CURTIS JACKS Curtis Ward Jacks of Henderson, passed away Dec. 26, 2011.

Curtis was born April 22, 1945, to Curtis and Vila Ferne Jacks in Dodge City, Kan. His love of golf started at a very young age. He was awarded state champion in junior high school and high school. He then attended Kansas State College and continued to golf. He then began his duty in the U.S. Navy as a machinist on the first nuclear submarine, The Nautilus. He served 1965-1969. He then made his way to Hollywood and landed roles in Bonanza and Mod Squad. Then moved his way to Las Vegas, and then began his life-long career in the gaming industry. He started out as a keno writer at The Golden Gate Casino. In 1979, he met the love of his life, Gerri Dawn Hughes, while working together at Binion's Horseshoe and the married April 27, 1980. Over the course of 40 years, he worked in numerous casinos such as Dunes, Silver Nugget, Golden Nugget, and Hacienda on the strip, Palace Station, Gold Strike, Railroad Pass, Nevada Landing, running both Colorado Belle and Edgewater at the same time, and retiring in 2007. In 2008, he was asked to return to work and run the Hacienda Hotel and Casino in Boulder city. Curtis was not much of a traveler, but promised his wife he would show her the world, and he did, along with his family; sticking to his promise, every year for 30 years, he took his family to Disneyland. Vacations then evolved into trips to the United Kingdom, Europe, Greece, Mexico and the Caribbean. Curtis was a man that truly lived for his family. He is survived by his loving wife, of 31 years, Gerri Jacks; daughters, Bree Jacks of San Jose, Calif., Jenelle Jacks and Kimberly Jacks of Henderson; son, Jon Jacks of Utah; and grandchildren, Megan and Noah Curtis Jacks. Viewing will be 3-7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Palm Mortuary, 800 S. Boulder Highway. Burial services will be at noon Wednesday, Jan 4, at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Buchanan Blvd. in Boulder City.