Biography: It is with deep sorrow and much love that we mourn the passing of Gerard Anthony Delatte, Sr. of Little Rock on Monday, July 29, 2024, at the age of 80.

Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on June 9, 1944, to Richard Louis Delatte, Sr. and Helen Estelle Olivieri Delatte, “Jerry” grew up deep in the famed Irish Channel neighborhood. The love he had for the Crescent City lasted his entire lifetime and remained his favorite place to visit, going “home” every chance he could.

Jerry graduated from Redemptorist High School in 1962 and enlisted in the United States Army Reserve, where he served for over six years. During that time, he began his career at Lykes Brothers Steamship Company as a customs manager, boarding ships and inspecting cargo as they came into port. He later took a chance on the opportunity to join the Edible Oils and Commodities division of Swift and Company. This turned out to be the catalyst of his 40 plus year career in the industry. He would eventually be known as the Greaseman, the Rice Don and the SuperSalesman, a literal legend in the art of sales. 

Few men are as driven as Jerry Delatte, he had an insatiable appetite for success and learning as much as he could about sales. His career would take him and his young family from New Orleans, to Ohio, Kansas, Texas, Illinois and ultimately Stuttgart, Arkansas. He was widely known in the industry and highly sought after by recruiters for his business acumen. He retired in 2010 from Riceland Foods, Inc. as the Senior Vice President of Domestic Business.

In 1965 he went to lunch with his beloved brother-in-law Gerald Chatelain, when he spied the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, a tiny brunette in a royal blue double-knit dress by the name of Cynthia Marie Vidrine. She caught his eye and stole his heart. They married a year later. He was her devoted husband for over 58 years, a shining example of love and commitment mixed with a great deal of laughter. He loved his children and his grandchildren with his whole heart. Jerry lived for stories about their adventures and successes, often calling to hear the stories again and again so he could relive the details. He could not have been more proud of any of them. His family was the light and joy of his life.
 
Known for his robust sense of humor and infectious laugh, Jerry had many friends far and wide. He was an avid marksman (no one was a better shot) and gun collector. He loved hunting, fishing, golf and the LSU Tigers. On the weekends he could be found working in his yard, cutting the grass (with the precision of a surgeon) or hand washing his prized cars and trucks. When the work was done, he enjoyed barbecuing a fantastic meal for his family.

He is survived by his loving wife Cynthia of Little Rock, son Gerard “Jay” Anthony Delatte, Jr. (Deborah) of McKinney, Texas, daughters Karen Delatte Spruell (Martin) and Aimee Delatte Shelby (Michael) all of Little Rock, his grandchildren Jenna, Jordan and Jason Delatte, Hanna and Joshua Fry, Halaina and Hudson Spruell, and Porter, Jack and Matthew Shelby. He is also survived by his sister Mary Agnes Chatelain of Tampa, Florida, and numerous nieces and nephews and precious godchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, and siblings Helen Catherine Delatte and Richard Louis Delatte, Jr., and sister-in-law Patricia Kerrigan Delatte and brother-in-law Gerald B. Chatelain.

A memorial rosary will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Friday August 2, 2024 at 2:00pm. Funeral services will immediately follow at 3:00pm. 

The family would like to express tremendous gratitude to the many physicians, nurses and medical staff who provided such loving care to him over the years.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Transportation fund at Carelink, www.carelink.org or Christ the King Catholic Church, www.ctklr.org. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com