Joseph Lavern DeGrove

Joseph Lavern DeGrove, age 88, entered the Kingdom of Heaven to rejoice before his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on October 10, 2018. We are confident that he was greeted by a great cloud of witnesses to escort his soul to glory.

Lavern was born to Charles W. and Lettie C. DeGrove on August 26, 1930 in Duval County, Fla. He grew up in Palm Valley, Fla. where his grandfather had settled as one of the pioneer families of that hardscrabble community.

He was predeceased by faithful and loving wife, Marion Mills DeGrove, with whom he built a life and family full of unconditional love and a bond that lasted forty-four years until she passed. His three siblings also preceded him in death, Delores DeGrove Reagor (James), Charles W. DeGrove, Jr. (Dorothy), Leon C DeGrove (Janet); and one great-grandson, Angel Dropp.

Survivors include his son, Ronald L. DeGrove (Marie); daughter, Rebecca D. Correia (Christopher); grandchildren, Heather Correia, Matthew Correia, Rebecca Prater (James), Holly Dropp (Robert), Joseph DeGrove, Thomas DeGrove (Alysha); thirteen great-grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Sheryl McAlister DeGrove.

Lavern lived a full and meaningful life and the driving force within him was his devotion to his Christian faith. His was not a faith of convenience or condemnation, but a faith of love and forgiveness. He lived that faith everyday. He was an ordained deacon, a Sunday school teacher, and a youth leader. He delivered Meals on Wheels, he knocked on doors for church visitation and outreach. He was a devoted prayer warrior and student of the Word. He was kind. For better or worse, he influenced untold numbers of young people around the Jacksonville Beaches.

His influence was not only in the church. Lavern built a stellar reputation for hard work and honesty as a land surveyor after his graduation from Duncan U Fletcher in 1949, where he was captain of the football team and Fletcher's Mr. Football that year. Like his older brother Charles, he began his survey career under the tutelage of their Uncle, Russell DeGrove at Robert M. Angas and Assoc. Lavern became a Crew Chief and later moved on to Charles Bassett and Assoc., where he was Survey Field Supervisor for many years before moving to the same position at Sunshine State Surveyors, Inc. He was responsible for much of the survey work performed for the construction of the Jacksonville International Airport, the original development of Sawgrass as well as the Amelia Island Plantation and many other projects both large and small. He retired from surveying in 1995. A generation of field crew surveyors learned the trade under his leadership. Some went on to become licensed professionals.

Besides faith, family, and work, he loved fishing and Gator Football. On a really good Saturday he would be in his boat somewhere in the “canal” in Palm Valley with two or three lines in the water and the Gator game on the radio.

He loved to garden. Flowers, shrubs, vines, and all sorts of beautiful plants adorned his home and yard. Both fruit and vegetable. But the roses he grew were stunning. He kept Marion with fresh roses in the house and he even cut roses to put on the desks of the ladies who worked in his office.

Now he has finished his journey, his work here is over. He suffers and struggles no more. He now walks hand in hand with Marion again. He catches red fish without limits, and the Gators always win. Sixty-nine years ago, in his senior yearbook last will and testament, he left his Charles Atlas physique to some fortunate underclassman. In reality his Charles Atlas physique left him some years ago, but today he walks with a body without blemish or scar, an even better version than the original.

Our hearts are broken now in what seems like irreparable pieces. We know it will be glued back together in time, but there will always be an empty spot that is simply too big to hide. No one can fill the space you left. Tears do not ease the pain we feel. Our compass is gone and we are floundering. Our one sustaining hope is that we know for a little while we won’t see you, but we are certain we will see you again. Goodbye Papa, we love you.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 pm on Monday, October 15, 2018 at the HARDAGE-GIDDENS FUNERAL HOME, 1701 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville Beach. Celebration of Life Service at 11 am on Tuesday, October 16, 2018 with visitation 1-hour before at Neptune Baptist Church, 407 3rd St., Neptune Beach. Interment at 1 pm at Evergreen Cemetery, 4535 Main St. N., Jacksonville.