C. Jack Wilson

Funeral service for C. Jack Wilson, 94, of Holly Lake Ranch will be 1:00 p.m., Saturday, February 7, 2015, at Holly Tree Chapel in Holly Lake Ranch. Interment will be in the Holly Tree Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Hawkins. Mr. Wilson passed Monday, February 2, 2015, at a Winnsboro hospital. Mr. Wilson was born December 29, 1920, in Dallas, Texas to James K. and Florene Jackson Wilson. Preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Brenda Wilson, daughter, Judi Wilson; brothers, James K. Wilson, Jr. and George W. Wilson; sister Florene Wilson Reed; and great-grandson, Corey Woodling. He is survived by his beloved wife of sixty-eight years, Nance" M. Wilson of Holly Lake Ranch; and much loved family including: son, James M. (Jim) Wilson of Holly Lake Ranch; grandchildren, Holli Woodling Orsag and husband, Chris Orsag of Richmond, TX; Loren Zerr and husband, Shane Zerr of Edmond, OK., Katie Alexander and husband, Ben Alexander of Dallas, TX, Jamie Wilson and wife, Kelsey of Dallas, TX., and Jacky Bennett of Holly Lake Ranch; and great-grandchildren, Taylor, Colton, Lauren, Jack and Luke; sisters-in-law, Liz Wilson of San Antonio and Joann Wilson of Kansas City; nieces and nephews, Lynn Hamby, Peter Wilson, Bill Wilson, Jeanne Jones, Mary Bruzonne, Emily Bailey, Beverly York, Dr. John Reed, David Reed and James K. Wilson, III. Also included are our "adopted" families in Chatham, Ont. Canada, Pashi and Jenny Lulla and daughters, Sonja and Nina, and Norm and Rose Braganza and sons, David and Warren. Jack was raised in Dallas and attended Woodrow Wilson High School. He received a BBA from South Methodist University, where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity, and also an MBA from Northwestern University of Evanston, Illinois. Jack"s business career include many years in the oil and gas production, exploration and drilling business as partner or executive in charge of land, legal and tax matters. Along with the oil business, he became very active for many years in real estate development and sales. With Buddy Macatee and John Cowden, he co-founded Royalty Properties in 1967 as a real estate development partnership. He and J.D. Guffey co-founded Apollo Drilling and Exploration, Inc. and related companies in 1969 and later. Having developed a love for East Texas in the 1950"s Jack experienced further business fulfillment as cofounder and co-developer with Bill McKenzie of beautiful Holly Lake Ranch, a large recreational and residential community in Wood County. This project began in 1970 and later became Jack and Nance"s permanent home. He also founded Wood Land Realty, Wood Land Village and Wilson Energy (with son, Jim). While living in Dallas, Jack was an active member of many businesses, civic and social organizations including the Dallas Petroleum Club, Dallas Athletic Club, Lakewood Country Club, Northwood Club, the Dallas Salesmanship Club, East Dallas YMCA, IPAA, TIPRO and others. Although he had been a nominal Christian, Jack committed his life and future to Jesus Christ in 1962. This life-changing event led him to involvement with many Christian ministries including Campus Crusade for Christ, Young Life, Probe Ministries, Layman"s Leadership Institute, Laity Lodge, Lay Renewal Ministries, Abiding Life Ministries and others. He was co-founder of Christian Concern Foundation and its Kaleo Lodge ministry and was founding member of Holly Tree Chapel. Pallbearers will be Curtis Allen, Jim Armstrong, Jim Atchley, Eddie Calvert, Mike Dunham, Mike Fleming, Larry Marsh, Gerry Meek, Dennis Simmonetta and Leon Ward. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ken Carter, Bob Edmondson, Bob Fenn, Bill McKenzie, Paul Myers, Dr. George Shropulos and Fred Smitham. No formal visitation is scheduled.