Jack Edwin

Counts

-
image description
IN LOVING MEMORY

Jack Edwin Counts

Nov 07 1921 - May 18 2015

Jack Edwin Counts was born in El Paso, Texas in 1921 to Sidney Counts and Lulu Bess Counts. He grew up there during the depression and experienced the hardest of times. From that beginning he developed the attitude that he could do anything. He was driving a car at 12, flying an airplane at 16, and paid his way to college. Over his 93 years he lived an amazing and purposeful life.

He was a Navy Pilot in WWII. He married Jane Foster in 1944 and they both graduated from the University of Oklahoma. He got his degree in Civil Engineering. They raised two sons Jack Counts, Jr. and Steven Earl Counts.

Together they traveled the entire United States and Europe, the South Pacific, the Far East, and South America. He loved to fly his own planes and loved to drive and drive and drive! They lived in many wonderful places including: New Orleans, Miami, El Paso, Albuquerque, Wichita, Seattle, Oklahoma City, Honolulu, Maui, Genesee Colorado, and Dallas. They were together for many loving years and together when she passed on in 2002.

His business career was exciting and varied. Companies he started and owned built thousands of affordable homes in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Iowa, Washington, and Oklahoma during the 1950’s and early 60’s.

In the 1960’s, 70’s, and early 80’s he built, owned and successfully operated nursing homes in Oklahoma and Texas.

In the early 1970’s he helped his son Jack Jr. start a photography business in Oklahoma City that became Candid Color Systems.

In the late 1980’s, when he was near 70, he played a key role in developing the Glamour Shots concept. He successfully developed and operated stores in Dallas that became the success model for the Glamour Shots franchise system. He was active and successful in the Glamour Shots business well into his 80’s.

In all of his business endeavors, he was always concerned about the customers he served and the people he employed. He simply cared about people.

To him everyone was important no matter their position in life. He treated everyone warmly and with respect.

He was always curious and wanted to learn and know more about virtually everything - especially regarding history, science, medicine, and religion. He read thousands of books over the years resulting in an enormous library. He was glad to share his knowledge and his educated opinions. He was a breath of fresh air in a world of out of control over political correctness.

He was always very spiritual and believed in life everlasting. He always wore a beautiful cross. There is no question where he is now. Recently, he said that he had accomplished everything he was sent here to do.

He was amazingly resilient – he always overcame life’s setbacks with his positive attitude, his intelligence, his great energy, and warm smile. He was a great example and a constant inspiration to his family. His warmth and friendliness was contagious.

He was a great Father and was always available to help his sons. He loved his family and was so proud of his children, grand children, and great grand children.

His life was blessed with good health and lots of energy. Even in the past year he traveled from Dallas to OU football games, to Grand Lake, and to El Paso – things he loved to do. He topped it off with a trip with his grandson Carter last week for ice cream.

When he peacefully left us on Monday he was surrounded with loved ones. It was a near perfect ending to a wonderful story.

His life was not just long, but a great life full of accomplishment and love.

We will miss him greatly. He was an exceptional person. God Bless him.

He leaves his sons Jack Jr. and Steve, their wives Alison and Brenda, son Johnny Pennington, daughter Emily Pennington, his grandchildren: Christy Counts, Kimberly Anderson, Stephen Tucker, Jack Counts III, Sawyer Counts, Foster Counts, Carter Counts, and Chloe Counts, and 7 great grandchildren. Importantly, he leaves his beloved friend and partner for the last decade Thelma McCord.

The family will have a private Celebration of his life at a yet undetermined time.

Memorials may be made to the  Central Oklahoma Humane Society in his memory.

image description

Memorials

absolute-header