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Celebrating the life of Jackson "Jack" Daniel Darragh
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Obituary for Jackson "Jack" Daniel Darragh
Jackson "Jack" Daniel Darragh of Golden, Colorado.
Survived by his parents, two siblings, his grandmothers, several aunts, uncles, cousins, second cousins and many friends.
JACK'S EULOGY FROM HIS MASS Shared by Father Matthew Book on behalf of the family.
Jack wanted to make people smile. And he was good at it. Like many people who focus too much on the happiness of others, he neglected his own emotional health.
Brilliant people like Jack (who had an extremely high IQ) often grow and mature unevenly. Even as a young boy Jack expected more than it seemed life could deliver. When his exuberance and intelligence combined with creativity, imagination, physical energy, persistence, natural talent, free spirit and impulsivity, awesome things happened. Sometimes, but not always, the best kind of awesome. . .
As a toddler, he rode his hobby horse so fast and hard, he literally broke that horse, in half.
In learning to ride a bike in the St Joe’s parking lot he ran into the only vehicle there – our minivan- and cracked the tail light.
He thought tennis rackets and rocks might be a fun combination, but the glass door disagreed.
He was disappointed in his beginner guitar because the wonderful music he heard in his head didn’t automatically come out of the guitar the way he expected. After much practice it did.
He convinced a couple of boyhood friends to join him in a daring middle of the night trip to a nearby 7-11 store. The Golden Police added to the success of the adventure by giving the young boys a ride home in a squad car.
When receiving the sacrament of Confirmation Jack felt so comfortable with our then Archbishop Chaput, he went up and draped his arm over the holy man’s shoulder to talk.
He took his talent as a runner for granted but was determined enough to win a high school cross country race wearing his skate shoes.
When Jack was a little boy, Cheryl created his Halloween costumes using a play on words with his name. Reflecting back now we realize how fitting those costumes were. Like a Jack-in-the-Box he was full of surprises. Our Jack rabbit always liked to be on the move. Like a Jack of all trades he was talented at so many things. And as a Jack-o-lantern he wanted his inner light to shine out for everyone to see.
Among Jack’s siblings and on both sides of his parents’ families there are teachers, professional musicians, engineers, business owners, adventurers, woodworkers and more. Among them are those who also have struggled with mental and physical health challenges. Sadly, Jack wasn’t the only one in our families who was unable to overcome illnesses and weaknesses to lead full, healthy and long lives. Our imaginations can tell us what he might have accomplished had he lived longer.
Things you might not have known about Jack. . . -His favorite stuffed animal was a raccoon named Rocky. -As a boy he had passionate interests in Egyptology and penguins. -An aunt nicknamed him Sunshine Boy. -Jack once won the award for tallest sunflower at the Golden Garden Club flower show. -He was a talented Little League pitcher. -In sixth grade Jack was in a band. At the school talent show he and his buddies had the whole school cheering and doing the wave. -He worked for Jefferson County Open Space building and maintaining trails in Jeffco parks. -Jack was captain of the Golden High Cross-Country team. -On school trips during his senior year of high school Jack had a reputation for his generous spirit. Coming to the aid of another group having difficulty building their snow cave, befriending people at a homeless shelter in New York and a non-English-speaking Chinese immigrant boy at a farm in California. -He was taught to ride a motorcycle by his brother Peter. -In recent years Jack had been getting into photography and showing some of the same natural talent as his siblings.
While praying after learning of Jack’s passing, Cheryl’s cousin received a strong feeling that God had told Jack to come home, that God would heal him. We believe Jack’s last act was a desperate, pain-driven attempt to shortcut a lifelong faith journey towards health, enlightenment, and full communion with God.
The Catholic faith offers belief in an option before heaven or hell. Purgatory is understood as the beginning of eternity when and how we can be purged of all that has kept us from being ready for heaven. Today’s ceremony and our continued prayers can shorten that process for Jack and all those in Purgatory. Your presence here is more than a celebration of Jack’s life, you are helping prepare him for heaven. Please let your memories of Jack, good and bad, become prayers for the full healing of his mind, body, and soul.
If you wish to, remember Jack and honor his death with a donation to a charity of your choice or to:
SOBRIETY HOUSE A private non-profit corporation. We are the oldest residential substance abuse treatment center in the State of Colorado. www.Sobrietyhouse.org 121 Acoma Street, Denver, CO 80223 (720)381-4337
COLORADO CRISIS SERVICES A program of the Colorado Department of Human Services’ Office of Behavioral Health. Provides access to mental health and substance use services for Coloradans to get the right services in the right locations at the right time. www.Coloradocrisisservices.org www.rmcrisispartners.org for (donations) Rocky Mountain Crisis Partners P.O. Box 460695, Denver CO 80246 (303)928-7100
YOUTH ON RECORD Empowers Colorado’s under served youth to achieve their academic, artistic, and personal best by employing local, professional musicians as their educators. www.Youthonrecord.org 1301 W. 10TH AVE., DENVER, CO 80204 303.993.5226
JEFFERSON CENTER FOR MENTAL HEALTH Jefferson Center’s programs and services foster recovery and resilience in children, adults and families struggling with mental health problems. As the community’s private non-profit mental health center, we serve more than 32,000 people each year in Jefferson, Gilpin and Clear Creek counties. www.Jcmh.org Various locations in Jefferson County (303)425-0300
To plant a tree in memory of Jackson "Jack" Daniel Darragh, visit the
Tribute Store.
Previous Events
Recitation of the Rosary
Friday
18
Sep
10:00 AM9/18/2020 10:00:00 AM
- 10:30 AM
9/18/2020 10:30:00 AM
Light of the World Catholic Church
10316 West Bowles Avenue Littleton, CO 80127
Light of the World Catholic Church
10316 West Bowles AvenueLittleton80127CO
United States
Funeral Mass
Friday
18
Sep
10:30 AM9/18/2020 10:30:00 AM
Light of the World Catholic Church
10316 West Bowles Avenue Littleton, CO 80127
Please follow our Governor's COVID-19 Guidelines. An online live stream of Jack's Mass will be available and can be viewed by copying and pasting the following link into your search box: https://vimeo.com/456623525/5702be5e7a. It can also be seen by going to Jack's Tribute Wall. Services will conclude at Light of the World Catholic Church. There will be private family committal in Golden Cemetery.
