Freestone County, Texas
Obituaries


The Teague Chronicle - March 1, 2007:

JACK LEON BIRDSALL

Jack Leon Birdsall, 71, of West Yellowstone, Montana, passed away unexpectedly
on December 31, 2006, at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls, 
Idaho. He was born in Pasco, Washington on April 23, 1935, the son of Geraldine 
and Harry Birdsall.

Jack spent his youth in Pendleton, Oregon. He enlisted in the United States Air
Force in 1951, at the age of 17. He did his basic training in communications at
Francis E. Warren AFB in Cheyenne, Wyoming and was sent to Chaumont, France 
where he met and married Wanda Goebel on February 1, 1956. The couple was sent 
to Patrick AFB in Florida and were stationed there for four years. When Jack was 
transferred to Thule, Greenland, Wanda stayed stateside. Jack was later sent via
a Humanitarian transfer to join Wanda in Moses Lake, Washington, where she 
would deliver their third child.

It was back to Chaumont, France where they lived as the only American family in 
the village of Auchenbaugh. They were accepted open heartedly and this was a 
favorite memory of Jack's…as they lived across the street from the winery where 
they bought a liter of wine and beer nightly for 7¢, joined local neighbors and
would sit on the sidewalk in chairs, because they had no back yards to visit in.

Orders came to head to Brooks AFB in Mobile, Alabama and then Jack was sent to
Vietnam on two separate tours. He returned to Minot, North Dakota where the 
family was reunited and moved to San Antonio at Lackland AFB where Jack retired 
as a tech sergeant.

Following his military career, he, Wanda and the four children made Fairfield, 
Texas home and he went to work for Contel for 20 years, managing the telephone 
systems in several towns in the surrounding area.

Vacationing in Yellowstone National Park in 1990 brought Jack to Hamilton Stores
where he worked in the warehouse, the Deep Well Ranch, security, communications
and safety for over five years both seasonal and year round.

Jack returned to Texas once more and worked for Adelphia Communication for a 
few years. Following that, he managed a health care supply company for a short
time, but his heart was in Montana.

Returning to West Yellowstone in March 2005, Jack became Ellie Povah's sidekick
at the Deep Well Ranch. Keeping the ranch shipshape and "Driving Miss Ellie!" 
brought a smile to his face and he said it was the best job he had ever had. His
kindness, loyalty, compassion and trustworthiness were greatly appreciated by 
everyone and Jack didn't know a stranger.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents and daughter Stephanie. He is survived
by his wife, Wanda, his son Greg (Janet) of Andrews, Texas, his daughter Jackie 
Goodwin (Johnny) of Teague, Texas, daughter Felicia Pickett (Daryl) of Teague,
Texas. Jack will miss his five grandchildren and two great grandchildren.


Cremation has taken place and Jack will rest in Montana and Texas.