Jack Abston
Oklahoma City, June 25th 1944 Lottie Pool gave birth to a baby boy & She named him Jackie Donald Abston. His father Daniel (Woody) Abston approved the name but the world would come to know him as Okie Jack.
Okie Jack and his brother Tommy Daniel would eventually follow the ladies and the cars out to California where they settled long enough for Jack to graduate from Santa Barbara High School (1962). Both Jack and Danny were members of the Chevrollers and there wasn’t a party they didn’t either start or close down. It was during this time Jack fathered his first child, the amazing Christina Frazier.
Jack’s love for cars and people would land him a job at Jensen’s Chevron on Montecito. Jack became the unofficial mayor of Montecito and he made many friends and memories. Years later he would purchase a station down the street and name it Okie Jack’s Montecito Union.
During his time at Jensen’s, Jack got married to Adriene Barnett and had 2 children, Joey and Karin.
After a short move to Placerville, Jack found his way back to Santa Barbara and his old friend Bob Holzer and Steve Graybill. The shop on St Vincent was home base for the towing business and there, Jack would continue to foster friendships and his love for the wheel and deal. Do we even need to talk about the Deals?
Jack married Dee Dee Williams upon his return to Santa Barbara and they stayed married until her death in 2020.
Jack began a life of sobriety and became a permanent fixture at the Eagles lodge Aerie 442. In no time Jack was climbing the ranks, becoming President and recruiting all of his people. The thrift store and Bingo were his babies and he was often found wheeling and dealing in the parking lot of the lodge every weekend, and on every Thanksgiving and Christmas he would host a Feed the Hungry dinner. It was one of his favorite things to do and he was so proud of it. Jack was always doing things for others and was committed to giving back to many different charities. It became part of his life’s purpose.
Jack eventually relocated to Oregon, Idaho and then finally back to Oklahoma to be near his brother Danny. Jack moving to Oklahoma marked the return of Okie Jack. He moved into a senior living facility and within 2 months Jack was running bingo, staging food protests and working the ladies. This is where Jack met what he would call the love of his life, his sweet little Mary. In his mind they were engaged, married, he had a new step-daughter Michelle and then sadly, became widowed again.
Jack loved people, and people loved Jack. He could talk to anyone, anywhere about pretty much anything and he would love every minute of it. He was the life of the party and it is difficult to remember a time when he was truly angry. He might holler a bit, be a bit stubborn and ornery, but he was a happy funny little guy and we are going to miss him.
Jack leaves behind his Daughters Karin and Christina, step daughters Michelle and Angela, brother Danny, nephew Bryan and great nephews Jake and Luke. Many cousins and friends and some of the best memories a person can ask for.
A celebration of Life is happening every day. Keep old man Jack in your thoughts and stop by Channel City Lumber on a Monday or Channel City Hardware & Gifts on the weekends and visit with Karin. She loves to hear stories about her Dad.