Art was born on October 24, 1944, in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Willard and Rita Desjardins. He graduated from High School in Buena Park, California and was a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Art was drafted in the U. S. Army during the Vietnam Era and attended Officer Candidate School; US Army School of America; Field Artillery Advanced Course; Airborne, USA Infantry School; Survival Swimming Course; USA Intelligence School; OGSC Refresher Course, Ft. Leavenworth; US Army C & GSC; FA Refresher Course, Field Artillery School; USAF Air Ground Operation School and Field Artillery Staff Officer Refresher Course and retired as a Colonel on October 24, 2004. Art was awarded the following decorations during his service to our country, The Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart w/OLC, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal w/2OLC, Army Commendation Medal w/2OLC, National Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Reserve Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal w/OLC, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/8OLC, Republic of Vietnam Honor Medal 1st Class, Vietnam Civic Action Medal, Aircraft crewman Badge and Parachute Badge. Art retired from TVA as Senior Purchasing Agent. He was an avid Fisherman, Hunter and Shooter and loved to travel in foreign countries.
He is survived by his loving wife of 39 years, Beverly Ann Desjardins; his sister, Kathern Desjardins of Walker, LA; brothers-in-law, Dr. Fred G. Taylor and his wife Carolyn of Kingston, TN and James R. Taylor and his wife Betty and their daughter, Dawn Taylor of Lebanon, TN; niece, Jennifer Reeves and her husband Robert and their son, Taylor, of Smyrna, TN; nephew, Ronald Gene Taylor and his wife Leann and their daughters, Hudson, Hope and Holly all of Baxter, TN; other nieces and nephews, Randall Taylor, Nathan Taylor and Tammy Morris of Oklahoma.
There will be no visitation at the funeral home.
Graveside services for Colonel Desjardins will be conducted at 12:30 pm on Monday, April 16, at National Cemetery with full military honors. The family and friends will meet at the North Chapel on Monday at 11:30 am and leave in a procession to the cemetery by 12:00 pm, (Noon) with Colonel Desjardins leading the procession riding in his Red Jeep.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 6221 Shallowford Road, Suite 202, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or www.cancerorg or to the McKamey Animal Center, in Memory of his 21 year old cat, Mac, who was named after his favorite assignment The 87th MAC (Maneuver Area Command) at 4500 North Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415 or www.mckameyanimalcenter.org.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343.
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