Jack Wickliffe

Jack was born in Bartlesville, Oklahoma on September 21, 1958 to Dorothy E. (Hoover) Wickliffe and Raymond A. Wickliffe, the youngest of their five children. He may have been short in stature, but what he lacked in height, he made up for in orneriness and tenacity. He was a man who enjoyed the simple way of life. He was a fan of plain black coffee, a good meal from the Copan Truckstop, and believed that cowboys should never wear skinny jeans. Growing up, he was involved in all things farming: FFA, rodeoing, gardening, agriculture, and breaking horses. Jack attended Bowring Public School and Copan Public School. He attended Tri-County Tech and received his diploma in Auto Mechanics. 

After graduating from Copan High School, Jack left home to pursue his career as a thoroughbred racehorse jockey. He raced and exercised across Canada and the U.S. including Oklahoma, Kansas, Massachusetts, Florida, and California, eventually settling down in Santa Ynez as an exercise rider at Mandysland Farm. He then designed, built, and co-managed Ladyhawke Ranch. In 1991, his family welcomed a daughter, Dakota. He moved back to Copan, Oklahoma in 1995 to be closer to his family and to break and train racehorses at Two-Step Farm. In his early 40’s, he moved to Florida to work at Double Diamond Farms in Ocala. 

Jack spent the later years of his life touring the U.S. in his favorite Toyota pick-up truck, playing pool, visiting an impressive list of national parks, and, eventually settling near Muldrow, Oklahoma to be near his daughter and her family. There, he enjoyed fishing, being in the hay field, and being “Papa Jack” to his beloved granddaughter.

Jack was a master carpenter and, given enough time and tools, could build anything, including the ranch in Santa Ynez, much to the dismay of the “California Tree Protection Squad and Historical Society.” After enduring multiple back surgeries, he took on a new roll in the carpentry realm, wherein he became the supervisor and taught many others how to build large scale DIY projects, desks, shelving, wall decor and cabinetry.

Jack is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy E. (Hoover Wickliffe) Ward, his father, Raymond A. Wickliffe, Brother, Raymond Dennis “Denny” Wickliffe, and two sisters, E. Hope Evans and Janice R. Cornelius.

Jack is survived by his daughter, Dakota (Wickliffe) Roe, her husband, Eric Roe, and one granddaughter, Texi, of Muldrow, Oklahoma; his sister, Peggy Wickliffe of Colorado; many friends including 3 highly revered buddies Jim Jimison, Ralph Thomison, and Anthony Silva; the ladies and gentlemen at the Bartlesville 55+ Activity Center; the crew at the Muldrow Pawn Shop; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Celebration of Life Services will be held on Saturday, October 11th at 10:30 AM at Bartlesville Community Center - 300 SE Adams BLVD Bartlesville, OK 74003

Jeans and boots are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, Dakota has asked that donations be mailed to: 55+ Activity Center - 1400 SE Washington BLVD Bartlesville, OK 74006