Jackie E. Jarrett, 77, of Daleville, Ind., died Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013, after a short illness.
Born on Feb. 3, 1935, he was the son of Paul Jarrett and Josephine (Padgett) Jarrett. His family was from Fortville, and Jackie graduated from Fortville High School in 1953. He played on the Demons basketball and baseball teams and enjoyed those sports for the rest of his life.
Mr. Jarrett served in the Marine Corps and later joined the Indiana State Police. He spent 20 years as a trooper and firearms instructor. He also was a farmer in Delaware County for nearly 40 years.
He was a member of the Pioneers of the Indiana State Police; Elks Lodge 345 in Muncie; and Mt. Pleasant Community Church in Daleville.
Mr. Jarrett was an avid outdoorsman who was most at home with a fishing rod in his hands. For many years, he spent winters in Welaka, Fla., and he knew every prime fishing spot for miles on the St. John’s River. His favorite times on the water were when relatives visited and he could show off his knowledge. He never took nature and its bounty for granted: He always marveled at the big bream that would be fooled by his expertly tied beetle-spinners or a dangling cricket, and he was happiest when family members landed big ones they could brag about when they got home. When he wasn’t fishing, he enjoyed birding and identifying the many species that would visit his feeders. Hundreds of Eastern bluebirds fledged in houses he built and placed outside his home.
Family members loved to listen to Jackie tell stories whose punch lines he delivered with perfect timing, and they never tired of his a capella renderings of old country-and-western songs. He loved playing euchre, poker and bridge, and his warm laugh from across the table showed he never took losing too seriously.
Surviving him are his wife, Paula Lennington of Daleville, who he married on Dec. 29, 2001; son, Robin (Deneice) Jarrett of Indianapolis; daughters Paula (David Hill) Jarrett of New Palestine; and Lori L. Gunn of Indianapolis; stepsons Pete Fillman (fiancée Jeanine Green) and Jeffrey (Nila) Fillman; grandchildren, Jerami Summers (fiancée Klancey Zubowski), Alexis Pendygraft, Amanda (Robby) Neighbors and Abigail Jarrett; three great-grandchildren; nine stepgrandchildren; five great-stepgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Marilyn Sue (Vironet) Jarrett, who he married on Dec. 7, 1956; his parents; and two brothers, Paul L. Jarrett and Robert O. Jarrett. A son-in-law, Timothy Gunn, also preceded him in death.
Calling will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday at Gant Funeral Homes, Yorktown Chapel, 2215 S. Broadway St., Yorktown. A graveside service will follow at 11:30 a.m. at Gravel Lawn Cemetery north of Fortville on Ind. 13. Pastor John Albright will officiate.
Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Pleasant Church in care of the funeral home or a charity of the donor’s choice.
