William Ervin Jett

William Ervin Jett passed away on November 3, 2017 in Boulder, CO following a lengthy battle with lung cancer. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Ervin and Wanda Mae (nee Bruns) Jett; brothers Robert G., Donald E., John D., Kenneth L., James E., and Daniel R. Jett. All of whom he sorely missed.

He is survived by one daughter, Elizabeth A. Jett-Moore (of first wife Mary R. Rippe nee Pokorski) and husband Michael P. Moore; grandchildren Curran M. and Charlotte B. Jett-Moore of Boulder, CO; brothers Leslie M. and wife Marie V. (nee Schell) Jett of Union, MO, and Michael D. Jett; sisters Barbara L. and husband Lawrence C.Rowley, II, and Joyce Jett of Union, MO, Margaret A. Jett of Washington, MO, and Pamela S. and husband Keith E. Janssen of Beaufort, MO; step-sons and step-grandchildren (of former wife Dottie Jett nee Tambini) Floyd M. Ray II (sons Maxwell S. and Marshall A.), Robert Ray and wife Nicole (sons Jett H. and Rex X.), and David Ray and wife Laurie (daughters Daisy and Lily) of Austin TX; step-son (also of Mary R. Rippe) Christopher J. McPherson and wife Melissa R. (nee Wildman) (children Sarah A. Mills (of Rachel Hamilton), Mia S., Madeline R. (d. March 31, 2015), Max J.D., Molly M. and Miranda F.) of Wilmington, NC. There are also sisters-in-law Carol Jett of Villa Ridge, MO and Christina M. Jett of Pacific, MO; many nieces, nephews, and of course many more friends and family too numerous to name. His daughter and step-sons remained constant in his life until he passed.

Bill’s loss is deeply felt by his family and they would like to thank the many people who have reached out since his passing. Bill grew up in Pacific, MO, one of 13 children. He was a U.S. Army Veteran who served in Vietnam from 1966-1968 and received the Combat Infantry Badge, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnamese Campaign Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and National Defense Service Medal. He moved to Austin, TX in the 70's and was a highly regarded iron worker and steel erection business owner. He is easily counted among those who helped grow the Austin area into the thriving metropolis it is today, having a hand in raising hundreds of construction projects major and minor, including numerous schools and churches, cinemas, strip malls, hospitals, hotels, office buildings including those for Dell and Motorola, in addition to the Hartland Plaza Bridge, to name a few. If you live in Austin, chances are you’ve spent time in one of his projects.

A graveside service will be held on Saturday, January 27, 2018 at 3:00 PM, at Cook-Walden/Forest Oaks Memorial Park.