Jack McKinley Ross was the fourth child of a total of five boys. He was born in San Diego, California on June 18, 1986, to Jacquelyn Elaine Hood and Henry Robert Ross. At the age of 2, while on his first vacation to Texas, he became ill while visiting his grandmother, Alice Hood, in Tyler,TX in the summer of June 1988.

Jack's illness was an unknown mystery to the medical team at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler, Texas and they determined that he needed to be immediately transported via helicopter to Children's Hospital in Dallas, Texas. Jack was at Children's Hospital for 3 months and then another 3 months at Scottish Rite Hospital of Texas in Dallas Texas. During this period, his medical team at Children's Hospital consulted with doctors throughout the U. S. as they had never seen a case like Jack's. Finally, after lots of collaborations with doctors and clinics outside  the Children's Hospital network, Jack was diagnosed as having an adult form of Viral Encephalitis.

While in Children's Hospital, Jack went into a coma for several weeks. The doctors counseled with the family and told us that Jack was not going to make it; that they had done all they could do. However, the doctors did not have the last word. The family and praying friends did not give up on him because we knew that only God had the final say so on Jack's life. In God, and only God's infinite way, he woke Jack up out of the coma. The doctors were amazed, but not the family. Thank God that he allowed him to live another 34 years after he had been given up by the doctors.

Most summers, Jack attended summer camp in Kerrville, Texas, which was sponsored by the Lions Club. He received his early childhood education from several Texas school systems. He lived in the Hughen Center in Port Arthur, Texas where he attended the Bob Hope School for several years. He also attended the St. Louis Early Education in Tyler, Texas. Jack graduated from Robert E. Lee High School (re-named Tyler Legacy High School) in Tyler.

Jack loved to cook, clean, and most of all, help others. The news media referred to him a "as man with special needs". His "special needs" were to always seek out those who needed a helping hand. They did not know our Jack. He never had a need, special or otherwise. His desire was to help others. He was an "extraordinarily special person", but not for the reasons they gave. Though Jack was not able to walk, he did his share to help around the house. He had a routine that he followed every day. His favorite team was the Dallas Cowboys. He remained a faithful cheerleader for the team, even when they lost. On Friday nights, Jack's favorite thing was watching wrestling.

Jack's mom Jackie, bis brother Drake, and aunts Susie and Nyta, stole his heart, and he theirs.

Jack's legacy is his smile and glowing personality. He was humble, filled with love and kindness. He never met a person he didn't like. He exudes what the scriptures instruct and encourage in I Corinthians 13:4-8a "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails". This is Jack, full of love, compassion, kindness, forgiveness. To know Jack is to love him. The more you know him, the more you love him; but better than that, the more he loves you.

Smiling through tears at the love he leaves are: his loving Mother, Jacquelyn Elaine Hood of Tyler, Texas; Brothers, Clarence Tyrone Bell, Roland Dionski Miguel Bell, Winfred "Drake" Oliver-Bell of Dallas, Texas, and Robert Johnson, IV of Tyler, Texas; his loving Aunts, Susie A. Hood-Johnson of Dallas, Texas, and Nyta Rochelle Hood-Fields of Tyler, Texas; his loving uncles, Rainey L. Hood of Dallas, Texas, and Dr. Otis DeWitt Hood, Jr. of Tyler, Texas, Nephews, Keyonate Hood of Tyler, Texas, DeAndrae Hood, Isaiah Hood and Elijah Hood all of Dallas, Texas, a great niece and nephew, and a host of cousins, friends, and loved ones.