Andrew Jackson (Jack) Somers

ANDREW JACKSON (JACK) SOMERS SR., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, died Friday, Aug. 10, 2012, at his home in Little Rock. He was born 90 years ago on May 6, 1922, in England, Ark., the son of William Jennings Somers, a cotton farmer and merchant, and Charlotte Ford Somers. Jack's father died when he was only six years old, and his mother moved her young family of four children to Little Rock where Jack graduated from Little Rock High School (now Central) and attended Little Rock Junior College (now the University of Arkansas at Little Rock) until shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. He and his sweetheart, Ann, ran away to get married about that same time thinking that Jack would be called to military service. After the war, Jack began his long career in the shoe business, in addition to helping Ann raise their two children. In the 1950s he began buying family shoe stores in Kansas, but spent the majority of his time with his family while his children were young, always ready to play catch, hit golf balls, or do whatever they were interested in. In 1964 he bought his first shoe store in Arkansas, gradually opening more stores and working tirelessly to build his business. In fact, one of our favorite family stories is of the time, suffering from debilitating back pain and unable to get out of bed, but yet determined to get to his business, he called an ambulance to take him to work. He eventually sold Jack Somers shoes, the largest family shoe business in the south, to The Brown Group in 1984. In retirement Jack and Ann spent much of each year in Naples, Fla., near other family members, but they always remained Arkansans at heart, following closely the news of our state and the activities of their children and grandchildren. In 2002, they moved back as permanent residents to Arkansas to live at Parkway Village, where they reconnected with old friends and made many new ones. Most recently they have lived at Fox Ridge Living Center. A lifelong Christian, Jack faithfully attended Parkway Place Presbyterian Church as long as he was able. Jack was preceded in death by his parents and his two older brothers, Bill and Jim. He is survived by his devoted wife, Ann Gerard Somers; by his daughter, Sandy Somers Jones and her husband Dr. Gene Jones; and by his son, Dr. Jack Somers Jr., and his wife, Joy, all of Little Rock. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Dr. Schuyler Jones, his wife Catherine, and their children Caroline and Andrew of Chapel Hill, N.C.; Dr. David Jones, his wife Lisa, and their children Teddy, Emma, and Will of Little Rock; Josh Somers, his wife Amy, and their sons Cole and Preston of Benton; Jack Somers III of Little Rock and Jill Somers Gibson and her husband James of Oceanside, Calif. Jack is also survived by his sister, Charlotte Somers Monk, and by Ann's brother and his wife, Joe and Gail Gerard. Jack will be buried at a family service at Oakland Fraternal Cemetery on Monday morning. We invite Jack's friends to a remembrance of his life on Monday, Aug. 13, 2012, at 10 a.m., in the chapel of Roller-Chenal Funeral Home (501)224-8300, and afterwards at a reception in their garden room. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice. Online guestbook: www.rollerfuneralhomes.com/chenal.