Jack R. Elliott

Jack R. Elliott, 84 died on August 21, 2011 at following a brief illness. He was born in Massillon and was the son of the late Ralph and Gladys (Gossage) Elliott. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Grace (Babetzki) Elliott, two sons, Jack K. Elliott and Jon K. (Sally E.) Elliott, two grandsons and one granddaughter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a four year old grandson Jeffrey K. Elliott and his sister Sally Ann Bridle. An Army Corps veteran, Jack retired from a multi-faceted career that began when his art education at U.C.L.A. was interrupted by the success of a vocal group of which he was a member. The group, The Encores, appeared five days a week on L.A. television and toured as a night club act. For two years they toured the U.S. with the Billy May Band, recorded on Capital Records and worked with celebrities such as Nat King Cole, Dean Martin, Dinah Shore, Mitzi Gaynor, Sarah Vaughn, Jane Russell, Mickey Rooney, Stan Freberg, Doc Severensen and others. From 1954-58 he worked at KTSM-TV, El Paso, TX as a TV floor manager. artist, promotion director and on-air talent known as Happy Jack, host of a kiddies show. On weekends, he played trumpet in regional dance bands. In 1958, he began a 37 year career in advertising, beginning as an advertising agency broadcast producer and advancing from copy chief to creative director to V.P. of Creative directing in Pittsburgh, New York, Ft. Lauderdale and Memphis. He then became lyric director in Memphis. Upon retiring in 1995 he returned to Massillon just in time for his 50th high school reunion. A service to celebrate his life will take place on Wednesday, August 24th at 2:20 P.M. at the chapel at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Rev. Larry Lalama will officiate. The family will receive friends at the chapel from 2-2:30 P.M. Memorials may be made to either St. Jude’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Community Hospice of Stark County, 408 Ninth St. SW, Canton, OH 44707. Paquelet & Arnold-Lynch – A Golden Rule Funeral Home 330-833-4839