Jack York

Jack York was born in Chehalis, Washington, on November 29, 1950, to Boyd and Beatrice York, making him the 4th out of 5 children. The York family moved to Walla Walla, where he attended Green Park Elementary School and later excelled in cross-country running and wrestling at Walla Walla High School. Jack attended college as an English Major and greatly enjoyed literature and history, but his passion was TREES!

Jack was noted and appreciated for his honesty in tree trimming. If a customer wanted a tree down, but it was not diseased and was not dangerous, Jack would advocate for the tree, letting the homeowner know what a valuable asset it was worth keeping. Jack studied and learned about all types of trees and could identify all the trees in the Walla Walla Valley during stick season or leaf season. He was the proud owner and operator of Walla Walla Tree Service. Jack had many notable tree and spray customers, including Adam West (Batman)!

Jack married Grace Radacellini in 1979 and became a built-in dad to Angela (Leonetti) Anderson, Aimee (Birdsong) York Hutchinson, and Carrie Ann (Gettman) York. Jack and Grace later had Miranda York together (there are two Miranda Yorks in Walla Walla, but HIS daughter was born in July of 1982). He was always there to attend their concerts and school programs and was exceedingly proud of their accomplishments, no matter what they were doing. He enjoyed taking them on family camping trips, teaching them to water ski, and enjoying the natural beauty of the trees and flowers around them. His youngest will remember him as the dad who lovingly snuck her forbidden Hostess Twinkies and Ding Dongs!

He will be remembered by his friends and family for his joy in teaching them about the beauty of nature around them, his love of history, and his voracious appetite for books. His hunger for knowledge took him back to school to earn a degree in Watershed Ecology in 2011. An excellent student, Jack was able to discuss all the ins and outs of Water management and what would be best for the individual, city, county, state, or even the United States.

Jack passed away on April 30, 2024, surrounded by friends and family who loved him. He was a loving grandpa to 12, with the nickname PA Jack given to him by his first grandchild, Alysha Leonetti. His memory lives on through his daughters, two sisters, Carol and Teri, their children, grandchildren, and nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Boyd and Beatrice, and brothers Richard and Greg.

The celebration of life will be held at Howard-Tietan Park on June 15, 2024, from 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM. Family, friends, and community are all invited to join in celebrating and remembering Jack.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.