Jackie Ray "Jack" Stegall

Jackie Ray “Jack” Stegall was born March 3, 1937, at his home in Upshur Country, Texas, to Orvis Milton “Mutt” and Ethel (Beene) Stegall. He grew up in the Winnsboro area and graduated at Harmony High School. While in school he was active in football, basketball, Biology Club and FFA.

At the age of 9, his dad was a Navy Sea Bee and left to rebuild bridges and roads toward the end of WWII in Okinawa. Jack stepped up to help take care of his mom and siblings. He began working at his grandfather’s sawmill at age 12.


Following graduation Jack attended Tyler College where he majored in Radio, Television and Electronics. Jack married his high school sweetheart, Ida Belle French, on November 9th, 1956. They were married 50 years before she passed away on July 21st, 2007.


Jack and Belle made their first home in Tyler, Texas. Later, they moved to Wichita Falls, Texas, where Jack started working for Halliburton (Welex). Jack and Belle also lived in Winfield, Kansas, and Pawhuska, Oklahoma, before transferring to Woodward.


Jack and Belle were blessed with three sons. All of the kids in the neighborhood loved spending time at their house. Jack never knew when he came home after work how many “extras” would be at their house. Jack and Belle also cared for the stray animals that somehow the boys managed to find.

Every summer Jack and Belle would take the boys camping. They traveled to the Grand Canyon in Arizona and the Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. They really enjoyed their time camping at Fun Valley in Colorado. They also went to East Texas every summer to camp and visit with family.

Jack’s sons enjoyed tinkering with him in the garage. He was the “go to” guy if you needed help with anything. He was literally a “jack” of all trades. Even as adults, the boys still called their dad to get advice from him over the phone. He was a very patient man, and rarely raised his voice.


Jack was active in the Bowling Association and served as Chairman. After retirement, he had the opportunity to pursue his talent in woodworking. He made everything from small clocks and knickknacks to large trash or potato bins and pie safes. He scrolled beautiful pictures of animals and people. He also enjoyed spending time in the afternoons at Dan’s with his “coffee drinking” buddies.


Jack loved caring for the animals at his home. He fed the birds and squirrels everyday and watched them playing in the front and back yards. Above all, he enjoyed just being with his family and friends.

Jack passed away on February 27, 2017. He is preceded in death by his parents, his sister, Pat Oney, and his wife, Belle.


He is survived by his three sons, Gerald and wife Kathy, of Burns Flat, Oklahoma, Gary and wife Robin, of Cheney, Kansas, and Darrin and wife Talara, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; 8 grandchildren, Kendra Walker and husband Derrick, Garrett Stegall and wife Laci, Kristy Denbo and husband Trent, all of Burns Flat, Oklahoma, Adam Stegall and wife Allie, of Port Orchard, Washington, Jackson, Jakob, and Oliver.



Funeral services for Jack will be held at 11:00 am Saturday, March 4, 2017 in the Billings Funeral Home Chapel. On Monday March 6, 2017 a visitation will be held from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm in the Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer, Texas concluded by a funeral service at 2:00 pm in the Croley Funeral Home Chapel. Interment will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery, Shady Grove, Texas.