Jack Philip Chance, Jr.

Jack Philip Chance, Jr. entered into eternal rest on June 19, 2022.  Jack was born on May 7, 1954, in Wichita Falls, Texas, to Jack Chance, Sr. and Margie Chance (nee Gentry).  The third of four children, Jack would prove to keep his parents and sisters on their toes with his wild, childhood antics: always looking for another big adventure.  Jack was go-big-or-go-home, personified; a characteristic that would shape his entire life.

In the 1960's the family moved to San Antonio, Texas, where Jack would soon channel all that energy into establishing himself as a prolific high school athlete. Once dubbed "East Central's Mr. Do-Everything" by the San Antonio Express News, Jack was a remarkable athlete breaking countless records in football and track, and never failed to amaze spectators when he repeatedly crushed the competition on the field.  The benefits of his extraordinary accomplishments in athletics were two-fold: first to those lucky enough to see it for themselves; and secondly to everyone else who was fortunate enough to hear it all retold in the first person from the man himself, which he absolutely loved to do.

Jack married his high school sweetheart, Teri Beauchamp, on March 2, 1974, and they soon started their family eventually welcoming Shelly, Amy and Chad.  He loved his family immensely and it brought him great joy to take care of them – always making sure they had all of the things that he'd grown up without.

Jack made his career in the oil patch.  He started off as a roughneck and tool pusher and quickly worked his way through the ranks to become a directional driller, and eventually a consultant, learning from the best in the business and making lifelong friends along the way.  A career in oil and gas is not for the faint of heart.  It's not a matter of if it'll change your life, but when.  These swings in the industry would take Jack all over the world and he loved every minute of it.  Whether he was braving the extreme weather in the North Sea or the Arabian desert, or the dangers of the jungles of South America, he always came home with one unbelievable story after another – all of which he would happily recount with ever-increasing detail.  After a long stint in the Middle East, and with no end in sight, Jack convinced his family to relocate to Cairo, Egypt, where they all had the time of their lives.  He was a generous soul with a soft spot for the impoverished children of Egypt – food, money, clothes, bicycles – he'd happily give them anything they wanted.  They called him "Mr. Jack."

When it was time to play, he played big.  Jet skis, four wheelers, parasailing, cliff diving, extreme sports – he was not only up for it – he insisted on it.  On their frequent trips to Lake LBJ, he would wake everyone up at the crack of dawn demanding that they get out on the jet skis because "listen, the water is like glass right now and, man, you can really fly."

He liked checkers.  He liked beating people at checkers.  And he really liked betting people that he could beat them at checkers.  "Listen, we'll play ten games and if I win every game, you give me $100.  And if you beat me one time, I'll give you $1,000."  Everyone took that bet, but everyone lost.  He usually gave them their money back.  He didn't want the money, he just wanted to win – and he always did.  He was larger than life.  A big fish in a small pond.  Jack Chance was the full meal deal.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, and his sister, Carolyn Chance Cornelison.  Jack is survived by his wife, Teri, and their children, Shelly, Amy (Tony), and Chad (Kim); grandchildren Corbin, Kyleigh, Tyler, Charlie and Louie; sisters Virginia Beck (Tommy) and Phyllis Mihalski; numerous friends and family members, and his very best friend, Barry Balmos.

A memorial service and visitation will be held on Friday, July 29, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at Heritage Oaks Mortuary, 2502 S. W.W. White Road, San Antonio, Texas 78222.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the East Central Independent School District Foundation.