Larry Jack McCracken was born on October 8, 1944, to Alva (Buck) McCracken and Audrey Kinnison McCracken in Greeley Colorado. He passed away on May 4, 2022 at the Hillcrest Care Center in Wray, Colorado. The family lived in Evans, Colorado until Jack was two or three when they moved to Akron where Jack’s parents operated two cafes: The Highway Café and the East Side Café.
When Jack was ten years old, his mother, Audrey, passed away after a long illness.
Jack attended all of his school years in Akron. During this time he and a friend thought it would be fun to ditch school and walk to Fremont Butte west of Akron. Little did they realize just how far that walk would be. They took some snacks with them but soon became hungry and thirsty. On their way back to town a kind person stopped and gave them a ride. Needless to say, his parents were not very happy with him.
Some time after his junior year, Jack quit school and married his high school sweetheart, Joan Elain Brandner. Because Jack was only 17, they could not get married in Colorado. So on May 14th 1961, they drove to Raton, New Mexico and were married. They had been married 47 years, just two days short of 48 years, when Joan passed away on May 12, 2009.
Upon turning 18 Jack enlisted in the National Guard and on May 27, 1965, went to Fort Leonardwood, MO for basic training. After finishing his training, they settled in Ft. Morgan, Colorado where he worked for Great Western Sugar for three years. He then went to work for Morgan County During this time Jack was injured which resulted I him not being able to work for a few years.
Later they moved back to Yuma where he worked for the Standard Station and later for Co-Op.
They again went back to Ft. Morgan where Jack went back to work for the city’s water department but he always returned to Yuma to help his father-in-law, Ed Brandner, with wheat harvest. Eventually, they ended up moving back to Yuma where he helped Ed farm for several years.
After this, Jack invested in the Indian Station, where he owned and operated the bar until it was sold.
Because he and Joan had a love for traveling, they took off for the Phoenix, AZ area where they managed an RV park. Other adventures included managing an RV park in Santa Barbara, CA; operating an arcade business in AZ; an RV park in Loveland, CO and an apartment complex in Boulder. Both Jack and Jo thoroughly enjoyed their ventures as they met so many neat people.
Another interest Jack had was trap shooting. He talked about going to shoots with Jerry Busshner, Bernard Wall and Vernon Myers. His biggest accomplishment was breaking 100 off the 16 yard line several times. He also enjoyed bowling, carrying a 185 average.
In January of 2011, Jack and Velda Josh renewed their friendship. They had been long time friends and the two couples used to do a lot together. As both Jack and Velda loved to travel, their first trip together was to Tucson, AZ, to visit their friends from Yuma. Other trips included Taos, NM; Black Hawk, CO and Lake McConoughy, NE to camp with Velda’s family. Being avid Bronco fans they always made it a point to watch the games together.
Jack was preceded in death by his wife, Joan Brandner McCracken; his parents Alva and Audrey McCracken; half brother Bud McCracken and half sister Opal Loshbaugh.
Survivors include: Velda Josh, Jack’s significant other; Velda’s family: Sheila, Sage, Angel and Shaylynn; Dale Irina, Brekyn, Skylar & family; Tony, Lindsay, Krissi and LeLynn, all of Yuma: Cousins; Janice Dorrenbacher of Akron; Jean Glosson of Akron; Frank McCracken of Colorado and Marie Kinnison Beauprez of Yuma, Sister inlaw’s Marylou McMurphy, Deloris Pixler and Cindy Snook along with other relatives and a host of friends.
A graveside service will be held June 3, 2022, at 1:00, at the Yuma Cemetery, with Bill Dorrenbacher officiating. Inurnment will be in the Yuma Cemetery with Baucke Funeral Home taking care of arrangements.
2022-05-27