Jack Edward Stone

1929 - 2026

Aug 23, 1929 - Feb 5, 2026

Jack Edward Stone was born on August 23, 1929, at Mayhill, NM to Lillian Bryant Stone and Jess Stone, the oldest of 4 children. Jack graduated from Ft. Sumner High School in Fort Sumner, NM in 1947. He attended New Mexico State University, Oklahoma State University, Oklahoma University, and North Texas State University. He received BS and MS degrees from Oklahoma State University. While attending Oklahoma State University, Jack met and married Evelyn Beth McKinney of Marietta, OK. They were married for 72 years.

Jack held a vocational agriculture teaching certificate, plus secondary principal and public school superintendent administrator certificates. He taught in the Veterans Institutional On-Farm Training program in De Witt, Nebraska for six months in 1951, then taught vocational agriculture for 14 years at Lone Wolf and Duncan high schools in Oklahoma.

Jack, his wife, and his 2 children moved to Ardmore, OK in January of 1966 where he became the first Director, and later Superintendent, of what is now Southern Tech, where he served for 30.5 years, retiring from that position in 1996 after 45 years in public education.

Jack was a member of the Baptist church from the time he was a child. He accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 12. He has been an active member of First Missionary Baptist Church of Ardmore, OK since 1966. He taught Sunday School for most of his adult life in both youth classes and adult classes.

Jack was a devout Christian whose life was a testimony of his love for Christ. He passed into heaven on February 5, 2026. He was preceded in death by his wife Beth on August 17, 2022. He was also preceded in death by his parents, Jess and Lillian Stone; sister, Mildred Wakefield and her husband, Lewis; sister, Evelyn Nutt and her husband, Hubert; brother, James Stone; and daughter-in-law, Debby Stone. Jack is survived by his son, Johnny Stone; daughter, Jacque Telford and husband, Pat; granddaughter, Jaime Hammer and husband, Toby; grandson, Dustin Stone and wife, Genna; grandchildren, Evelyn Beth Hammer, Max Hammer, Lulabelle Hammer, Evy Stone, and Lorelei Stone; sister-in-law, Lajuanna Stone; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Pall bearers include Dustin Stone, Toby Hammer, Max Hammer, Pat Telford, Bill Coleman, and Doug McComber.

Honorary pall bearers include Gene Thompson, Emmet Hudgins, Ken Chaffin, and Lee Piatt.

The Graveside Service will be held at Hillcrest Memorial Park at 10 a.m., followed by a Memorial service at First Baptist Church, Ardmore, OK at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 9, officiated by Dr. Alton Fannin.

The family wishes to express our heartfelt thanks to Elmbrook Nursing Home and Cross Timbers Hospice for their loving care of our father, grandfather and great-grandfather. They became his family in so many ways over the past 3.5 years. His face always lit up with a smile when one of them walked into the room. We pray God's blessings on each of them.