Obituary of Jack Lane Ferrell, Jr.

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­Jack Lane Ferrell, Jr., 78, passed into eternal life before dawn on Tuesday, January 8th at Vibra Hospital in Mount Pleasant, SC. Called Lane by family, he was JACK to most. Until his sudden illness, his routine at that hour had been to drive to Hardees near his home in Summerville, where he and his friends would fellowship over life and coffee as they began the day. 

Jack was born in Atlanta in 1940 to Jack, Sr. and Jeanele ​​Moore Ferrell.  ​He grew up in Savannah. ​In the Fall of 1957, his Senior year at Savannah High School, he enlisted in the ​United States Navy, attending boot camp during Christmas break. Reporting for active duty in the Fall of 1958, he began his Naval career as a submariner spanning years of the Cold War. Four years into his Navy service, during a visit to his parents' home at Isle of Hope, he met a friend of his sister's who captured his imagination. He married that young woman, Theus Smith, in July 1962 because, he said, he recognized that her independent nature would prepare her for life as a Navy wife.

Jack's career moved them and their children ​​to cross-country postings including ​Key West, Charleston, Connecticut, Virginia, Hawaii, California, Washington State and back to Charleston. Retiring after 20 years, the family eventually settled in Summerville, where Jack began a second career as Public Safety Officer with South Carolina Law Enforcement Division at the Citadel. He retired from SLED in 1996.  Of all his years in service, his Navy years were the ones closest to his heart.

Jack's character, skills, and favorite things are well known to his friends and family. He excelled in photography and mechanics, was a skilled conversationalist delighting in detailed discussions on many topics, loved making a fine stew and was proud of his key lime and strawberry pies; enjoyed motorcycle road trips, kept the home freezer well stocked with venison, loved the woods, ​working events at the range and his time in church. He was a man of faith and loved his Lord. He disapproved of a lot of human behavior, but never said a bad word about anyone in public. His humor was subtle and sharply on target. He was thoughtful, observant, kind. He was, as friends have pointed out, a gentleman.

Jack was a dedicated caregiver for his wife ​of 54 years, Theus, throughout her final illness. After her death in October 2016, ​his life as widower ​renewed around family and friends, twice-weekly hunting trips, ​pool time at the Summerville YMCA and ​with his church family. Predeceased by his parents and younger sister, Judith F. Barnett, he is survived by his sister, Barbara F. Cobaugh of ​Chesterfield VA, daughter Vicky MacEntee (Michael), and son Jack L. Ferrell, III, both of Summerville; four grandchildren, ​​four great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 19th at ​2PM ​at Miles Road Baptist Church, ​816 Miles Jamison Road in Summerville.​

The family welcomes remembrances to the charity of your choice.