Jack Hood

Jack Hood passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 18, 2005, from a heart attack in Midvale, Utah.

Jack was born to Zelma M. Duke and Willie N. Hood on Feb. 14, 1935, in Claude, Texas. After high school graduation in White Deer, Texas, he served in the Army and attended Texas Tech University.

Jack married Sheila Chisholm of Pampa, Texas, Dec. 28, 1965.

During their 37 years together they touched many lives as their journey took them from Texas to New York, South Africa, California, Utah and Montana. Drawn by the beauty of Flathead Valley, Jack built their retirement dream home in Bigfork.

After Sheila's untimely death Jack married Alice Ransom of South Beach, Ore., on Sept. 20, 2002. Their mutual love for travel gave them much happiness and joy. Jack also welcomed a grandchild into his heart from his wife Alice's previous marriage.

Many people feel fortunate to have been given the opportunity to work with Jack. He generously shared his engineering skills and analytical mind to inspire achievement beyond the common level while demonstrating integrity and loyalty. With fairness and compassion he mentored several to follow in his footsteps. Jack was always a strong team member and would spend the time to teach and explain how each part fit into the big picture. His intelligence, work ethic, and easy nature won him the respect of many in his field. Jack's superb abilities with mechanical engineering layouts and attention to detail will be greatly missed.

Friends and family will miss Jack's wonderful laugh and smile, heart-warming hug, his rich singing voice, and kind and generous manner. His adventurous spirit, quick wit, and warm hospitality deeply affected all who knew him. Always a gentleman and there to provide a helpful hand to those in need, he touched many especially those who walked the 12-steps with him. Jack was always willing to share his experience and knowledge to guide those around him. He provided many with a reality check whether at home or on the job and he was able to do this in a unique upbeat manner.

Jack was preceded in death by his mother and father and by his wife

Sheila. He is survived by his wife Alice, brother Duke and his wife

Mickey of Abilene, Texas, sister Jane Davis of Austin, Texas, and his sister Pat and her husband Will Urbanczyk of White Deer, Texas, his aunt

Floy Hodge of Winters, Texas, and many cousins, loving nieces, nephews and their children.