Jack Seymour Jr.

~~  Jack N. Seymour, Jr., age 65, of Ocean Springs, passed away on September 8, 2017.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jack N. Seymour and Margaret Martino Seymour; sister-in-law, Sherry Venus Seymour; grandparents, Alphonse Seymour,Effie Holley Seymour,  Anthony Martino and Lillie Hightower Martino.
Survivors include his siblings, Helen DeGeorge (Johnny), Gilda Seymour (Ken Freeman),  and Roy J. Seymour;   his children, Tesha Seymour, Tadd Seymour, Megan Jalanivich (Daniel), Shelby Seymour, and Jarred Seymour (Haley);  his six grandchildren, Jarrod, Justin, Matthew, Casen, Camille, and Violet ; his special buddy who was like a brother, Doug Fielder.
Mr. Seymour was a lifelong resident of the coast.  At St Martin High School, he served as the football team quarterback.  He loved playing softball, collecting Elvis memorabilia, loved the Saints, Nascar and driver Jimmy Johnson.  After his life changing accident in 1979, his life for the next 39 years was never the same, but being a Christian, he will now forever live in glory with his savior Jesus Christ.
Visitation will be on Thursday, September 14, 2017, from 5 - 6 pm at the RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 13872 Lemoyne Blvd, West Jackson County.  A memorial service will be held at 6 pm in the funeral home chapel.  A reception will be held in the funeral home reception center following the services.
The family would like to thank Deaconess Home health for the love and compassion shown to Jack through his illness.
Jack adored his 5 children and grandchildren, and in lieu of flowers, family would ask donations to St. Jude, at 262 Danny Thomas Pl. Memphis, TN  38105.
An online guestbook may be signed at www.riemannfamily.com
I'm Gilda, Jack's sister.  I would like to celebrate with you the story of our brother's, Bionic" life.
Jack was born March 6, 1952, 3 years and 2 days after me. We celebrated our birthdays together. My sister Helen is the oldest and my brother Roy is the youngest. Growing up we had a lot of fun together as kids. We didn't have all the technology like today so we had to make our own fun. We used to catch lightening bugs, play hop scotch and dress up in costumes and put on shows.
Jack was a great athlete. He was a quarterback for the St. Martin Yellowjackets, his number was 12, and he was a very good, looking guy. He played on a softball team and the guys on the team use to pick at him because he liked playing right field so his hair wouldn't get messed up. Right field doesn't get a lot of action so Jack's hair always looked good!
Jack loved Elvis. He collected Elvis memorabilia, he was a Saints fan, and he rooted for Jimmy Johnson in the NASCAR races. He owned a gun shop and was a supervisor for L & A Construction Company.  Jack loved his kids. He has 5 grown children, Tesha, Tadd, Megan, Shelby and Jarred, and 6 grandchildren, Justin, Jarrod, Matthew, Casen, Camille, and Violet.
In 1978, I entered a Hairdresser's competition and we had to pick a famous person as our theme to put on a presentation. I picked a Tribute to Elvis Presley. I knew Jack loved Elvis. So, I asked him to be Elvis, but I really didn't think he would do it. I was wrong, he did participate and did he ever. He stole the show and we won an award. Women were screaming for him as if he were really Elvis, knowing that Elvis had been dead a year! He had a great time. Jack always told me when he died he wanted that picture of him as Elvis as his obituary picture, and so it is. Looking back, I was so excited that he had that fame for one night, because 18 months later his whole life would be changed.
On September 25, 1979 he had an accident at work that would change his life for the next 39 years. It was about 2 weeks after Hurricane Frederick. My mom called and wanted me to come eat some stuffed peppers. (it's funny how you can remember the strangest things). On my way over I had heard on the radio that a man was trapped under 20-ton slabs of cement at the Popps Ferry bridge. No name was mentioned but I remember thinking how sad that was for some family.
I got to mom's and just as she was taking out the peppers from the oven, the phone rang. I answered it and it was a call from the hospital calling to tell us Jack was injured and he was in a life- threatening situation. We immediately went to the hospital to get there just in time to watch them cut his clothes off and rush him to surgery.
