James Jacks

J. T. Jacks Jr. passed away at 1:00 a.m., Saturday, November 24, at the Veteran's Hospital, Grand Junction, Colorado of heart failure.

J.T. was born in El Dorado, Kansas October 15, 1922, to James Temple and Opal (Cooper) Jacks.  He had three brothers and two sisters.  After moving several times, the family settled in Winfield, Kansas, where he lived until he was seventeen.  He signed up for the conservation Corp in 1939 and worked in Harper, Oregon for six months.  He moved to Delta, Colorado in 1940 to live with his father and stepmother and work on the family farm.  He married Grace Davis in March 1941.  They were divorced in 1942.  They had one child, Wilma Jacks Gilmore (Fred).  J.T. moved to Paradox, Colorado in 1943 and worked on the Andy Riddle Cattle Ranch for seven months.  He then moved to Grand Junction, Colorado and married Viola Davis, February 26, 1944.  They had three children, Stella Jacks Swindell (Gayle), Pearl Jacks Ellsworth (Richard), and Ronnie Jacks (Kathy).

J.T. enlisted in the Navy on April 26, 1944.  He was sent to Farragut, Idaho for basic training and later assigned to the USS Laurens APA153.  He served in the Pacific arena during World War II.  He was on three invasions.  After the war, J.T. and his father owned a Texaco filling station on First & North Avenue in Grand Junction, Colorado.  After the filling station, he worked as a cat skinner for Jerry Strayer and for the grading service.  J.T. went to work for Mesa County Road Department March 26, 1949.  J.T. started on the bridge crew, was a heavy-duty equipment mechanic, and Shop Forman.  He retired from Mesa County October 1986.

J.T. went to work for the U.S. Forest service in 1990 as a grade four forestry tech supervisor in the senior civilian corps department and worked summers for nineteen years.

J.T, has eight grandchildren, Lois Gilmore Rush, Bill Swindell (Karen), Rebecca Ellsworth Proctor (Rick, Tammy Gilmore Barrow (Thomas), Dan Ellsworth (Betsy), Peggy Gilmore, Randy Jacks (Lindy), and Vicky Jacks Waalkes.  He has numerous great and great-great-grandchildren.

J.T. is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, one sister, and both wives.  He is survived by one sister, Louise White of Winfield, Kansas, his children, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and many friends.

Services will be held at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2830 D Road, Grand Junction, Colorado, December 3rd, 2018 at 10:00 a.m.