Jack Webster Poore, 81, of McDonald died June 30, 2007 at the Rawlins County Health Center.

He was born Feb. 12, 1926, the third child of Bessie Carter and Jay Webster Poore in Red Willow County, near McCook, Neb.

As a young boy, Jack enjoyed riding his ponies and building pony carts whiloe living on his family's farm. Jack attended the Christian Science Church as a child. He attended grade school at the Red Willow country school east of McCook and graduated with the class of 1944 from McCook High School. He worked at the air base north and west of McCook and helped on sale day at the family's barn sale.

Jack was drafted into the Army. While at the induction center in Denver, a Navy recruiter asked for volunteers to fill in for the Navy. Jack was one of the first to step forward. Jack was sent to Faragut, Idaho to boot camp. After boot camp, Jack served in the 79th Seabea battalion, the Navy construction battalion. He was a carpenter's mate third class and was chosen to be on the survey crew. Jack served in the Navy from Sept. 16, 1944 to June 11, 1946. He helped construct the Kadena air strip on Okinawa. He was stationed on Okinawa, Tintan Island and Saipan Island. While in the Navy he received the victory medal, Asiatic medal with one battle star and a good conduct medal.

Jack married Verna Burk March 23, 1947 in Benkelman, Neb. They made their home on a ranch near McCook until 1949 when they moved to Kansas. They bought their farm north of McDonald in 1952 where they raised three sons, Charles, Jim and Curby. Jack was a loving and caring husband and father.

Jack read farm magazines and determined a need for irrigation and domestic wells. He contacted Western Land Roller Pump and Irrigation Supply in Hastings, Neb., to obtain information on drilling domestic and irrigation wells. Jack and his father-in-law, Bill Burk, started a drilling business, Burk and Poore Drilling, which Jack took over as sole owner in 1964 and the business became known as Jack Poore Drilling. Jack designed and built his own drilling rig to drill irrigation wells. He went to Lamar, Iowa and Kearney, Neb., to build his rig. He drilled numerous wells in Kansas, Colorado and Nebraska. Jack employed many local people during this time.

Jack was a diversified businessman, operating a farming operation, well drilling business and a trucking business hauling farm commodies and other goods. He welcomed challenges and relished solving difficult problems. He had a wealth of knowledge that was tapped by his family as well as the community. Jack earned his pilot's license on the GI bill and enjoyedd flying for both business and pleasure. He once flew a young burn victim to the Shriner's Hospital in Galveston and gave many, both young and old, their first plane ride.

Jack was a member of the Masonic Lodge #404 for 48 years and belonged to many Masonic bodies. He was past Worthy Patron of OES #369 of McDonald. He was a member of the Isis Temple of Salina and past president of NW Shrine Club of Goodland. He was a member of the Royal Order of Jesters Court No. 94 of Salina. Jack was a past commander and member of the American Legion #229 of McDonalod and a life member of the Kansas Elks Lodge #1528 of Goodland. Jack was a member of the McDonald Grade School board of education and was instrumental in constructing and lighting the football and baseball fields and constructing the old snack stand. He was also instrumental in building the bus barn in McDonald.

In later years, Jack's vision and health issues kept him from being as active in the community as he would have liked, but maintained his office building on main street to visit with many of his friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; daughter-in-law Charlene Poore; brothers-in-law John Rapp, Jack Alberts; and sister-in-law, Ruth Poore.

Survivors include his loving wife, Verna; and three sons, Charlie and wife, Judy, Jim and wife, Jan and Curby, all of McDonald; grandaughter Laura and husband, Jason Hooper of Offerle, Kan.; grandson, Jay Poore of Great Bend; grandaughter, Jodie and husband, Chad Wright, of Oakley; grandaughter Jenna and husband, Rex Schertz, of Hesston; grandson Zack and Jeana of Colby; grandaughter, Amanda Poore of Hays; sisters, Phyllis Alberts of McCook and Eileen Rapp of Axtel, Neb.; brother, Dr. Virgil Poore of Martinsville, Va.; sister-in-law, Bernita Beesley of Quinter; six great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews