M. W. "Jack" Gilbert, Jr.

M.W. “Jack” Gilbert,Jr, a long time resident of Edgewood, passed away at his home on December 31, 2024. Visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 PM, Thursday, January 9, 2025, at Hiett’s LyBrand Funeral Home in Wills Point. Funeral services for Jack are scheduled for 11:00 AM, Friday, January 10, 2025, at Cheatham Memorial Methodist Church in Edgewood. Burial will be held at Small Cemetery directly following. 

Jack Gilbert, was born on August 9, 1925, in Wills Point, TX, to parents, Mabel Wyrick Gilbert, Sr. and Rutha Clementine Cox Gilbert. He was raised in the Board Community near Wills Point and graduated from Edgewood High School in 1942.  

Jack attended the University of North Texas to study Education and was a star in track and field earning many medals and racing in national meets.  Since he was 4F, he took a break from classes in 1943 to work in an airplane factory to support the war effort.  He graduated in 1947 from North Texas with a degree in education.

Jack met Mary Martha “Mimi’ Ragsdale while at North Texas and they married in 1949. From 1949 to 1958 Jack and Mimi lived in El Paso and Edgewood where they taught school and he coached football, basketball, baseball and track.  in 1958 Jack and his family moved to Farmington New Mexico. He taught school, then was a principal for 12 years.  He was promoted to Director of Personnel for the Farmington Municipal schools in 1972 which he held upon retirement in 1986. After retirement Jack and Mimi moved back to the family farm north of Edgewood.  One of Jack’s secrets to long life was his love of exercise.  Jack and Mimi participated in the Senior Olympics while in retirement and he won many medals in track and field and competed nationally.

Jack Gilbert is preceded in death by his parents and siblings, his wife Mary Martha ‘Mimi” Gilbert, his daughter Martha Sue and his son in law Mike Mesko. 

Jack is survived by his children, Paula Gilbert of Aztec, NM, Jackie McShane and her husband Matt McShane of Dallas, TX and Ann Marie Wolcott and her husband Lewis Wolcott of Edgewood, TX.  He is also survived by his grandchildren Suezanne Sites and her husband Bryan Gidge of Scotts Valley, CA, Charles Sites and his wife Washlely Sites of Plano, TX, Maribeth Sites of Santa Cruz, CA, Dianna Little Schmidt and her husband  Timothy Little-Schmidt of Mansfield, TX, Baylee McMinn of Houston, TX, Jourdan Wolcott of Arlington, TX, Liam Bell-McShane and his wife Amelia Bell-McShane of Chicago, IL and Solomon Razi of San Jose, California.  He is also survived by his great grandchildren, Eisley, Jack, Rowen, Joseph, June, Gloria, Roxie, Ripley, Wyrick and Poppy-Monroe.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Cheatham Memorial United Methodist Church, Edgewood, TX.  

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