Jack Myrl Gotcher

Jack Myrl Gotcher passed away peacefully at home in Orange, Texas among family on Monday, March 23, 2026.A private family gathering to celebrate his life will be held at a later date.  Jack was born August 6, 1928 in Bradshaw, Texas to Irvin Leslie Gotcher and Louisa Pope Gotcher. He is preceded in death by his wife, Bobbye Jo Merrill Gotcher and his sons Donnie Jay Gotcher and Joe Ervin Gotcher.

He is survived by his daughters: Laquita Norrington of Boone, North Carolina, and Belinda Philpott of Bridge City, Texas, twelve grandchildren: Shannon Gotcher, Tammi Gotcher, Scott Gotcher, Samuel Stidham, Heather Stidham Barr, Jeffrey Gotcher, Jeremy Gotcher, Jamye Gotcher Lewis, Shane Munoz, Brittiny McElroy Newton, Brandi McElroy Duval, and Ashley McElroy Smith.  He also has twenty-four great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Jack graduated valedictorian of his high school class in Bradshaw, Texas in1945. In 1948, he married Bobbie Jo Merrill of Winters, Texas. Jack was born into a family business rooted in automobile and farm equipment repair including blacksmithing. He spent his early years learning from his father. After Jack and Bobbye married, they spent several years on the Pitchfork Ranch where Jack was charged with the repair of anything that was broken. He developed skills for inventing most anything that was needed—skills that would serve him well in his lifetime. He and Bobbye would have three of their four children while living on the ranch. Jack suffered from hay fever and in 1957 he moved his family to Southeast Texas where his fourth child would be born. He was employed by Central Freight Lines in Beaumont, Texas and received training and certification for repair and maintenance of diesel engines. After a few years of employment with Central he was promoted to supervisor of the diesel automotive repair and maintenance team. He remained at Central until retirement. Jack’s gift was helping others. He always wanted to repair whatever they needed repaired. He never passed an automobile on the side of the road without stopping to provide assistance. Jack loved camping, boating, skiing, fishing, and shrimping—he loved the outdoors!