Jack Houston Jackson

Jack Houston Jackson was born in Miami, Oklahoma on June 22, 1934; the oldest son of Clifford A. and Sylvia Woods Jackson. He passed away on September 6, 2017 at the home of his son and daughter-in-law in Walla Walla after a long and courageous battle with complications from open heart surgery and heart disease.

He started school in Oklahoma prior to the family moving to Walla Walla in 1940.

He continued his schooling in Walla Walla and Pasco until the family moved to Prescott in 1947. He graduated from Prescott High School in 1952. After attending Central Washington State College, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1954. He served in Germany as a crane shovel operator until his honorable discharge.

In January of 1957 he married Loretta Gray. To that marriage were born four children. Joni Aiyeku (Kevin Nichols) of Prescott, Jeri Romine of Milton-Freewater and Janie Romine (Frank) of West Richland. Son Jeffery preceded him in death in 1999.

On March 21, 1965 he married his soul mate, Yvonne Gibbons in Mountlake Terrace, Washington who survives him at the family home in Prescott. His sons Andy Jackson (Misty Brown) of Prescott, and Rob (Linda) Jackson of Walla Walla also survive. Jack is also survived by his 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. He is survived by two brothers: Joe (Betty) of Kennewick, Jerry (Shirley) of Huntsville, TX as well as his father-in-law, Keith Gibbons, College Place; brother-in-law, Ed Gibbons (Dianne) Madras, OR.; sister-in-law Kay Sanborn (Arland) Redmond, OR ; as well as an uncle, an aunt, and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Jack began his working career as a typographer for the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin. In December of 1965 he embarked on a new career in Corrections at Washington State Penitentiary. He earned an Associate Degree in Sociology from Walla Walla Community College in 1970. He retired from the DOC as a Lieutenant in January 1995 due to complications of a massive heart attack.

Jack loved to read, and travel. He and Yvonne made numerous cross-country road trips over the past 22 years. His biggest regret was that he was not able to visit all 50 states. The only one he had not been in was Delaware.

Jack will be remembered for his dry sense of humor, and his passion for fairness. He was a man of opinions, and not afraid to engage in meaningful conversations on many topics.

He was a member of Eastgate Seventh-Day Adventist Church. It is his desire that any memorials be given in his name to the Turner/Aiyeku/Jackson Scholarship fund at Prescott High School in care of A.J. Jacobson; Walla Walla Community Hospice; Friends of the Prescott Library; or a charity of the donor's choice.

The family invites you to join them in celebrating his life at The Lion's Hall in Prescott, corner of Highway 124 and D St. on Sunday, September24th between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be served at 1:00 with a time for sharing to follow.