Garland ESY/Raytheon Retirees

To many of us, the 1995 acquisition of E-Systems by Raytheon was “the end of an era”; a time when the company brought in many influences that diminished the quality of our work environment; some immediate, and some taking a bit of time.  In stark contrast to this was Jeff Derrick, a Hughes Aircraft employee who arrived on the Garland IIS scene in 1999 from the missile operation in Tucson, AZ and worked among us at Garland Contracts until taking on a one-year assignment at Raytheon Corporate in Waltham, MA.  He returned to north Texas in late 2010 and worked at Raytheon in McKinney until his retirement at the end of 2013.  In addition to his strong work ethic and his penchant for team-building, Jeff was passionate about bass fishing (and that word does not even do justice to his piscine fervor!) and making the world a better place through giving back to others.

After retirement, Jeff and his wife Susan started investing in multi-family and commercial real estate.  With Susan’s background in Finance and Jeff’s experience in Contracts Management, they were a dynamic force in this marketplace.  Their credo was that investing in multifamily real estate projects is a feel-good business, targeted toward improving communities for the families that choose to call these properties their homes.

Over the past year, Jeff developed a serious interest in another aspect of giving back to his community when he joined the Tri-Lakes Volunteer Fire Department headquartered out of Pittsburg, TX.  Jeff was among the crews that responded to a tractor fire on 27 Feb that spread to a nearby pasture at 1485 FM 21 in East Texas near Lake Bob Sandlin State Park.  Tri-Lakes firefighters responded with two brush trucks and a tanker, while Mount Pleasant crews assisted with two additional brush trucks and command support.  While crews were battling the blaze, shifting winds changed the fire’s direction, and Jeff attempted to return to his vehicle.  Officials said he became disoriented and ran toward the highway in an effort to escape. Amid heavy smoke and extreme conditions, he was overcome by smoke and died in the fire, the department said.

Jeff leaves behind an extensive family that includes his wife Susan, kids, grandkids (and one great-grandchild!), and a plethora of nieces, nephews, siblings, and in-laws.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 am on Saturday, March 21st, at the Bates-Cooper-Sloan Funeral Home, 2805 S Jefferson Ave., Mt. Pleasant, TX 75455. As a tribute to Jeff, if you plan to attend, please wear your favorite fishing shirt, University of Arizona gear, or one of Jeff’s favorite colors – red & black.  Following the service, there will be a First Responder Processional across the FM 21 bridge on Lake Bob Sandlin to the Blodgett Church of Christ community center for a celebration of life.  All are welcome to attend, share stories, and provide reflections on a life well-lived.

Additional information about Jeff and his life can be found here:  Obituary | Jeffery Lynn Derrick | Bates Cooper Sloan Funeral Home