Jerre Hale Paxton

1938 - 2015

Jerre Hale Paxton

11/24/1938 ~ 01/25/2015

Jerre Hale Paxton, 76, of Yakima, WA, passed away suddenly on January 25, 2015 at his home in Seattle. Born on November 24, 1938 in Riverside, CA, Jerre was the oldest of four children to Floyd and Eleanor (Leihy) Paxton. After being raised in Riverside, Jerre attended college in Arizona then returned to CA where he married his college sweetheart Nancy Wheeler. In 1962 they moved to Yakima so Jerre could start work at his father's company, Kwik Lok Corporation. Founded by Floyd in the 1950's, Kwik Lok produces closure clips for bagged bread products and produce. In 1968 Jerre was made president, a position he held until his death. Under 47 years of his leadership, Kwik Lok continued to grow into the international company it is today. A cowboy at heart, Jerre loved the outdoors. When you put a rifle in his hand you'd see a smile on his face. During the 60's and 70's he spent numerous weekends with family and friends hunting and exploring the wilds in his jeep and on horseback. During this time he welcomed three daughters. Jerre was a fun, playful, and proud dad who often took his daughters to see his horses, on jeep rides, and to Kwik Lok. After earning his pilot's license in the 60s, Jerre enjoyed flying his girls down to see his family in Riverside. In the early 1970s Jerre's passion for horses led to the creation of the Yakima Stallion Station with his friend and farm manager Dale Leach. Renamed Northwest Farms in 1980, Jerre bred and raced under that entity until his death. Jerre led the state breeders ranking from 1984-1995, was elected to the Washington Racing Hall of Fame in 2003, and had 2 of his fillies start in the Breeder's Cup World Championship Juvenile Filly race. In addition to horse racing, Jerre loved to golf and played on courses around the world. In 1996 Jerre suffered a stroke that limited his mobility but not his spirit. A powerfully stubborn man, Jerre continued to work and breed and race horses. His indomitable spirit was evident when the elevator went out in his Seattle condo and he stubbornly insisted on walking up the stairs with his cane to the 24th floor. Jerre finally met his ideal match and married his second wife Debbie in 2005. He named several champion horses after her. Beyond his somewhat gruff exterior was a warm-hearted and generous man who loved to laugh. Jerre spent his last day doing what he loved, picking the winners at Emerald Downs. He was preceded in death by first wife, Nancy; and his brother, Ted. Jerre leaves wife, Debbie, of Yakima; daughters, Stephanie Paxton Jackson, of Bainbridge Island, Kimberly Paxton-Hagner, of Oregon, and Melissa Paxton Steiner, of Seattle; granddaughter, Bella Jackson; grandson, Cooper Hagner; brother, Gregg Paxton and sister, Cheryl Paxton, both of Riverside; and half-brother, Ande Paxton, of Issaquah.