Donald Milton Jacox

Shakespeare was right when he wrote, "Some men never grow old, always active in thought, always enjoying the best of what is, always learning new things and always the first to find the best of what will be". Donald “Jake” Jacox was a kind and caring man, intelligent, eager for new experiences, and always optimistic. He had a deep faith and loved sharing it with others. His warmth and generosity endeared him to all who knew him, whether family, friends, or the clients he served during his 45-year career in real estate. Don will be deeply missed by his loving wife, Cindy; his children: Mark Jacox, Scott Jacox, Isabel (Jacox) Tan, Kim (Compton) Robinson, and James Compton; and his ten grandchildren: Madison Jacox, Eli Tan, Agnes Tan, Grace Ann Dailey, Sarah Dailey, Liam Dailey, Teigen Ahrens, Devon Ahrens, Christian Compton, and Kendric Compton.

Don came from humble beginnings. He was born the second of four boys in Hood River, Oregon. When he was 4 years old, his parents bought a 10-acre "stump ranch" near Parkdale, Oregon. The family lived in a small 2-bedroom home with no bathroom or running water. They had a wood stove for cooking and another that heated their home. Don's father died after several strokes, when Don was just 15. Life was hard for his mother, Grace, and her four sons as they eked out a living by raising and butchering chickens, which Grace sold to local restaurants. Don wasn’t allowed to play sports, but he did excel in music and played the French horn with the Portland Junior Symphony while he was in high school. 

Don was at the University of Washington on an ROTC scholarship, when he met his first wife, Carol Frederick. Don and Carol were blessed with three children during their 17-year marriage. They raised their children in Seattle, Hood River, and later Salem, Oregon. In his twenties and thirties Don pursued a variety of occupations including being a national sales trainer for Encyclopedia Brittanica, owning a farm, and owning a masonry business. Shortly after his divorce, Don met Cindy. They married two years later in 1978, creating their version of a “brady bunch” made up of Don’s three teenagers and Cindy’s two younger children.

During their 46-year marriage, Don and Cindy lived in Idaho, Texas, California and Washington. They shared a thirst for learning and had the opportunity to experience other cultures firsthand in their travels to American Samoa, Antarctica, Argentina, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Bonaire, Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Czechoslovakia, Curacao, Denmark, Dominica, Ecuador, England, Estonia, Falkland Islands, Fiji, Finland, France, French Guiana, Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Caldonia, New Guinea, New Zealand, Panama, Peru, Poland, Puerto Rico, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Uruguay. When Don’s health made travel too challenging, they continued to pursue knowledge in The Great Courses group they led weekly in Castroville from 2009-2024.

Don’s faith and work ethic were a positive influence on his children. Don was an exuberant cheerleader at his children’s and grandchildren’s games, plays, concerts and competitions. He beamed with pride when regaling listeners about his children; but he loved to tell people about Jesus most of all.

In his early years, Don’s exposure to religion was sporadic and peripheral. When he was 38, he met Thomas Youngren, the president of Western Bible Seminary. Tom invited Don to coffee and told him about Jesus, something no one had ever done before. That conversation lit the spark that resulted in Don’s acceptance of Christ as his personal Savior in 1976, at the age of 39. Don truly loved the Lord with all his heart, being so grateful for His forgiveness and His love, and he never hesitated to share his faith with others. 

As we remember Donald Milton Jacox, we rejoice in the knowledge that he is in the loving presence of his Savior.

A Celebration of Life will be held on December 21st @ 10:00 am at Northwest Hills Christian Church, 9560 Potranco Road, San Antonio, Texas.  If you are unable to attend in person, the service will be live streamed at Don Jacox - Celebration of Life.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Northwest Hills Christian Church or Parkinson's Foundation in memory of Donald Jacox.