Jack Hudson

On Wednesday, February 20th, Jack Hudson passed peacefully into the arms of his Savior the Lord Jesus Christ. Jack was born to Preston and Leona Hudson on July 23, 1922, in Marietta, Oklahoma. Jack was always proud of his heritage. His father was Irish and his mother was full blooded Cherokee Indian. Jack was raised on a ranch near Marietta, where he attended high school, graduating in 1939. He was a big help to his father in running the ranch. Jack was a young man during the terrible Dust Bowl days in Oklahoma. He remembers the terrible dust. All the grass was ruined and his father had to give away the cattle for beef because there was no fodder for them to eat and they were starving to death. As a young man, Jack hopped a freight train to California in the harvest seasons, where he picked fruit. Eventually, Jack moved to his beloved Alaska where he worked for the Federal Aviation Administration. He worked as a diesel mechanic and also skippered one the administration's ships serving outposts off the coast of Alaska. In 1964 Jack married his beloved Fern who was a pharmacist in Sitka Alaska. The way that they met was hilarious. Jack was having dinner at a club in Sitka. He looked up and saw a lovely lady with red hair. He walked over to her, tapped her on the shoulder and said, "Let's dance. I'm going to marry you." One year later they were married on April Fool's Day in 1964 and were together until Ferns death in 2006. During Fern's final illness with Alzheimer's, he was adopted by Teresa Zambrano and her two daughters Iris and Alex. They became a loving family. Jack helped Teresa to raise the girls as she was a single mother. They love and miss Jack very much. Jack was an avid hunter and fisherman. He tells the story of the time he was hunting deer in the woods. A friend had given him a special call to use to lure the deer in for a shot. Jack was using that call when he heard a rustle behind him. He turned and looked. It was a Grizzly Bear, growling and charging him. Jack shot that bear nine times with his pistol and the bear dropped dead at his feet. He said, "I shook like a leaf for twenty minutes. Jack was very talented. At one point he hand crafted his own 31-foot cabin cruiser. He was always thinking of others. One year at Thanksgiving Jack bought a complete Thanksgiving dinner for a homeless couple. Jack was one of the main movers in the annual Fishing Derby at Lake Van in Dexter for the young folks. Each year he would purchase two fishing poles for the first and second place winners. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation at an offering plate at his memorial service on Sunday at St. Stephen's to purchase fishing gear for this year's derby in April. Jack loved his Boxer Missy and was heartbroken when he had to put her down. He was always an advocate for animal rights and sought to protect God's creatures. Jack loved the Lord very much and was a true evangelist. Everyone he met he would invite to come to church. Jack Hudson! A good man gone home to heaven. His service will be on Sunday, February 24, at 10 am at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, 101 South Lea. Please take a moment and share a fond memory or kind expression of sympathy for Timothy’s family at www.andersonbethany.com. Jack’s tribute was written in his honor by his family.

Jack Hudson

July 23, 1922 - February 20, 2019