Today, October 9, marks 383 days since Jack’s disappearance from Frisco, Colorado, on September 19, 2014. Many are aware that our family has been vigilantly waiting eight weeks for the results of our DNA cross-comparison tests with those of a skull found on August 11, 2015, near the top of Peak 1, immediately south of Frisco, Colorado, on the Ten mile Range. Forty-eight hours ago, I received a call from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office, with whom we have worked diligently in search of Jack for the past year: “The results of the DNA test have been completed and indeed provide a positive match that the skull found was Jack’s.”t fall. We remember all of the national truck stop companies that posted Jack’s picture on the front door of every location. We’re deeply touched by the countless people who eagerly came forward to assist our search for Jack nationally. His story hit a nerve with many, as nearly 50,000 have accessed the website www.findjackmcatee.com. Thank you, all of you, for your prayers, strength, love, and support.
In lieu of flowers, we are asking anyone so inclined to make a donation to Living Water International – a 501(c)(3) organization that was near and dear to Jack’s heart. We would like to build a well (or multiple wells) in Jack’s name to give the gift of water in Kenya, where we can go and be reminded of the incredible grace and love that God has for us. Please direct all contributions to www.water.cc/jack-mcatees-well-of-love.
So, our search has come to fruition. Our closure is at hand, albeit we acknowledge it will be a lifelong process. As our family gathered to hear the news I had received, our collective tears streamed down, and we let them flow as freely as they would, making of them a pillow for our hearts. There’s nobody now who saw just what Jack saw, knows what he knew, remembers what he remembered, loves what he loved. A person, an irreplaceable person, is gone. Our family, all of us, are in solidarity with those who sit beside us on humanity’s mourning bench. However, far be it from this family to wallow away in despair, bitterness, hopelessness. For we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jack is with his Father in heaven now, without a trace of mental illness, absent from all evil, exploring the mountaintops of heaven, eagerly anticipating our arrival.
Please join our family as we celebrate Jack’s life with Greg Holder on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 at 11 a.m. at Windsor Crossing Community Church, located at 114 N. Eatherton Road, Chesterfield, MO 63005.
May God richly bless each of you and hold you in the palm of His hand. We love you!
The McAtee Family