Jack "Corky" Gould Criswell Jr., age 74 passed away on Wednesday October 9, 2019 with his family by his side in Plano, Texas. Corky was born Saturday October 14, 1944 in Fort Worth, Texas to Georgia Cook Criswell and Jack Gould Criswell. He grew up in Gainesville, Texas where he was an outstanding athlete in all sports.
He graduated from Gainesville High School in 1963. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth where he played football his freshman year. He attended Austin College in Sherman, Texas where he played football and received his Bachelor of Arts in History. He then went on to receive a Masters of Educational Administration at East Texas State University in Commerce, Texas.
Corky began his teaching and coaching career at Callisburg High School in Callisburg, Texas in 1969. The following year he moved to Bovina, Texas to teach and coach at Bovina High School. In 1975, he began teaching and coaching in Plano ISD where he spent the majority of his teaching career. He served as the athletic director at Haggard Middle School then at Clark High School. Corky started his administrative career at Wilson Middle School, eventually serving as a Principal at Hendrick Middle School before leaving Plano to become an Assistant Superintendent at Northwest ISD where he retired in 2005.
Corky was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Plano where he was an active member of his Sunday School class, Koinonia. He was also a member of the Senior Men's Golf Association at Hurricane Creek Country Club in Anna, Texas.
Corky was an avid sports fan and particularly enjoyed high school and college football. He especially enjoyed playing golf with his weekly golf buddies. He loved to travel with his family and was a huge history buff. He had a special interest in genealogy, and enjoyed researching his family history. Corky loved to cook his award-winning chili and he also loved to smoke brisket and ribs and was known for his secret family BBQ sauce. His favorite place to be was with his family and especially the special times he had with his two dearly beloved grandchildren.
He was known for his quick wit, for his wonderful sense of humor, and his beautiful smile. Corky loved his God, his family, his country, and his friends. He will be missed greatly by those he knew and loved.
Corky is survived by his wife, Donna Criswell; daughter Courtney McDonald; and son-in-law Warren McDonald of Prosper, TX; granddaughter Avery McDonald and grandson Joshua McDonald of Prosper, TX; brother Robert Criswell, sister-in-law Sheri Criswell of Frisco, TX; sister Sandra Williams, brother-in-law David Williams of McKinney, TX; sister Cissy Shillingburg, brother-in-law Mike Shillingburg of Stephenville, TX and brother-in-law David Martin of Denison, TX and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.
Corky was preceded in death by his father Jack Gould Criswell and mother Georgia Cook Criswell.
A memorial service for Corky will be held Saturday, October 19, 2019 at 3:00 PM at Christ United Methodist Church, 3101 Coit Road, Plano, Texas 75075 with a reception to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Corky’s honor to The American Cancer Society and Christ United Methodist Church: School on Sunday program.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.teddickeywestfuneral.com for the Criswell family.
