Jackson "Jack" McCracken

Jack McCracken, 88, passed away on November 19, 2022.  He was born January 6, 1934, in O’Brion, West Virginia to the late Jack and Mildred McCracken. Jack attended Clay County High School, where he met the love of his life, June.  They married in 1954.  Work took the young couple to Akron, and then South Carolina.  They ultimately ended up back in Akron where he and June raised their family.  Everything Jack did was for his family.  Family vacations were a joy and a priority for Jack.  Because of this the family traveled many times across the United States and explored the country from coast to coast.  

Jack enjoyed watching football and baseball, but his real joy was racing, especially Nascar. Jack not only enjoyed watching the races but was a race car driver himself.  Jack was the 1970 street stock season champion at Barberton Speedway.  Jack’s pit crew included his 5 oldest sons, who all developed a love for cars.  It was not uncommon for Jack to pile the neighborhood kids into the car for a night at Barberton Speedway.

Jack had patience, whether it was helping Terry with fractions in math class, working on his cars, or taking the grandchildren to explore nature with a picnic in the woods, which would include Vienna sausages, served on toothpicks and juice boxes. 

Jack retired from Falls Model and Pattern in 1999 after 36 years of service.  He spent his retirement years traveling back and forth across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  His greatest adventure was his almost 2-month long trip to Alaska, where he and June explored small towns and saw beautiful scenery and wildlife.  Jack was never lost, he was always “just taking the scenic route”.  Jack loved to gamble, and he and June spent 6 Ohio winters in Las Vegas as part-time residents and full-time gamblers.

Jack loved the noise that the holidays and family gatherings would bring and found joy in watching his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.  It was important for Jack to let you know how much he loved you and would tell you each time he saw you.  Jack will be remembered for his kindness and deep love of family. 

Besides his parents, Jack was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Valinda, grandson Jeremy, and great-grandson Lincoln.  He is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, June; sons, Jack, Terry (Janis), Larry (Joanne), Jerry (Sally), Garry (Terri), and Steve (Melissa); daughter, Mary (Mike) Seman; grandchildren, Katie (Mike), Jason (Amy), Allison (Justin), Jessica, Josh, Jennifer (Donny), Michelle (Jason), Michael (Brandii), Ashley (Mark), Jordan, Brandon, T.J., Jake; great-grandchildren, Ronson, Mikey, Anna, Blake, Adam, Penny, Sterling, Cordellia, Henry; as well as many other family and friends.

Funeral service will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, November 26, 2022, at Schermesser Funeral Home, 600 E. Turkeyfoot Lake Road, Akron, Ohio 44319 with Fr. Jeremy Merzweiler officiating.  Family and friends may call on Saturday from 11 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.  Interment will take place at Uniontown Greenlawn Cemetery.  Memorial contributions can be made in Jack’s name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Place, Memphis, Tennessee 38105-9959.  To leave a special message online for the family, visit our website at www.schermesserfh.com.

SCHERMESSER
(330) 899-9107
www.schermesserfh.com

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