Richard Fortier Jarvis

1927 - 2014

R. Jarvis Fortier, Sr.

LAFAYETTE - R. Jarvis Fortier, Sr., died at his home with family at his side, Saturday evening July 12, 2014. Jarvis was the son of Brown A. Fortier, Sr. and Leita DeGravelle Fortier, of Jeanerette. He was 86 years old. He was born and raised in New Orleans and graduated High School at St. Paul's in Covington. He proudly served his country as a member of the United States Navy during WWII. Jarvis held the state javelin record in high school. He came to Lafayette with a football scholarship to USL and worked his way through college as a disk jockey in radio with KSIG in Crowley. Jarvis was married to Eleanor Belle LaFleur Fortier from Ville Platte. He started with Hub City Ford in 1945 and today is in the top 60 Ford dealerships in sales out of 3100 dealerships in the United States, ranking number one in a 5 state district. At Hub City Ford, he was Co-Dealer, one of the owners, Chairman of the Board, and for most of his 69 years at Hub City Ford, he handled all of the advertising. Jarvis was the founder and manager of Hub City Ford's Truck Center. His tag line for many years in his advertising was "sale ends Monday night!"

Jarvis' passion was breeding race horses and he was a member of the LA Thoroughbred Breeders Association. He was a founding member of the Faith House of Lafayette. (In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Faith House at 1453 W. Willow St. Lafayette, LA 70506). Also a founding member of LJYA (Lafayette Juvenile Youth Association), a past member of the Louisiana Cattlemen's Association, and for many years raised Black Angus in the Youngsville area. Jarvis was a Catholic Cursillo member and active in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal.

Jarvis was preceded in death by his father, Brown A. Fortier; mother, Leita DeGravelle Fortier; and his brother Brown "Mickey" Fortier, Jr.

He is survived by his wife, Eleanor Belle LaFleur Fortier; his brother, Warren Fortier; his sister, Marcelle Fortier Citron; three sons, Richard J. Fortier, Jr. and his wife Candice, Robert Thomas "Tommy" Fortier, and William A. "Billy" Fortier and his wife Portia; one daughter, Pamela M. "Pam" Fortier; six grandchildren, Sarah Golz', Daniel Fortier, Macie Zoble, Ashlyn Lanore Fortier, Nathalie Fortier, and Benjamin Parker; and four great grandchildren, Zoe' Fortier, Riley Zoble, Aiden Zoble, and Bradley McClanahan.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, July 16, 2014 at a 1:00 PM Mass of Christian Burial in the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist.

Interment will follow in St. John Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Danny Fortier, Ben Parker, Cody McClanahan, Damon Zoble, Grant Citron, and Brooks Citron.

The family requests that visitation be observed in Martin & Castille's DOWNTOWN location on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Wednesday from 9:00 AM until time of service.

A Rosary will be prayed Tuesday at 7:00 PM in Martin & Castille Funeral Home.

View the obituary and guestbook online at www.mourning.com

Martin & Castille-DOWNTOWN-330 St. Landry St., Lafayette, LA 70506, 337-234-2311