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John William “Jack” Lucas

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John William “Jack” Lucas

Birth	:	14 Nov 1917 Stockton, San Joaquin County, California, USA
Death	:	23 Aug 2006 Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Burial	:	Glen Oaks Memorial Park, Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.7076721, -121.8084641
Plot	:	Garden of Peace, Lot 305, sp 3
Description	:	Jack Lucas was a fine gentleman, a gentle man, and a caring individual. His passing leaves a large hole in the "whole" that is Durham. Following, the obituary: Chico Enterprise-Record, Tuesday, August 29, 2006, pg 3B: "Jack Lucas was born in Stockton, California, November 14, 1917, to William and Lillian Lucas. When Jack was three years old the family moved to Durham, where he spent all of his growing-up years. "Jack inherited a love of farming and... Read More	Jack Lucas was a fine gentleman, a gentle man, and a caring individual. His passing leaves a large hole in the "whole" that is Durham. Following, the obituary: Chico Enterprise-Record, Tuesday, August 29, 2006, pg 3B: "Jack Lucas was born in Stockton, California, November 14, 1917, to William and Lillian Lucas. When Jack was three years old the family moved to Durham, where he spent all of his growing-up years. "Jack inherited a love of farming and gardening from his father and grandfather. When he was in his early teens, he helped his father raise, pick, and deliver truckloads of melons to nearby markets. "In 1938, Jack purchased two acres on Lott Road, and on Oct 30, 1940, married Doris Peacher. The two worked together raising kidney beans, which Jack bartered at the local market in exchange for groceries. "In 1942 Jack bought a 37-acre farm on Esquon Road. It was there, that he and Doris raised their two sons, William ("Skip") and Ray. Over the next 20 years the whole family was involved in raising row crops and alfalfa. "Jack did commercial harvesting and hay bailing when his sons were in their teen years. He owned a fleet of hay balers, and kept not only his sons and his father busy running them, but also his Uncle Vance. "In 1960, Jack became the first farmer hired at the university's newly operational farm. He worked there for 18 years before finally retiring. "In 1961, Jack purchased a small almond orchard with a farmhouse and barn. By early 1962, the Lucas family had moved to their new location, and shortly thereafter Jack built the house on the corner of Roble Road and McAnarlin that has been their home for the last 44 years. "Nearly as active in the community as he was in farming, Jack belonged to a number of clubs. He was a charter member of the Durham Good Sams, belonged to the Antique Engine Club, California State Employees Assn., retired; the Chico Ostomy Association, and was a former member of the Chico Yacht Club. Neighbor and Durham community member Kathi Montgomery remembered Jack via an essay she wrote in November, 1996, entitled "Peace", which she prefaced: " … Over the course of many walks, I would see Jack working in his yard and garden. I was moved to write this after our visit that November day in 1996. He epitomized for me a passing era when life was simpler, and people found satisfaction in quiet achievements …" It is used, following, with her permission: I went for my daily stroll today, making the "loop," walking around our country block. Autumn has arrived wearing its cloak of vermilion, scarlet, and gold: bold apparel against a soft azure sky. Almond trees, relieved of their bounty, boast delicate celadon leaves in contrast to their sturdy black trunks. Emerald-green grass rolls away under the trees creating a luxuriant carpet as far as the eye can see. Rounding the corner of McAnarlin Avenue and Roble Road, I recognize Jack Lucas, an old-time Durham farmer, out under the canopy of his ancient walnut tree. An old, faded ball cap snugs his head, allowing just a hem of his bristling white hair to show. Tinted bifocals rest on weathered cheeks. His chambray shirt is neatly pressed, white stitching outlining the two chest pockets and front button placket. It is tucked into work jeans that sport mends of tidy, dark-blue threads on the thighs. Welding burns, no doubt. Navy-blue suspenders with brass buckles stripe his chest, bridging front waistband to back. Well-worn, brown leather work boots look as comfortable on his feet as a pair of old slippers. His medium build hints at a bit of a belly, but for the most part, this is the physique of a man who has found satisfaction in a lifetime of physical labor. As I draw near, Jack is intent on his task, poking the end of a four-foot long metal pipe over individual walnuts that lie scattered under his massive walnut tree like so many verdant golf balls. He walks randomly about, poking the end over one green-husked nut, then another. He brings the pipe-end up to his face, eye-balls the size of the opening, then the size of a walnut. He shakes his head, starts to walk toward his shop, sees me then, and waves. I return his greeting, approach, and ask what he's doing. "Well, I'm trying to invent something, a way to pick up these scattered nuts." In my ignorance of all things practical, I say, "It looks like the opening needs to be smaller." "Oh, well, you see, I'm going to install a spring up inside the pipe here. As I pick up each walnut, the spring will move it up the pipe. My friend, Herb, up the street gave me the idea. He's quite a golfer, and he was showing me the gadget he has for picking up golf balls. It's a hollow pipe similar to this, but it's cut here at the side (Jack indicates where a six-inch opening in the side of the pipe would be) and a bag is attached to collect the balls. It's real handy." Jack is reading my mind, for he continues. "I could probably go to a sporting goods store and buy one, but this way it gives me something to do, a winter project." I praise his spirit of inventiveness, that spirit which through the years has inspired many farmers to create machinery unique to their individual needs; the ingenuity that has seen them buy a piece of equipment designed by highly-paid engineers, bring it back to their farm-shop, study it, and finally say, "This works pretty slick, but if I just modify this and refabricate that, it will fit down an orchard row better." Jack goes on to tell me of just such a case. About the sickle he designed, fabricated, and attached to his John Deere tractor for cutting grass in his tree rows. "It did a beautiful job. The John Deere people came around on one of their routine visits, saw what I'd done and liked the idea so much, the next year they had one of their own. Of course they could mass produce the thing and pay for the patent . . . I didn't have time to do all that." "That's another business altogether," I offer, imagining the profit John Deere undoubtedly made, and marveling at Jack's lack of rancor. "Yes, another business entirely, and I just didn't have the time, so I was glad they could use my idea," he replies, in his soft, slightly scratchy voice. My eyes gaze at his immaculate, modest home, then wander around his yard with its carefully-tended rose-bushes; its beds of brilliantly gold mums; its bountiful persimmon and pomegranate trees before they come back to rest on Jack. For a moment, I bask in the glow of his gentle smile and wise simplicity, grateful for having been in the presence of something rare. Chico Enterprise-Record, (continued) "Jack lost his battle with cancer on Aug. 23, 2006, at his Durham home. "He is survived by his wife Doris; son Skip, of Crockett, Calif.; Ray and his wife Sue, of Durham; and two step-sisters: Rosalind McNair of Chico and Ida Cluck of Ark. Four grandchildren, Jennifer Gibbs of Saratoga Springs, Utah, Loretta Miller of Lodi; Larry Lucas of Merced and Scott Lucas of Gilbert, Ariz.; also survive him, as well as six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is John William “Jack” Lucas's memorial?
John William “Jack” Lucas's memorial is located at: Glen Oaks Memorial Park, Chico, Butte County, USA.
When did John William “Jack” Lucas death?
John William “Jack” Lucas death on 23 Aug 2006 in Chico, Butte County, California, USA
Where are the coordinates of the John William “Jack” Lucas's memorial?
Latitude: 39.7076721
Longitude: -121.8084641

