warwick, and West and Camden Johnson of Newport.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service Saturday, July 9, 2011, at 11 a.m. in the S.R. Avery Funeral Home, at Main and Bank streets, Hope Valley. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Audubon Society, 12 Sanderson Road, Smithfield, RI 02917
For online condolences, www.averyfuneralhome.com.