Jack Ussery

Jack Ussery passed into the hands of our lord on January 26, 2026. He was 98 at the time of his death due to natural causes. Jack was born in Perryville, Arkansas on September 8, 1927. Jack was preceded in death by his parents Richard Ussery and Buena Vista (Tolley) Bailey, his sister Geraldine (Ussery) Copeland, brother Bill Hughes, wife Elva A Ussery, daughter Jackie Lee Ussery and son Richard (Ricky) Lee Ussery.

Jack joined the U.S. Navy in 1945 at the age of seventeen. His mother allowed this with the promise he would send half his Navy pay home to help the family. It was while stationed at NAS Cabiness Field in Corpus Christi that he met the love of his life, Elva McLean. Jack and Elva married on January 11, 1952, and spent the next 68 years making a wonderful life until her passing in 2020. Through Jack's Navy career they made many places home such as New Orleans, Charleston, Long Beach, Guam, and Panama. While in the Navy Jack received his Certificate of High School Equivalency (GED). He felt this was a major accomplishment for a poor boy from Arkansas. It was during his time in Guam that he received special recognition for his work feeding upwards of 15,000 destitute survivors of Typhoon Karen.

Jack retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer in 1968 and returned to Corpus Christi. He spent the next 20 years working in city and state services. It was during his time as a meat inspector for the City of Corpus Christi that he ensured meat was safe to eat after Hurricane Celia in 1970. Jack then spent several years as a milk inspector for the City of Corpus Christi. His final job was as Chief of Purchasing at the Corpus Christi State School.

During retirement, Jack was able to pursue two of his favorite hobbies, hunting and leatherwork. Jack managed a hunting ranch for his brother-in-law Dick Copland. It was one of their many hunting trips that Dick said, "Let's go to Africa." They proceeded to go on three African Safaris. One by themselves, one with their wives, and one with his son Rick Ussery. Jack's other hobby, leatherworking, saw him craft purses, chairs, hunting pockets, holsters and many other items that he gladly shared with people who he met and admired. Some of the people that received leather worked items were Nancy Regean, George and Barbara Bush, George W. and Laura Bush, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Rick Perry just to name a few. Jack kept pictures of all work that he gave away.

Jack leaves behind two sons: Steven Frank Ussery (Rosalinda DeLeon) of San Marcos, Texas and Thomas Alan Ussery (Sara Nebeling) of Corpus Christi, Texas. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Jackie Lea Shelley in California and Jerry Alan Ussery, Geoffrey Leigh Ussery, and Terrence Alan Ussery in Texas. He has five great-grandchildren in California and Texas. He has numerous nephews and nieces throughout the United States.

Jack leaves behind some large shoes to be filled. He will be missed by all who knew him.