St. George, Utah - If you knew him for a lifetime or just for a moment, you were glad about it! Jack W. Walker graduated form his mortal experience, with honors, on March 24, 2012. He was born in Cedar City, Utah on July 3, 1924 to Reuben and Catherine Williams Walker. He loved growing up in Cedar and was the 9 ^th of 11 children.

He leaves behind his loving wife of 61 years, Joye; daughters: Kris Mann, Tracey (George) Schultz, Peggy (Scott) Gifford, Corinne (Richard) Barton and April Walker; 17 grandchildren; 28 great-grandchildren; and a brother, Dee Walker.

As a teenager, he enthusiastically joined the Marines during WWII and later served in the Navy. He was always proud of his military service and received the "Purple Heart" as he was run over by a Japanese tank on the Island of Peleliu during battle.

After his military service, he met Joye on a blind date and they married on January 17, 1951 in Provo, Utah and were later sealed in the St. George LDS Temple in 1957. They raised their five daughters in Cedar where he was employed as the County Road Supervisor. He also served as a policeman and volunteer fireman. His favorite job in Cedar was that of a sheepherder! He always said he "had a love affair" with his Cedar mountain. He knew every road, land owner and herd of sheep up there.

In 1962, Jack and Joye moved their young family to Henderson, Nevada. Jack had many skills and talents. He used them for employments in many jobs mostly in the construction industry as a carpenter, welder, designer and inventor. He could do anything, fix anything and build anything. He created hundreds of gifts for others which were custom made out of wood or metal. He was a master at recycling and re-purposing long before those were popular words. His hands were never idle and his mind never stopped planning the next "project". In his later years, he built three sheep wagons, the last one when he was 84 years old and he proudly displayed them in the annual Sheep Festival in Cedar City.

Jack was a lifelong member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints where he served in many capacities, but mostly he served his friends, neighbors and family in endless ways.

He returned home to live in Utah in 1990, where he and Joye enjoyed a long and productive retirement in St. George. He was always happy to take excursions all over Southern Utah with his kids and grandkids , his friends and especially his cousin, J.C. He also was a volunteer at the Dixie Regional Medical Hospital for more than 15 years and took great pleasure in helping people there.

If you ever asked Jack how he was doing, he always said he was "splendid" or wonderful". He "never had a sick day in his life" but his family would like to express their gratitude to the Southern Utah Hospice Care and the many friends and family who called or came to visit or extended any kindness during the past few weeks.

Jacks "Graduation Ceremony" will be held Friday, March 30, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunset LDS 5 ^th Ward Chapel, 750 North 1000 West, St. George, Utah. A gathering and visitation will be held Friday, prior to services, from 9:00 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. at the Cedar City Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the care of Metcalf Mortuary, (435) 673-4221.