John Joseph "Jug" Lavelle, age 91 of Athens died Wednesday June 14, 2023, with members of his family by his side.  Born May 18, 1932 in Athens, he was the son of the late Francis A. Lavelle & Elizabeth "Belle" Schloss Lavelle.

A 1950 graduate of Athens High School, where he was Captain of the Football and Basketball Teams, he graduated from Ohio University in 1956.  He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War, where he was a First Sergeant serving in Armored Tanks with the 7th Infantry Division.  Early in his career, he was employed as an adjuster at General Adjustment Bureau (GAB) where he was often transferred to different Ohio cities.  John's love for Athens brought him back to town in 1967.  He became a partner at Mathews Insurance and worked at the agency for over 30 years.  He retired in 1997.  He and his late wife, Mary Lou, enjoyed worldwide travel and visiting each State in the Union with their motorhome.  His motto was "Good Times and Good Friends".

He was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus.  He was also a member and served as Past President of the Athens Rotary, Green and White Club and Symposiarchs.

John is survived by two daughters, Lynda (Gary) Bentley and Laura (Randy) Lively of Athens; two sons, Scott (Patricia) Lavelle of Athens and Tim (Linnette) Lavelle of Strongsville; nine grandchildren, Caitlin (Kevin) Anderson, John Joseph Lavelle II, Maggie (Adam) Pfeifer, Alexandra Day Lavelle, Brad Bentley, Jessica (Levi) Woods, Courtney (Jude) Meyers, Mary Ann (Aaron) Kirby and Charlotte Lively; four great grandchildren, Harper & Grayson Anderson, Jack Pfeifer and Casey Woods; a sister in law, Mary June Lavelle of Starkville, Mississippi; a brother in law, Don Skinner of Athens; several beloved nieces and nephews; and his care givers, Lisa Crabtree and Kelly Kasler.

Besides his parents he is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Mary Lou Davis Lavelle, who passed away December 29, 2020; three sisters, Elizabeth Mulvaney, Kathleen Shamel and Theresa Skinner; and two brothers, William A. Lavelle and Phillip F. Lavelle.

Mass of Christian Burial will be Monday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's Catholic Church, 38 N. College St., Athens with Monsignor Donald Horak as celebrant.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  Friends may visit Sunday 2-5 p.m. at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, where a Vigil for the Deceased will be held at 5:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund, either online at www.JoeBurrowFund.org, or by mail to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, PO Box 456, Nelsonville, OH 45764, and please designate the Joe Burrow Hunger Relief Fund.  Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.