Jeffrey C. Chilton

Jeffrey Chilton
November 20, 1965  -  April 16, 2018

Beaumont lawyer, Jeffrey Curtis Chilton died on April 16, 2018; he was 52 years old.

Born in Indianapolis, Indiana on November 20, 1965, to Mr. Ron Chilton and Mrs. Lana Chilton. Jeff graduated from Mayfield High School.  As a boy he loved the outdoors and running the bluegrass hills of western Kentucky.  He was an athlete, and enjoyed playing team sports with his friends.  Baseball and football were his favorites.  

After graduation, Jeff honorably served in the United States Army from 1986 to 1988.  He was a member of the 1st Calvary Division 1st Brigade in the 3rd Battalion, and during his service was awarded the Army Commendation Medal--which is awarded to enlisted soldiers for acts of heroism.  Jeff confronted, apprehended and detained an armed robber in Killeen, Texas while on day leave from Fort Hood.

While stationed at Fort Hood he joined his friend, Pattrick Lewis, on a weekend trip home to Vidor, Texas, where he met the Packard family.  One trip turned into many to Vidor.  He fell in love with Rebecca Packard and after a long courtship married on December 19, 1992.  He and Rebecca were blessed with five daughters and two sons during their more than 25 years of marriage.  

Jeff graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Kentucky University with a bachelors of science in Political Science in 1995 and later earned a law degree from South Texas College of Law in 1999.  During school, Jeff was inspired by the entrepreneurial spirit of his PaPaw.  Jeff was successful in multiple direct sales ventures and later directing beauty pageants across much of the United States.  After graduation from law school, he continued to grow his enterprise and collaborated on a nationwide pageant system.  His associates, to this day, credit Jeff with innovative thinking that still remains in their current pageant system.

In 2002, he joined his father-in-law Bernie Packard at the Packard LaPray law firm.  As Partner, Jeff had the opportunity to serve clients from all walks of life.  He rarely met a stranger, and was universally loved and appreciated by even the most hardened personalities.  Through the years, most of his practice revolved around personal injury. He prided himself on talking to his clients and being able to sit down across his desk to look them in the eye to discuss their legal matters.  He was an Apple enthusiast, but he believed that no technology could replace the one on one experience of meeting with one’s lawyer.  

His passions were his family and his law practice.  He was extremely successful in both pursuits.  His example inspired his children to pursue excellence in their lives.  His daughters have achieved excellence in all areas of their lives, including education, music, and sports.  To each of his children, Jeff will always not only be their dad, but also their hero and inspiration for the successes that they achieve in life.

Jeff was known to make people laugh.  He could tell long stories and most of the time you would not know he was building up to a joke until he delivered his punch line. There was never a dull moment around the office, and anyone who ever worked closely with him was greeted at least once by his loud Ahhhhaaaaaaa as he snuck up behind you.

He is survived by his wife Rebecca and his seven children; Merideth who is in medical school at U.T.M.B., Madison who attends University of Texas San Antonio on a scholarship in the Top Scholar Program, Macy who plays collegiate soccer for Texas Tech University, Mallory and Maryn who are honor students at Vidor High School, Braden who will graduate this year, and 13-year old Bradley.  He is also survived by his father, Mr., Ron Chilton, and his step-mother Brenda Chilton of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; and his younger sisters, Julie Thompson of Shelbyville, Tennessee and Jodie McGinnis of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Visitation will be Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Lumberton Family Funeral Home 766 South Main Street Lumberton, Texas 77657.  Funeral services will be Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 2:00 pm at Turning Point Church at 3600 North Main Street Vidor, Texas.  Interment will follow at Williamson Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Jeff's memory may be made to Heartbeats of Hope, serving children with cancer in Southeast Texas. P.O. Box 578 Vidor, Texas 77662.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jeffrey C. Chilton, please visit our floral store.