Jack Harlan Felts

Jack Harlan Felts, age 76, of West, passed away Tuesday evening, October 10, 2006 at Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center in Waco. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of West, with Dr. John Crowder officiating. Burial will follow at Bold Springs Cemetery near West. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Mr. Felts was born on December 27, 1929 in Russellville, KY, the son of Joyce Harlan and Florence (Lightner) Felts. He was a 1948 graduate of Corpus Christi High School. He also graduated in 1957 from Baylor University in Waco with a Bachelor Degree in Music Education and then in 1968 with a Masters Degree in Music. In serving his country, he enlisted in the United States Army Reserves serving from 1948 to 1958 in Corpus Christi and was discharged as a Sgt. 1st Class. On November 26, 1950, he was united in marriage to Marjorie Johnson in Teague. Mr. Felts served as Band Director for over 36 years in Driscoll, Beeville, Hillsboro, Fort Worth, and at West High School until his retirement in 1990. He then sold Worlds Finest Chocolate and also church choir robes for a number of years, where he met so many interesting people. He was a faithful member of First Baptist Church of West where he served as a Deacon, former Music Director, Choir member, Sunday School Teacher and was instrumental in serving on several committees within the church. He performed with other Baptist ministers of music throughout the state with the Singing Men of Texas. He was a member and past President of West Kiwanis Club, and was a Lieutenant Governor and certified officer trainer of Division 23 of the Texas/Oklahoma District. Mr. Felts was a member of West Masonic Lodge, and also Karem Shrine Band in Waco and Moslah Shrine Band of Fort Worth. He was inducted into the Texas Shrine Band Masters Hall of Fame. He was a lifetime member of Texas Retired Teachers Association where he served as President, and was also a lifetime member of American Federation of Musicians in Dallas and Fort Worth. He also served on the board of McLennan County Dispute Resolution Center. Jack loved to spend time with his grandkids, taking them on fishing trips and having the whole family play their instruments and sing together. He enjoyed directing the West Community Choir as well. He will be remembered throughout the State of Texas for touching the lives of students and people of all ages. Survivors include his beloved wife of 55 years, Marjorie Felts of West; two sons, David Felts and his wife Cindy of Hesperia, CA and Charles Felts and his wife Janis of Benbrook; one daughter, Linda Ricks and her husband Warren of Lorena; a sister, Shirley Felts Ellis and her husband Derek of London, England; 7 grandchildren, Erin Joy Hager, Alan Felts, Elizabeth Joy Libbey, Emily Joy Felts, Evie Joy Felts, Matthew Patrick Ricks and Grayson Allen Ricks; 1 great-grandson, Ty Hager, along with three great-grandchildren on the way; several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers will be Alan Felts, Matthew Ricks, Grayson Ricks, John Felts, Hays Hettinger and Richard Johnson. Honorary pallbearers are West High School Band members, and Deacons of First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Building Fund or Jack Felts Scholarship Fund.