Obituary for Jack Derrick
Jack Derrick, self-proclaimed vocalist, accomplished southern chef, renowned talker, and chic dresser passed away on Sunday February 12, 2023 surrounded by people he dearly loved, and his sister-in-law, Madonna Damron, with some of his favorite tunes playing.
Jack grew up in Little Rock, amidst huge social changes in human rights, experiencing first hand all the realities of an evolving society, civil injustices, and grew a heart for fighting for the working man. He spent his summers in Yell County learning about soft country life, family dinner tables that included any and every one that stopped by, hard work, and the best swimming holes.
He married the love of his life, Deborah Ruth Damron in 1977, with whom he had one brilliant son and two stunning daughters.
Jack had a propensity for great music. He loved falling asleep to classical music for long hours, longer than his grandson’s hair, which caused him much grief. He sang to his children day and night and loved the funny songs the best.
Jack would be quite upset if we didn’t mention perhaps his favorite family members, the German Sheppard’s, to which all his inheritance will go. He loved them fiercely, and valued their unending loyalty and unwavering affection, it brought him a lot of comfort.
He spent the last 22 years working in the Atkins grocery store befriending everyone he could. He loved people. The relationships he forged in his home town meant so much to him. He cared about every single person he encountered. He loved working for a store that still carried groceries out for their customers, and knew all the special orders for every grandmother in town.
He had ingenuity that could not be rivaled. The pioneer of “we have a work around”, and inventor of the original “ghost spray” to keep away the monsters under the bed for his children, with his patented special formula, which was just a bottle of cologne someone gifted him that he could not stand the smell of.
Jack was a car aficionado, even the time he was driving down the road and watched his back left tire roll past him, he could not be bested. He always remained positive and believed there was no situation that did not need just the right joke. Even in desperate times, like when his brother-in-law Dusty was hiding behind the car on the freeway to relieve himself and Jack pulled away. He was the perfect combination of hard and funny. He saved that same brother-in-law from being gored by a bull on their ranch and then scolded his son for running from that same bull. Life is hard, he was a proponent of facing it head on, but he knew to get out when it was time. Even though we feel he left this world far too soon, we can trust that it was the right time.
Once he met Debbie he was caught up in a whirlwind romance, got married, had three children, quit flight school, dropped out of college and went to work. A few years of that brought him back down to earth and he went back to college. He went to school during the day, worked all night, and still found time to be a husband and father. He was an amazing example of “you’re never too old”. He lost 2 houses, one to a tornado, and one to a fire. Each time without blinking an eye he made new homes; he took it in stride and never complained. He was a true example of a man, which makes us confident he will be happy to settle into his new permanent home.
One of his favorite quotes was “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” Growing, planting, gardening, were his deepest passion. He loved to replenish the earth and provide for his family with his own two hands, as well as the need to see how many things he could pickle. So much so that he required his children, nieces, nephews, and any nearby neighbor children to work the 19-mile garden he would plant that seemed to get bigger every year. They were hard years, but as Jack would say “can’t never could”. We still don’t know what that means. But we are grateful for the knowledge. If there are people to tend the gardens in Heaven, he is probably the supervisor.
He had a deep passion for history and storytelling. His children were sung to sleep in every car ride to 1814, the battle of New Orleans. He always had some piece of unique history that no one else knew. He believed in democracy and morality with all of his soul, which lead to many a letter to members of congress, the house, senate, governor’s office, and DMV. He believed the people’s voice mattered. Diane at the DMV did not.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Ann Derrick; and loving wife of 35 years, Deborah Ruth Derrick; and a son-in-law, Shawn Yarber.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Scott Derrick; two daughters, BriAnne Clover, and Dusti Yarber; 6 grandchildren, Memphis Derrick, Matthew Clover, Charlie Derrick, Castor Derrick, Carter Clover, and Cash Yarber; father, Harvey Parnell Derrick; 2 brothers, Harvey Derrick, and Andrew Derrick; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 16th at Lemley Chapel.
Funeral service will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, February 17th at Lemley Chapel with Bro. Scott Warren officiating. Burial will be held in McFadden Cemetery under the direction of Lemley Funeral Service of Atkins.
Despite his protest to be stuffed so that his dogs could remain with him until their last days, the family will be laying him to rest at Mcfadden cemetery.
In honor of Jackson Scott Derrick, we request that you write your congressman. Doesn’t matter the topic, you pick your battle. But we caution against bringing up Diane.
Pallbearers are Memphis Derrick, Castor Derrick, Carter Clover, Cash Yarber, James Damron, Jet Warren, and Jace Warren.
