In Memory

Jack Bounds

Jack Bounds

 Jack Bounds 

   1947 - 2025                                                                                        

 

Obituary:
Jack Murray Bounds passed away on February 28, 2015, in Wortham, Texas. He was 67 years old. Jack was born in Waco, Texas on June 25, 1947.

After living in Waco and Wichita Falls, Jack’s parents, Jackie and Lemoine, moved the family to Houston where Jack attended several different Jr. High and High Schools – because new schools were being built closer to their home each year. Jack attended Spring Branch HS and Memorial HS, and, finally, Spring Woods High School, graduating in 1966. After high school, Jack attended Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, Texas.

Jack moved to east Texas with his first wife, Pat, where he worked as a police officer for the City of Gladewater. Jack was thrilled when his son, Jackson Lemoine, was born in 1970. Jack later worked for a time in the oil field before he began working as a truck driver. He worked as a hot shot driver, then as a long haul truck driver for many years.

Jack met his wife, Martha, on a blind date set up by a good friend, and they married in 1975. Jack was so proud when his son William Edward, “Eddie”, was born in 1978, and again when his son Thomas Oliver, “Toby”, was born in 1985. The family lived primarily in Longview and Wortham while Jack continued to drive a truck. Jack quit working as an over-the-road truck driver when he got the opportunity to be an instructor at the ATDS truck driving school in Mexia, Texas. He began his next career, as Ranch Manager for the Miller Ranch, after he had settled in Wortham, Texas in the early 1990s.

Throughout his life Jack was an avid mechanic. As a young man he built stock cars to race at the Texas World Speedway, and he continued to build and repair engines for work, farm or home. So, he quickly agreed to work with his dear friend Tony Miller, when Tony decided to venture into professional motorcycle racing in 1995. As mechanic for the Miller Electric Team, Jack crossed the country for races from Daytona to Del Mar, and he was named AMA Tuner of the Year in 1997 and 1998.

In 2000, Jack was “on the ground” for all phases of the building of the Freestone County Raceway. While still managing the ranch, Jack was now maintaining and preparing the track for races. When the Pro National track was built, Jack was right there helping maintain and prepare that track for races as well. Jack met his wife, Evelyn, in 2000 and they quickly became inseparable. They enjoyed traveling and spending time together. Jack even got Evelyn to work with him at the racetrack during races! They took trips to Colorado and Lake Belton and other fun places. Jack loved the outdoors, fishing and hunting, and one of his greatest joys was elk hunting in Colorado.

He technically retired in 2013 but he continued to play a role at the racetrack just to keep himself engaged. From enforcing the law to driving a truck to teaching to fixing ranch equipment to building motorcycles to storytelling, he was the true "Jack of all trades" and “Master of many”.

Before leaving to join his God, Jack spent his last day on this earth at the racetrack he loved, visiting with friends-new and old, enjoying great race action, and feeling loved by his wife, with whom he spoke just before he died. Jack was predeceased by his mother, Jacqueline Nell (Cherry) Bounds; his father, Clyde Lemoine Bounds; his maternal grandparents, John and Janie Cherry; and his paternal grandparents, Oliver and Lenora Lee Bounds.

Jack is survived by his wife, Evelyn (Davis), who will miss him endlessly. He is also survived by his sons Jackson Bounds, of Colorado; Eddie Bounds, his wife Mandi, and their children Aubrie, Maycie, Keison, Kambrie and Kallie Rayne of Oklahoma; and Toby Bounds, his wife Tasha, and their children Trevor, Tristan, Ayla, Reigan, Keeley, Danielle, Malachi, Jacob, Ayden and Lilly of Texas. Jack is survived by his sister Cherry Kay Wolf and her husband Mike, and his brother Edward Lee Bounds and his wife Tonya, all of College Station, Texas. Jack is also survived by his step-mother Miriam Bounds, of Wortham, and numerous cousins, aunts, uncles and dear friends who will miss him deeply.

A memorial service celebrating Jack’s life will be held at the Porter Funeral Chapel, 212 W. Main Street, Wortham, Texas 76693 at 2:00 pm, March 14, 2015. Jack’s cousin, Bill Vinson, will be delivering the eulogy and the family invites those who knew Jack to come and participate.