OBITUARY: Jack Roy Roberts

Jack Roy Roberts

Long-time Overton resident Jack Roy Roberts, age 90, passed away Dec. 2., 2022, in Las Vegas, NV, due to cardiac arrest.

Born in Iola, Colorado, Jack was a character all his life. As a teenage entrepreneur, he opened a small store selling eggs, cheese, soft drinks and candy to fishermen and tourists near Gunnison, Colo., where he grew up. He was the youngest person ever to be licensed in the state of Colorado to sell eggs commercially. A local grocery store owner tried to put him out of business but Jack prevailed.

After graduating from high school, Jack took up cigar smoking and went into the army, serving during the last of the Korean War. As part of his physical, military doctors discovered Jack had a rare natural immunity to smallpox as well as an exceptional coordination between how his eyes and brain worked together. To follow up on these findings, Jack was flown to various military medical centers across the country.

Upon completing training, he was assigned to duty in South Korea and arrived just in time for the war’s end. After his discharge, Jack moved to Nevada and hired on as a repairman with Mountain Bell Telephone Company. While he didn’t care for “Ma Bell,” he used his work experience there as an electrician, repair and maintenance man, and small business owner.

Jack had two remarkable talents. One was an ability to read highly technical manuals once, retain and comprehend those instructions so clearly he could pass a certification exam and thereafter properly operate or repair that equipment.

The other was unique. As a boy, Jack could be far away, completely out of sight or hearing, but all his mother, Erma Roberts, did was step outside and quietly say, “Jack, it’s time to come home.” In the time it took to get back from where he was, Jack would arrive home. According to Jack, his mom always was the sender and he the receiver in what he called “the family gift.”

He enjoyed fishing and boating, as well as traveling with whatever R.V. he owned at the time. Eventually he settled in Overton.

He is survived by his nephews: Bob Stewart, Glen Towner, and Charles Roberts; and nieces: Yvette Roberts, Patrica Caskey, Rebecca Green, and Amy Moore.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, William Boyd and Erma Wright Roberts; his sister Betty Jane Roberts Stewart Towner; his brothers: William (“Bud”) Boyd, Jr., JD (who drowned as a child), and Charlie Don Roberts; as well as his former wife, Marie Taylor.
There are no services.

The family wishes to thank all those in Overton who helped Jack remain in his home for as long as he was able. In particular Mary Lou and Mike Whitney, owners of Desert Palms Court; and court resident Dawn Purcell for all their kindness to him.