Jack Ferrell

Durango and Apache Junction, Ariz., resident Jack F. “Laughing Jack” Ferrell, died Friday, Dec. 28, 2012, in Mesa, Ariz.

Mr. Ferrell was born Nov. 15, 1926, in Anthony, Kan., to Clifford Harold and Mary Ellen Ferrell. His family said he often talked about spending summers at his Aunt May and Uncle Rob’s ranch in northwest Oklahoma with his cousins. As a young man, Jack worked on a ranch in Silver City, N.M., where he met his future wife, Bonnie Jo Van Camp. They were married April 13, 1949, in Silver City.

Jack became a Master Carpenter in 1949. In 1953, the couple moved to Scottsdale, Ariz. In 1958 he laid out the old Durango pool for Mullin Pools of Arizona. In 1962 he worked in Amorita, Okla., in the feed mill. Jack and Bonnie moved to Durango in 1966. Jack worked with Jim Jackson of Rio Grande Lands as lead carpenter on the remodel of the entire 500 block of Main Ave., and later on the Quiet Lady Bar.

In the early 1970’s he developed the Lone Pine Mobile Park. He served as a Colorado Mounted Ranger from 1966 to the 1980’s. He and Bonnie became “snow birds” in 1984, and Thanksgiving and Christmas were frequently spent with cousins in Arizona. Jack enjoyed attending garage sales, and he and Bonnie loved travelling in their camper. He participated in family reunions in Oklahoma and Kansas. In his spare time he fished and hunted and went on pack trips (muleskinner). Baseball was important to Jack and Bonnie, and they liked to watch spring training in Arizona.

Jack was a Third Degree Mason of the Cherokee Masonic Lodge. In the Durango Masonic Lodge, he was a 32-Degree, and Scottish Rite and York Rite.

His family said he was content to watch the trees grow and the traffic go by. He was happiest working in his wood shop and building sheds. His son, Renn, remembers, “Whenever Jack called, the first words out of his mouth were always, ‘What’s going on?’ Sometimes, when telling a story, he’d realize he couldn’t remember some of the details, and he’d say, ‘Well, that doesn’t matter anyway.’ His favorite term of endearment was ‘Hey, Bud!’”

Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Jo Ferrell. He is survived by his son, Renn Franklin Ferrell, of Durango; his sister, Mary Alice Sperry, of Clearwater, Kan.; grandsons RJ Ferrell and Vernon Ferrell of Durango, and one great-grandchild.

A memorial service to celebrate Jack’s life will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, January 21, 2013, at Hood Mortuary Chapel. Earl Caudill will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Shriners Intermountain Hospital, attn.: M.J. Filler, Fairfax Road at Virginia Street, Salt Lake City, Utah 84103 (801-536-3567).