Anna Lee Leger Vandever

Anna Lee Leger Vandever, 89, died on January 5, 2016 in her home in Lake Charles.

Anna was born on August 18, 1926, in Jennings, Louisiana, where she was educated, earning Co-Valedictorian recognition in her eighth-grade class and graduating from Jennings High School in 1943. She attended Southwest Louisiana Trade School in Crowley and McNeese State University. In 1944, she and fellow trade school students were recruited for jobs with the Navy Department in Washington, D.C. She also worked for the War Department in the Pentagon. She and Derwood Vandever were married in Leonardtown, Maryland, on June 22, 1945. From there, they relocated to Kansas City upon Derwood’s transfer to the Naval Air Station at Olathe.

Anna and Derwood both worked at the Army Air Force Base in Lake Charles, the VA Hospital in Alexandria, LA and the Lake Charles Post Office. Anna was promoted to the position of Superintendent, Drew Station, then became Postmaster at Elizabeth, LA and retired as Personnel Assistant at the Lafayette Post Office.

Mrs. Vandever was a Notary Public, a member of MENSA, a Service Officer for the National Association of Active & Retired Federal Employees and had been editor of a Jennings High alumni newsletter – Keeping Up With the Joneses. She enjoyed visiting with family, working crossword puzzles, playing Texas 42 (a domino game) and traveling.

Anna is survived by her daughters, Donna Karen Vandever Yelverton (partner James K. Nichols) of Baton Rouge and Irene Vandever of Lake Charles; sons Ken (Valarie) of Brenham, Texas and Joel and David (Jackie) of Lake Charles. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Ben (Laurie Vicknair) Burk of Valdosta, Georgia, James Michael (Mandi Hebert) Burk of Westlake, Heather, Andrew (fiancée Chrystal Carr) and Ryan (Alison) Vandever, Aubrie Anna (Paul) Cano, Joshua (fiancée Kristen Bohot) Vandever and Christa Vandever all of Texas, JoAnna (Jon) Gibbs of Lake Charles, Warren Lee (Kelsey) Vandever of Moss Bluff, Matthew Vandever of Searcy Arkansas and Cody and Courtney Vandever of Lake Charles. She is survived by six delightful Great-Granddaughters, Emma Catherine and Olivia Anna Burk of Westlake, Lidia and Scarlett Rose Cano of Brenham, Texas and Austyn and Blayke Vandever of Moss Bluff. She is also survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law, Jim and Toni Leger of New York and Dan and Pat Leger of Lafayette. Also surviving are Anna’s “perfect” daughter, Judy Iglehart Callaway of Metairie, talented “extra” son Bill Ferris of Tehuacana, TX, her former son-in-law, Dudley LeBlanc of New Orleans and numerous nieces and nephews.

Anna was preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Derwood Vandever, her parents, Nathan and Ida Hall Leger, sisters, Eva Jane Leger Goodson, Hazel (Susie) Leger Broussard, Roslyn Leger Clement Charbonnet and Effie Leger Johnson and one brother, Vernon Leger.

Our matriarch, mother, grandmother, and GiGi was intellectually gifted, but humble. She was gentle, caring, selfless, cheerful and she never complained. Her only regret was that she never learned to swim! She was a compassionate conservative, and was nonjudgmental of those with whom she differed. She was a successful career woman while also raising five children. After retiring, she served many postal service retirees and surviving spouses, volunteering to help them with benefits paperwork. She made this world a better place, and we will miss her greatly. We hope the best of her lives on through us.

Anna’s four other children are grateful to our sister Irene for the loving care she provided as our mother’s primary caregiver. The family wishes to thank Ashley and Theresa of Heart of Hospice. We also appreciate Dr. Arthur Primeaux for supporting Anna’s wishes regarding her final days.

Her funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Monday, January 11, 2016 at the Johnson Funeral Home Chapel. Nathan Ryan will officiate. Burial will be in Prien Memorial Park. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Sunday from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM and continue on Monday from 8:00 AM until the start of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Shriners’ Hospital, Abraham’s Tent or Hobo Hotel for Cats.