Jack Benny Lynn, one of the six children of American country singer Loretta Lynn, died at the young age of 34 in July 1984. Though he took a different route from the rest of his music-oriented family, his departure left a lasting impact on his loved ones.
Born on December 7, 1949, in Kentucky’s Butcher Hollow, Jack was named after his mother’s favorite comedian. His death came as a shock to the world. Singer Loretta Lynn was shaken to the core after the death of her “blond-headed, blue-eyed baby“.
What Led To Jack Benny Lynn’s Death?
Ever since his death, Loretta paid him annual tributes on her website, until she passed away in October 2022. In her last tribute, she described him as “quiet and tender” and said that she “adored him with all my heart“.
The circumstances of Jack Benny Lynn’s were unfortunate, to say the least. According to the New York Times, he drowned while attempting to cross Duck River on horseback. His body was later discovered in the river near the family property in Hurricane Mills in Tennessee.
Jack’s mother Loretta was on a tour when he died. She received the news from her husband in person, which left her absolutely heartbroken. “She tore to pieces,” her youngest, Jack’s sister Patsy told People during an interview. “They were very close.”
His death left a negative impact on Loretta’s career as well as personal life. Her decisions got majorly influenced by her melancholic state of mind as she grieved the death of her firstborn for a long time.
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Jack Benny Lynn Is Remembered Fondly By Family
A blacksmith, horse trainer, and horseback rider, Jack chose to stay back at the family ranch working with the horses. He was married to Barbara when he died and was a father to their daughter Jenny. He also had two kids from a previous relationship, whom he welcomed to his family.
Jack shared a close connection with his mother. His sudden and unexpected death left Loretta with a void in her life. As her firstborn, Loretta always looked up to him as the sibling who held the family together. His siblings Ernest Ray Lynn, Betty Sue, Patsy, Peggy, and Cissy Lynn also remembered him as a kind soul.
Loretta Lynn continued to honor her son’s memory till her last days. Jack Benny Lynn has left behind three children—Lora Kay and Jeffrey Allen, from his first marriage to Patricia (Sanders) Kirk, and Jenny Jack, from his second marriage to Barbara.
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