Family Members:

Parent

William Lucas

(1894 - 1979)

Spouse

Doris Edna Peacher Lucas

(1921 - 2016)

Children

William E “Skip” Lucas

(1944 - 2018)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Glen Oaks Memorial Park
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7076721, -121.8084641

2. Chico Memorial Mausoleum and Crematory
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7346010, -121.8374560

3. Chico Cemetery
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7391470, -121.8367800

4. Durham Cemetery
Durham, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6758003, -121.7688980

5. Mechoopda Indian Cemetery
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7328930, -121.8558910

6. Dayton Cemetery
Dayton, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6520004, -121.8679962

7. Bragg Cemetery
Nord, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7750980, -121.9568170

8. Martin Family Cemetery
Artois, Glenn County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6087220, -121.9547550

9. Monroeville Cemetery
Butte City, Glenn County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6747760, -122.0002560

10. Nelson Cemetery
Nelson, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5571410, -121.7694570

11. Centerville Cemetery
Centerville, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7994003, -121.6461029

12. Clear Creek Cemetery
Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6632996, -121.6138992

13. Nicholl Cemetery
Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8119000, -121.6557500

14. Paradise Cemetery
Paradise, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7589989, -121.6119995

15. Nimshew Cemetery
Magalia, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8460007, -121.6200027

16. Skyway Memorial Park
Magalia, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8059998, -121.5790024

17. Magalia Cemetery
Magalia, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8088570, -121.5800629

18. Pine Creek Cemetery
Chico, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8617240, -121.9842480

19. Smith-Lunt Family Cemetery
Yankee Hill, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7126420, -121.5404070

20. Mound Cemetery
Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5026460, -121.8605080

21. Cohasset Cemetery
Cohasset, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.9124880, -121.7333220

22. Clark Family Cemetery
Yankee Hill, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6969620, -121.5253210

23. Tebbe Family Cemetery
Deadwood, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7428450, -121.5256960

24. Cherokee Cemetery
Oroville, Butte County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6410179, -121.5316391