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Here's a summary of Jack's life that I'd like to share with everyone:Jack W. Reed, a retired mason, home builder, army infantryman, and family man, died of heart failure in the comfort of his home and surrounded by his loving family on Sunday evening, March 18th, 2012. He was 88.Jack was born into a humble household in Texas on September 28, 1923. Throughout his life he exemplified those traits commonly attributed to him and his peers, who are often referred to as the Greatest Generation. He was tough as nails, yet humble and dedicated man who believed in fulfilling his personal responsibilities to family and country. Growing up in the depression, Jack worked cotton fields in Texas and Oklahoma in the 1930Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢s until his family escaped the Dust Bowl – loading mom, dad, sisters, uncles, and cousins into the back of the truck and made their way to CaliforniaÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s fertile central valley where they sought brighter opportunities harvesting fruit.It was in a tent city outside of Fresno that Jack met the love of his life, Leona Boyd, at one of the Friday night barn dances. Jack and Leona enjoyed a brief courtship, were married, before Jack shipped off to India as a member of the Army Infantry 5307th Composite Unit Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? also known as MerrillÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s Marauders Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? where he served as a mule driver supplying the front lines with munitions and materials to build the Ledo Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? Burma Road, traversing thousands of miles by foot through the treacherous jungles and mountains of Burma and China. He contracted and recovered from malaria during his tour. When asked to talk about his experience, Jack recounted the train ride from Bombay to Burma, Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã?â??We were assigned our mules and loaded on to the train with our mules. It was hot as heck and the quarters were tight. The mules lined up rump-to-rump and the cots for us mule skinners were right under the heads of our mules. IÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢d wake up in the middle of the night with these little tugs on my shirt – the darned mule eating my shirt! I just punched him in the mouth, rolled over, and went back to sleep.Ã?¢ââ??¬Ã? Jack and LeonaÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢s daughter, Donna, was born in 1943 while Jack was abroad. Upon his return home in 1945, Jack sought to build his family and learn a trade. His sons arrived soon thereafter; Michael in 1947; George in 1949, and Dana in 1952. Jack took up as an apprentice bricklayer, mastered the trade, and eventually set out with his business partner, Lloyd Lewis. They built affordable family homes throughout the Sacramento Valley in the 1950Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢s and 60Ã?¢ââ??‰â??¢s and helped thousands of families build their dreams of owning a quality home. Jack moved his family into his masonry masterpiece that he built in Orangevale in 1953 Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? built of block, poured solid with concrete, and veneered with beautiful used brick. In 1968, the federal government purchased this home in order to build Interstate 80. He spoke with pride when talking about the home that was so solid, it couldnÃ?¢ââ??‰â??¢t be taken down with a bulldozer, in fact, they had to get a wrecking ball Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? the type usually reserved for tearing down high-rise buildings Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? eventually making way for the freeway. In 1968, Jack moved to a little country town called Loomis, built a new house in the developing neighborhood of Lake View Hills Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? now part of Granite Bay. Jack sought to slow down Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? resolving his partnership with Lewis amicably – and he focused again on bricklaying with a new family venture, Jack Reed Masonry Ã?¢ââ??‰â?¬Å? where his 3 sons and 4 grandsons all had the opportunity to learn the trade and the value of a hard-earned dollar.Jack retired in 1990 at the age of 67 and got even closer to his roots and the soil through his elaborate garden behind his house in Lakeview hills. His friends and neighbors know well his love for zucchini, radishes, brussels sprouts, to