William Dexter "Deck" Jarrett IV

William Dexter Jarrett IV, “Deck”, 33, of Burnsville, NC, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. Deck was born in Anchorage, Alaska, on November 9, 1989, where he grew up and attended South Anchorage High School and Charter College Anchorage.

Deck was greeted in Heaven by his mother, Inocencia Silvia Quinones Alvarez Jarrett, his cousin, Wes Sides, and other loved ones including his grandfather, Arthur Jarrett, and his uncle, Arthur Lee Jarrett.

Deck is greatly missed by his father and step-mother, William and Evelinda Jarrett, his brother Arthur (Heather), his step-brother Russell (Aimee), and his step-sister LeslieAnn (MJ). His children, Dexter V, Virginia and Michael, will always cherish memories of their father who loved them with his complete being and was honored and blessed to be their ‘Daddy’.

Those who watched him grow up, maturing into the wonderful young man he became, and treasured their time with him, include his grandmother, Virginia Rathbone Jarrett, aunts Nancy Drinnen (Tom), Jennifer Cloer (Nat), Nora Lusk (Alan), Mari Sides (John) and Elizabeth Watson (Jeff), along with cousins whose lives he impacted for good with many special memories.

Deck was endowed with grit, boundless endurance, and a seemingly effortless command over physical limitations. Naturally soft spoken and introverted, his quiet demeanor belied a ferocious physical competitor. In high school, with a locker full of ribbons and medals for track and running, he qualified for the very exclusive Mount Marathon Race in Seward, Alaska. “The toughest 5K on the planet”, according to Outside magazine. In the junior race, for runners 7-17, Deck placed 10th in his first year, and ultimately took 1st place when he was 17.

In the first practice of his first year of football, the coach had the team running laps. Deck easily pulled ahead of everyone, but, as he was passing the team captain, he told Deck he was supposed to stay behind him. Of course, Deck’s response to the situation was also entirely in keeping with his character and his personality. He smiled and dutifully complied; putting, quite literally, others in front of himself. This was how Deck lived his life. He worked hard and put others first. A full day of landscaping in the heat of the day or a construction job, stopping only for water and a brief lunch, he never asked someone else for what he could do for himself. He was highly valued by his employers because he caught on quickly, was a good listener, never complained, and never considered any part of the job to be beneath him. Deck took on any task, even something completely new, with purpose, intensity, and - of course - endurance.

Deck spent hours with his grandmother, listening to her stories and songs, and using his headphones for her to listen to songs she loved. He was his father’s right hand man, mowing, weed-eating, whatever was needed, but also taking long distance bike rides together, hiking, fishing for salmon in the Alaskan Copper River, and driving between Alaska and North Carolina, camping along the way. If Deck was interested in anything, his father supported him in every way and prized their time together.

Deck loved all his family dearly, enjoying fun and work with them, but his children were his pride and joy. He loved to take Dexter out on one of their many adventures. A tent, a lantern, and a fishing pole, they would head off into the woods and make their own spot. He taught Dexter to swim like a fish, cast a Rooster Tail, and snorkel, sleeping on the hard ground in a sleeping bag, gazing at the stars, and passing that love for the outdoors to his son.

He was a simple man, in all the best ways. He never tried to impress, yet impressive he was. He taught himself to play guitar and wrote his own songs, sweet and honest, soulful and sincere, like Deck. Always quiet, but quick with a compliment. Stoic but a soft smile as his default reaction. Reserved, but generous, even to a fault. A leader when called upon, but humble and deferential to others. He was kind, compassionate, and everyone who knew him was better off for it.

Close family and friends gathered for a celebration of Deck’s life. In sadness and grief, the message and songs of faith, hope and love encouraged and inspired Deck’s people.

“Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25

Deck was a sponsor at Compassion International. Please consider a donation.

compassion.com/williamjarrettIV

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