John Garland Vest

John Garland Vest, of Lake Charles, died at 11:30 PM on Friday January 30, 2015 at a local hospital. John was born on November 26, 1926 in Waverly, Iowa. He moved from Iowa with his wife and two children to Lake Charles in August of 1954. He fell in love with the city, Southwest Louisiana and gumbo. He was an avid Black Jack player and had won several tournaments on the many cruises he and his wife would go on several times a year. He retired from the State of Louisiana as a Revenue Auditor. He had also been in the tax preparation business since the early 1950's. Some of his clients were the great-grandchildren of his first clients. He had always said that he had clients first, and then they became friends and then family. When asked why he never retired his response was that he enjoyed helping others. He is survived by his three children, John W. Vest and wife Donna, Thibodeaux; Janet Witanek and husband Tom, Cypress, TX; Gordon B. Vest and wife Linda, Lake Charles; seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, Gloria Mae Vest and son, Timothy G. Vest. Visitation with the family will be on Friday February 20, 2015 at Johnson Funeral Home from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Memorial services, with Navy honors, will be at 11:00 AM Saturday February 21, 2015.