Paul Pike

Services for Paul Pike, 50, of Bossier City, LA, will be held on Sunday, January 2, 2011, at 1:30 PM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Chuck McInturf officiating. Burial will follow at Tyler Memorial Park Cemetery in Tyler under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home. Paul passed away December 28, 2010 in Tyler after a two year battle with Pancreatic Cancer. A Christian man, his faith in God kept his spirits high throughout this time with no worries and no regrets. He was born January 14, 1960 in Tyler, to John and Virginia Pike of Tyler. Paul graduated from John Tyler High School in 1978. He earned an Associates of Applied Science Degree in Education Administration from the Community College AF, Maxwell, AL. He served our country with a career in the United States Air Force with assignments in Texas, Kansas, Louisiana, Nevada and the Republic of South Korea. Paul retired from the Air Force with the rank of Technical Sergeant. Returning to East Texas, Paul made his home first in Brownsboro and later in Athens with wife Janet, whom he met through the singles group, Common Ground, at the First Baptist Church in Athens. He held professional occupational licenses as a Life and Health Insurance Sales Agent, a Real Estate Sales Agent, and a commercial driver’s license. He was most proud of his sales work the O’Reilly Auto Parts, where he rose from part time counter help in the Athens store to the position of Territory Sales Manger serving Shreveport and Bossier City, LA. His next promotion was as a Regional Field Sales Manager for O’Reilly, also based in Shreveport. In this capacity, he worked with forty five stores throughout East Texas, Northwest Louisiana, and South Arkansas, making sales calls, handling customer service issues and supervising the Territory Sales Managers’ assigned to Nacogdoches, Longview, Texarkana, Tyler and Shreveport. Paul treasured the many friendships he made both inside and outside of the company during that time. He is survived by his loving family including his wife, Janet TeSelle Pike of Bossier City, LA.; parents, John and Virginia Pike of Tyler; daughter, Melissa and husband Shane Anderson of Keithville, LA.; son, Joshua Pike and wife Alexandra of Bossier City, LA; brother, Mark Pike and wife Kelle, along with niece Jessica, all of Whitehouse; in-laws, Donald and Bonnie TeSelle of Palestine, Roger and Susie TeSelle of Red Oak, and Vickie Canon of Palmer; along with numerous nieces and nephews on the TeSelle side of the family. Pallbearers will be friends and coworkers from O’Reilly Auto Parts. The family will receive friends and guests from 12:30 – 1:30 PM on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at Stewart Family Funeral Home, 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy., Tyler, Texas 75703. If desired, memorials in honor of Paul Pike may be made to Hospice of East Texas Foundation, 4111 University Blvd., Tyler, 75701.

Paul Pike

January 14, 1960 - December 28, 2010