His bladder had burst and they had to repair it as soon as possible to save his life, then deal with the other injuries after surgery.  After they stabilized him from that surgery, then he was re-evaluated and his other injuries were severe. He was crushed from the waist down, paralyzed in his right leg, his pelvis was shattered and every time he breathed the sharp bones would press against his organs.
In days to come the doctors inserted an apparatus of stainless steel rods to his pelvic bones to try to reconstruct his pelvis. The apparatus stuck out from his body in a complete square about a foot on each side. As he was healing, nurses would come in daily and turn each rod, which was very painful, even on morphine.
Later on, we found out that three Biloxi emergency medical technicians, a physician and a nurse were instrumental for their action in rescuing Jack from beneath the slabs of concrete. Awards were later presented to Steve Moore, James Skinner and LT. Robert Thompson from the Biloxi fire department along with the late Dr. Ray Wesson and R.N. Steve Delahousssey for their courage and actions in crawling down in between the concrete slabs to keep Jack stabilized until they could get him rescued.
After about a month in the hospital, Jack's doctor, the late Dr. Ray Wesson had him helicoptered to the Jackson Medical Center where that would be his home for quite some time. Then he was transferred to the Rehabilitation Center in Jackson. After much intense therapy, he eventually came home and tried to start his new life. Jack spent a lot of time in and out of hospitals. Surgery after surgery. The doctors thought it would be better for him to have his leg amputated, but Jack wouldn't even consider it.
Some years later, he eventually moved into one of our rentals and about four years ago, Jack called me and told me his friend Doug's AC had gone out in his trailer, could he come spend a few nights until he got it fixed. I said yes, thinking that would give Jack some "buddy" company. Well, four years later Doug is still there which was a blessing to us and Jack. What a great friend Doug was to him to be there and help him out. Jack had a buddy to watch the games and the NASCAR races with.
In the past few years of his life he had become wheelchair bound. Age started creeping in making it harder for him to get around, but he still did and he persevered.
Jack has had so many "about to die moments". About 4 weeks ago he was taken to the ER and the doctors said he was so sick he needed to stay. We could not get him to stay in the hospital. He had been in too many hospitals and wanted no part of it. The ER doctor said if he left, he wouldn't last overnight. However, he did. The next day home health came in his home and administered IV antibiotics for several wee ks. Then he started feeling better. He was always so positive, which amazed everyone.
Monday on September 4th, I called Jack to see what he wanted to do about hurricane Irma in case it came here. I just wanted to be prepared ahead of time. Jack said he wasn't worried about it yet. I said ok but what if it comes here, do you want to leave? He said I will let you know Friday, which was the 8th. Compromising to Jack meant he would always get his way. Well, little did I know he was going to check out on Friday and I mean literally check out! And he did.................................
However, knowing Jack was a Christian made it a lot easier for us to let him go. He gave his life to the Lord during a visit to the hospital from Pastor Steve back in 2012, another one of those times they thought he was going to die. He has actually had 4 ‘about to die moments' when the family was called in and made it through every time. God just wasn't ready for him yet!!!!!!
Last week I got a call that Jack was at the ER in cardiac arrest. The doctors told us to call in the family. They allowed our family to stay in the trauma room in the ER because they knew Jack wouldn't last long. However, they didn't know who they were dealing with, the "Bionic" man. After a while, the doctor came back in and said we are going to have to put Mr. Seymour in a room. The doctor called me to the side and quietly said he was amazed that Jack was still breathing on his own. Like I said, they didn't know who they were dealing with!!!  So here we go, up to a room. And about 4 hours later ........................ on September the 8th, this was the last   "about to die moment" for Jack.  This was the real deal.
I guess we could say................... Elvis, ............. I mean Jack has left the building!!!!
I found this in Jack's wallet and would like to share it with you.
If you wish to remember me, burn what is left of me and scatter the ashes to the wind to help the flowers grow. If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses and all my prejudices against my fellowman. If by chance you wish to remember me, do it with kind words or deeds to someone who needs you. If you do all that I have asked, I will live forever.