James Jacks

1939 - 2004

James Howard Wells "Jay" Jacks, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 28, 2004, at home after a brief illness.

Celebration of life: A celebration of the life of this gracious, loving and noble gentleman, who was as at ease on his South Texas ranch as he was in board rooms around the world, will be at 2 p.m. Monday at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, 8011 Douglas, Dallas, Texas 75225, with the Rev. Dr. Mark S. Anschutz officiating.

Memorials: The family requests that memorials be made to the Chapel Fund at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, the Dallas Opera or a charity of choice.

Mr. Jacks was born June 3, 1939, at the family home, Oaklawn, in Refugio. He was a descendant of the Wells and Heards, ancestral families that pioneered Texas and the territory before and during the republic, serving as officers. The Heards came to America in the late 1700s from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. They arrived in Texas during the early 1800s and amassed large land holdings from original Spanish land grants. In 1957 he inherited the family home, Oaklawn, in Refugio, which was built in 1850 by his great-great-grandfather. The Heards fought in the Battle of 1812 and later in Texas served in the Irish Battalion of the Refugio Volunteers during the Civil War. His great-great-grandfather, Capt. James B. Wells, served in the Texas Navy and was appointed by Gen. Sam Houston to head the Texas naval yard.

The two families became one with the marriage of William J.J. Heard and Frances Wells in 1882.

Jay graduated from TCU and entered the family ranch, cattle and oil business. In 1965 Jay and his wife moved to Florence, Italy, where he opened a design and production company for the Halston label. He was senior warden for St. James Episcopal Church in Florence and attended the University of Florence for graduate school. In 1974 the family returned to Dallas and he launched a women's wear design firm, Jay Jacks International, and continued to produce elegant daytime and evening wear for specialty stores and private clients, including the television series "Dallas," until his retirement in 1995. He remained active in the land and oil business until his death.

A renowned art collector, Jay was on the acquisition committee of the Dallas Museum of Art.

He was president of the Dallas Opera, 1977-1979, chairman of the board, 1980-1981, and again from 1983-1984. He was a life trustee at the time of his death. He was instrumental in keeping his close friend, the late Elsa Von Seggern, involved with the Opera Company and served as a trustee of the Von Seggern Foundation, overseeing grants to arts organizations in Dallas, including a recent donation to the Performing Arts Center of Dallas.

Beginning with his move to Italy, he served on the Board of Foreign Parishes of the Convocation of American Episcopal Churches in Europe for 35 years. His goal of the convocation electing a bishop of Europe was achieved in Rome in 2001 and culminated with a private audience at the Vatican with Pope John Paul II.

St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas was the recipient of his devotion and talents for over 30 years. He was captain of the lay eucharist ministers (a lay ministry to the ill and infirmed), an acolyte, chalice bearer, a member and former chair of Pastoral Friends, a member of the Parish Council and most recently, became a member of the Community of St. Benedict.

Jay was a member of Brook Hollow Golf Club, Sigma Chi, Dallas Museum of Art, the Dallas Opera, Meadows School of the Arts Advisory Board, the James Power Chapter of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, Dallas Historical Society, Refugio Historical Society, the Argyle Club and the Town Club of Corpus Christi.

The family would like to thank the nurses of Baylor Hospital, September Services and Community Hospice for their care and kindness.

Jay was preceded in death by his parents, James Ernest and Bebe Heard Jacks, and his son, Jonathan.

Survivors: His beloved wife of 43 years, Marla Jean Summerford Jacks; daughters, Lydia and husband, Tom Osvold, Alessandra and husband, John Hubbell, and Marlita Jacks; grandchildren, Thomas Osvold and Caitlin, Abigail and Jackson Hubbell; sisters, Judy Lide and husband, Rod, Jane Henderson and husband, Mike, and Jennifer Henley; cousin, Frances Heard Billips; and numerous other cousins, nieces and nephews.