Jackie "Jack" Ray Laws

Jackie "Jack" Ray Laws, age 73, of Morganton, passed away on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. Jack was born September 29, 1948 to the late John Henry Glen Laws and Lillian Medford Laws in Burnsville, NC. He joined the U.S. Army at 17 years old after moving to Morganton. Jack was immediately deployed to Vietnam and served there for two terms. He received many medals including a gold metal in Marksman (rifle) and an expert rating in the M-60 MG (machine gun). Following the Army, Jack worked as a "Fixer" for 37 years at Doblin. He continued using his "Fixer" qualities throughout his retirement and made fixing things one of his hobbies. Jack had all of his children and grandchildren believing anything could be fixed with a bobbie pin and duct tape.

Along with his parents, Jack is preceded in death by his wife, Debra Jean Ross Laws; four brothers and one sister.

Those left behind to cherish Jack's memory include a three daughters, Jackie Laws, Jennifer Laws and Nichole Whitlock; three sons, Jonathan Laws and his wife Betty, Kenny Whitlock and his fiancé Stephanie Webb and Thomas Laws and his wife Chelsie; fourteen grandchildren, Jessica Caldwell, Brittany Lackey, Daulton, Cassidy and Antwan Caldwell, Cheyenne Hunter, Bethany Laws, Kristen Whisnant, Caleb English, Gabby Webb, Aubrey, Lexi, Braden and Dylan Laws; and three great grandchildren; Alaysha, Monroe and Corbin. Also surviving are two special friends Judy Laws and Susan Heffernan; a little dog Zoey; and a host of other relatives and friends.

We will say so long for now to the strongest man we will ever know. He taught us how to use the tools of life to live in this world and to do the right thing even if you didn't want to. "It's just the right thing" Jack would say, "because that's just what you are supposed to do." "Always do what you say your going to do because your words and action are all you have to stand on".

A "Celebration of Jack's Life" will be held at 2:00 pm on Sunday, October 24, 2021 in the Chapel of Kirksey Funeral Home in Morganton with Military Honors provided by the North Carolina National Guard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kirkseyfh.com for the Laws family.