Jacques “Jack” Fernand Lizotte

Jacques “Jack” Fernand Lizotte, 74, of St. Regis, Montana, passed away on Monday, April 19, 2021 in his home on Tamarack Creek of natural causes.

Jack was born on April 29, 1946 in Sainte-Perpetue, Quebec, Canada to Elzeard Lizotte and Henedine Gauthier. As a young boy, Jack moved south across the border to Rhode Island with his mother.

In later years, his fondest memories would bring him back to the time when he lived with his grandparents on their maple syrup farm in a small rural town in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York called Canadaigua. Here he lived a life close to nature that eventually would became such an important part of his entire life.

Jack was pursuing a very successful hockey career, having been recruited by the Montreal Canadians when the Vietnam War erupted. Jack enlisted in the Navy as a Boatswains Mate, entering service on October 28, 1965 and honorably discharged on June 26, 1968. Jack served in the Danang region earning a number of medals including the Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star.

Upon returning from his service in Vietnam with his soon-to-be, life-long friend Dennis Shults, Jack became truly a “Jack of All Trades.” His professional background included auto body and painting, manufacturing, bartending, cooking, welding, heavy equipment operating, and more.

In March, 1974, Jack married Linda Shults where they settled in Bakersfield, California. They later divorced in March of 1981. However, Linda and Jack remained close until the very end.

During the mid-1980s Jack met Debra Fleming and in 1987 moved to the remote Klamath River town of Orleans, California, where his culinary skills kept him employed until securing a U.S. Forest Service job as a Timber Stand Improvement-Crew Supervisor, planting nursery tree stock for the Ukonom District on the Klamath National Forest.

In 1998, Jack and Debra moved to Corvallis, Montana where, utilizing his broad skills, he became the ranch foreman on Tucker Crossing Ranch, successfully helping the ranch develop and achieve its wildlife habitat, recreational, and agricultural potential.

In 2016, after 18 busy years, Jack retired and moved to his final home in St. Regis.

Jack loved the Montana outdoors, camping and fishing, jeep rides in the mountains, and grilling on his back deck. In his quiet time, Jack was an ardent reader and an outstanding chef.

Jack had a small circle of friends that made up his “family,” but he was loved by those that knew him well and appreciated him for who he was.

Jack was preceded in death by his life partner and loving friend Debra Fleming.

Jack is survived by, and will be fondly remembered, by his friends Dennis Shults, Linda (Shults) Lizotte, Roger, Wendy, and Kelsey Raynal, and Chris and Mia Anderson.

Donations in Jack’s memory can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project. Online condolences may be left at gardencityfh.com.