A lifelong resident of Mossyrock passed away at age 95.5 (he would have wanted credit for the half year) at Tacoma General Hospital March 31. He was born Aug. 8, 1928, in Chehalis to Lowell and Flora.
He is survived by his wife, Yvonne, sons Louis and Jesse, six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Yvonne (Boileau) and Jack were married for 69 years. She was his partner and best friend. There wasn’t anything they did apart. They worked and played together their entire marriage while traveling throughout the United States and the world. Hobbies over the years included hunting, fishing, cruising and running businesses in town.
Jack graduated from Mossyrock High School in 1948. It was a point of pride that he received his driver’s license on his 16th birthday and his private pilot’s license on his 17th birthday. He owned a plane with friends. He also drove a school bus and worked in a mill during high school.
He attended the University of Washington until he was drafted into the Army during the Korean War. He spent his time during the war in Garmisch, Germany. When he returned home, he worked driving a log truck before going to work for the school.
He retired from Mossyrock School District in 1985 as the transportation supervisor and bus mechanic. He took the job over after his father’s death in 1957. He was a “Jack” of all trades, taking care of everything from the clocks to the heating boilers. If it broke, he fixed it. When he turned in his resignation the superintendent refused to accept it. He stated they didn’t have the budget to hire the people required to replace him.
He had a very quick wit and loved to tell jokes throughout all his years. And, oh boy, he had a lot of them.
A private burial is planned.
A celebration of life will be held Sunday, May 19, at 2 p.m. at the Mossyrock Community Center.
Jack was legally blind; his favorite form of entertainment was to listen to books on tape. He listened to hundreds of them. In lieu of flowers, the family asks a donation be made in his name to:
Washington Talking Book and Braille Library
2021 Ninth Avenue