Honorary pallbearers are Travis Derrick, Matthew Clover, Jacob Warren, Greg Burns, and David Jeremiah Damron.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com
Jack grew up in Little Rock, amidst huge social changes in human rights, experiencing first hand all the realities of an evolving society, civil injustices, and grew a heart for fighting for the working man. He spent his summers in Yell County learning about soft country life, family dinner tables that included any and every one that stopped by, hard work, and the best swimming holes.
He married the love of his life, Deborah Ruth Damron in 1977, with whom he had one brilliant son and two stunning daughters.
Jack had a propensity for great music. He loved falling asleep to classical music for long hours, longer than his grandson’s hair, which caused him much grief. He sang to his children day and night and loved the funny songs the best.
Jack would be quite upset if we didn’t mention perhaps his favorite family members, the German Sheppard’s, to which all his inheritance will go. He loved them fiercely, and valued their unending loyalty and unwavering affection, it brought him a lot of comfort.
He spent the last 22 years working in the Atkins grocery store befriending everyone he could. He loved people. The relationships he forged in his home town meant so much to him. He cared about every single person he encountered. He loved working for a store that still carried groceries out for their customers, and knew all the special orders for every grandmother in town.
He had ingenuity that could not be rivaled. The pioneer of “we have a work around”, and inventor of the original “ghost spray” to keep away the monsters under the bed for his children, with his patented special formula, which was just a bottle of cologne someone gifted him that he could not stand the smell of.
Jack was a car aficionado, even the time he was driving down the road and watched his back left tire roll past him, he could not be bested. He always remained positive and believed there was no situation that did not need just the right joke. Even in desperate times, like when his brother-in-law Dusty was hiding behind the car on the freeway to relieve himself and Jack pulled away. He was the perfect combination of hard and funny. He saved that same brother-in-law from being gored by a bull on their ranch and then scolded his son for running from that same bull. Life is hard, he was a proponent of facing it head on, but he knew to get out when it was time. Even though we feel he left this world far too soon, we can trust that it was the right time.
Once he met Debbie he was caught up in a whirlwind romance, got married, had three children, quit flight school, dropped out of college and went to work. A few years of that brought him back down to earth and he went back to college. He went to school during the day, worked all night, and still found time to be a husband and father. He was an amazing example of “you’re never too old”. He lost 2 houses, one to a tornado, and one to a fire. Each time without blinking an eye he made new homes; he took it in stride and never complained. He was a true example of a man, which makes us confident he will be happy to settle into his new permanent home.
One of his favorite quotes was “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has at least started to understand the meaning of life.” Growing, planting, gardening, were his deepest passion. He loved to replenish the earth and provide for his family with his own two hands, as well as the need to see how many things he could pickle. So much so that he required his children, nieces, nephews, and any nearby neighbor children to work the 19-mile garden he would plant that seemed to get bigger every year. They were hard years, but as Jack would say “can’t never could”. We still don’t know what that means. But we are grateful for the knowledge. If there are people to tend the gardens in Heaven, he is probably the supervisor.
He had a deep passion for history and storytelling. His children were sung to sleep in every car ride to 1814, the battle of New Orleans. He always had some piece of unique history that no one else knew. He believed in democracy and morality with all of his soul, which lead to many a letter to members of congress, the house, senate, governor’s office, and DMV. He believed the people’s voice mattered. Diane at the DMV did not.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Barbara Ann Derrick; and loving wife of 35 years, Deborah Ruth Derrick; and a son-in-law, Shawn Yarber.
Left to cherish his memory are his son, Scott Derrick; two daughters, BriAnne Clover, and Dusti Yarber; 6 grandchildren, Memphis Derrick, Matthew Clover, Charlie Derrick, Castor Derrick, Carter Clover, and Cash Yarber; father, Harvey Parnell Derrick; 2 brothers, Harvey Derrick, and Andrew Derrick; and numerous nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.
Visitation will be held 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Thursday, February 16th at Lemley Chapel.
Funeral service will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, February 17th at Lemley Chapel with Bro. Scott Warren officiating. Burial will be held in McFadden Cemetery under the direction of Lemley Funeral Service of Atkins.
Despite his protest to be stuffed so that his dogs could remain with him until their last days, the family will be laying him to rest at Mcfadden cemetery.
In honor of Jackson Scott Derrick, we request that you write your congressman. Doesn’t matter the topic, you pick your battle. But we caution against bringing up Diane.
Pallbearers are Memphis Derrick, Castor Derrick, Carter Clover, Cash Yarber, James Damron, Jet Warren, and Jace Warren.
Honorary pallbearers are Travis Derrick, Matthew Clover, Jacob Warren, Greg Burns, and David Jeremiah Damron.
Online obituary and condolences are available at www.lemleyfuneral.com