Jack Benny Lynn was a rancher, horse trainer, and blacksmith enthusiast who is best recognized as the eldest son of the iconic singer Loretta Lynn. While he took up a different career path, he was still the favorite child of his mother who likened him to a ‘looker’ like her father. During his lifetime, Jack was married twice and had 3 children.
Although it has been over 3 decades since Loretta’s son Jack passed on, there are people who are still interested in the life he lived and how he died. From his early life to his death and everything in between, here’s what you should know.
The Early life of Jack Benny Lynn
Jack Beeny Lynn was born on December 7, 1949, in Butcher Hollow, Kentucky, USA to his parents Loretta Lynn (mother) and Oliver Lynn (father). He spent his childhood days in the company of his elder sister Betty Lynn who was only a year older than him and his younger brother, Ernest Ray Ernie who was born two years later.
However, those were not his only siblings. His parents later birthed 3 more children namely Clara Marie Lynn, Patsy Eileen Lynn, and Peggy Jean Lynn.
His parents Oliver and Loretta were both country singers and songwriters albeit, the latter was more famous. Their careers in the music industry afforded a comfortable life for their children. Jack Benny’s mother once revealed that they lacked nothing.
A Look at the Career of Jack Benny Lynn
While most of Jack Benny’s siblings took after their mother’s musical career, Jack choosed to manage the family’s ranch as a rancher. He was more interested in training horses, spending time at the blacksmith shop, and staying indoors with his family in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee.
His mother once described him as a looker because he was always looking out for everyone. She also added that he took after her father Melvin Theodore ‘Ted’ Webb who was very shy and enjoyed his alone time.
Prior to this, he served in the army after high school and was stationed in Korea. At that time his father Oliver popular by the nickname ‘Doo Little’ was an Army Ranger who served at the time the US invaded Europe in World War II while his younger brother was a marine.
He Was Married Twice and Had 3 Children
Loretta Lynn’s son was married twice before his demise. He was first married to Patricia Jack, his high school girlfriend. There is no established information about how the pair met and fell in love nonetheless, we can assert that their marriage was held in Tennessee sometime in the 70s.
The pair were together for a few years which saw the birth of their two children Lora Kay and Jeffrey Allen and eventually divorced which displeased Jack Benny’s mother.
However, Jack remarried Barbara who was reportedly his lover and together they had a daughter named Jenny. Barbara remained his wife until his death.
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How Loretta Lynn’s Eldest Son Died
As earlier hinted. Jack Benny died on July 22 1984 in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee, USA. He was only 34 years old at the time of his death. According to the records, Jack who was mostly concerned with training and caring for horses went on a horse ride a few miles away from the ranch on that day and never returned.
After going missing for a few days, a search team went in search of him and his body was later discovered in nearby water. From their account, Jack was heading toward’s the hills and may have attempted to cross the river, Duck when he went off balance, struck his head, and drowned to his death.
Jack Benny’s Death Left His Mother Broken
Loretta once wrote that ‘you are never the same after you bury one of your children’ and this was the reality she was living. Jack was one child whom she loved so dearly and she even said he was one child she felt most sentimental about.
She got to know about her son’s death a few days later because she was under intensive care at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Mount Vernon, Illinois when it happened. The mother of six reportedly suffered a quick breakdown when she collapsed in her suite as a result of exhaustion a few days prior.
When she was informed of the unfortunate, she took it much better than her family members had expected. However, she was torn apart few a hours after the news and had to be transported to a local hospital in Nashville until his funeral at the white-framed Luff-Bowen funeral home in Waverly. She joined 325 mourners including some country music stars like Tammy Wynette and Crystal Gayle to bid him goodbye in tears.
In an interview, the singer said she had lost the will to write and didn’t even know what to write about. She continued to mourn him even 37 years after his death and shared pictures of his childhood days and his early teens.
Jack Benny Lynn’s Mother Died 4 Decades after his Death
Even though Jack Benny’s mother, Loretta can be said to have lived a fulfilled life, her death still left her fans, friends, and family heartbroken. The 3 times Grammy award winner and country singer died at the age of 90 on the 4th of October 2022. This was 4 decades after her son passed on.
The After the Fire is Gone singer reportedly died in her sleep at her home in Hurricane Mills. Prior to this time, she suffered a couple of health-related issues including pneumonia and stroke – an illness she believed was God’s way of helping her cope with her son’s death. She later suffered a broken arm and hip after severe falls and even underwent knee surgery.
Loretta Lynn was preceded by her husband Oliver Venatta Lynn Jr., her eldest daughter Betty Sue and Jack’s son Jeffrey. The singer was survived by 4 children, over 20 grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren.
