Thursday, March 28, 2024

John G. Pilette III

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John G. Pilette III passed away on March 26, 2020 in Tyler, Texas. He was born on November 28, 1972 in Jacksonville, Texas. He attended Jacksonville schools and graduated from Jacksonville High School in 1991. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 1998. He continued his education at SFA working on a master’s degree in education.

John had a diverse career including teaching and coaching at Jacksonville High School and as an investigator for the Texas Department of Family and Regulatory Services. Most recently he worked with special needs children at Kissam Elementary in Chapel Hill, Texas. He dearly loved the children he taught. John spent his weekends teaching life skills to persons with autism. He had a special connection with those individuals and with their families. It was not unusual for John to go above and beyond to help a person he was working with or to make himself available in response to a family’s pleas for help.

He had a special love for sports of any kind especially football. He was passionate about Florida State University sports and the Steelers, Pirates and Penguins of the city of Pittsburgh. John was the master of trivia and loved to goad anyone into debate. He was always the only adult playing in the front yard with all the children.

He is survived by his daughter, Caelyn Pilette, who was the love of his life. He is also survived by his parents Jack and Suzanne Pilette of Granbury and Denise and Billy Shelton of Jacksonville. Other survivors include his brother Jeffrey and wife Meghan and stepbrothers Wayne Shelton, Tim Bastress, and Anthony Yarbrough (Bonnie) and children, and nephews Brayden and Brennan Pilette. Surviving aunts and uncles include Beth Dukes, Mike Stewart (Joni), and Whit Pilette (DeeDee). John is survived by two cousins, Zoe and Kyla Postert, whom he called his sisters. He will also be greatly missed by his many other cousins and friends.

Service will be private. Memorials may be made to the charity of your choice.