Eventually the baby grew up into this hansome man shown here...but not just yet....
Baby John was dubbed Jackie and grew up being as crazy as any child that resides in Monett. He played sports, mainly basketball, his favorite, and wreaked havoc with his friends. Often they would drive “the strip” to ogle the ladies, and cause chaos. A favorite pastime was lighting firecrackers to throw them through the windows of passing cars —of course there is a tale that plan backfired, so to speak, when a firecracker was not thrown properly and landed in their own car.
He was silly all the time! Here is scarecrowing around at the "mansion" in Monett.
Jackie soon grew up to be Jack and attended college at the University of Missouri, Rolla. After graduation, Jack began working and moved to chilly Minnesota where one of the most important events took place.
At the Thunderbird motel in Bloomington, Minnesota he met the lovely and delightfully sweet Marilyn Turner.
She is a hottie!
It was love at first sight for both as they knew they met their match — goodbye Rosemary, goodbye Dale, or is that Dell, it didn’t matter, because Jack was now the man.
They were a breathtaking couple
Marilyn soon introduced him to her parents!!!!
And then, on a breezy autumn day Jack and Marilyn wed on October 4, 1969. Marilyn looked Jackie-O-esk in her mini wedding dress and veil! Oh those legs. The two would party with their friends, dance on pianos, play softball, and lounge about at barbecues.
In 1971 their family began when Marilyn birthed a son, Davey. And then, in April of 1974, their greatest creation was born, their precious and perfect daughter, Jolene.
Oooooh so sweet!
And she even sings with her brother!
Their lives were now complete. Jack doted on Jolene and even stayed up with her in the hospital in Monett when she nearly died a horrific baby death. She was so cold in that tent, but dad stood by her side all night. Soon Jack's favorite child grew older, and somewhat irritating. On a ride from Minnesota to California she was a terror, but always right. Once her father purchased some fuzzy peaches and began to complain about the fuzz. Little Jolene just told him to “Eat the Fuzz,” he laughed because she was right— she obviously had inherited her father’s good sense.
On that same trip the two saw moose! Meese. No mooeses. Meeses...whatever.
Throughout the years Jack continued to be the BEST father a girl could ever hope to have.
He snuggled with her kitty, Miss Ginger.
He taught her to drive, first an automatic, then years later a manual; he’s given her sound advice on life, jobs, and money. He gives her genuine compliments on her striking good-looks, and constructive criticism on her clothing choices. He makes jokes and acts goofy, all to make her laugh, but maybe more so to make himself laugh.
He also enjoyed the summers in Minnesota.
And the winters too.
Jack was always excited to visit Jolene at school in Duluth and visit pretty waterfalls.
he was there on graduation day as well, of course!
Aside from being the perfect father to both his children, Jack is also a very good husband. He takes very good care of Marilyn. He takes care of her with all his might. He takes her out on the town often, communicates well with her, makes her laugh, and will always appease her silly requests, such as re-wallpapering a room that had just been wallpapered. He’s also the favorite son-in law of Marilyn’s Mom, the cute Margie Glynn. He helps her out often and makes certain she knows that she's the best Lady in Columbia Heights.
Today Jack is known by many, especially by Lulu the dog, as the best man that ever lived. He continues to do right by his family and Miss Lulu too.
