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Billy Max Jackson
© Alva Review-Courier
08-2016
Submitted by: Glenn


Billy Max Jackson was born on March 30, 1948, to Ocie Alton and Maryetta McElreath Jackson in Hobart, Oklahoma. It was a humble beginning. There was no electricity or running water. There were more hard times but they had love, family and Saturday nights. On Saturday afternoons, after a long week's work, they would go to town to buy ice for the ice box and groceries.

After returning home all the family would gather for the evening. They played cards and dominoes, and listened to the Grand Ol' Opry. More times than not, they would move the dining room table and dance long into the night. This was the beginning that molded Bill into who he became, the morals he lived by and the black and white views he saw in his life.

His dad had severe heart problems so the decision was made to move to Oklahoma City to be close to the heart specialist when Bill was young. Bill was a graduate of Capitol Hill High School in 1966. There he met his soon-to-be wife, Mary Parker Jackson. After her graduation in 1967, the very next night they married.

In November of that same year he was drafted into the Army and after boot camp he was sent straight to Vietnam. It was something he never talked about after returning home.

His first-born son, Alton Ray, was born in 1970. In 1972 Bill announced they were moving to the country, so to Blanchard-Chickasha they went. His second son, Kevin Wayne, was born in 1974. In 1975 Bill was laid off from Western Electric. With two kids and a mortgage he had to do something to provide for his family. They hauled hay. Mary drove the truck with Kevin in his infant seat. Bill stacked the hay while Alton helped him or tried to help him. We didn’t starve but we thought we were going to. When winter came they cut wood. This was going downhill fast. Thank God, his cousin called and said “I can get you a job at the Oklahoma State Reformatory at Granite.” That started his career with the Department of Corrections.

After a few promotions and a few moves in between, they came to Helena in 1986 thinking this was another stop on his journey, but roots began to grow and somehow they stayed. Bill retired from Crabtree Correctional Center in May 2003. While with the department he was able to help grow and nurture many others in their career with the department. One of his greatest blessings came in 2001 when he was able to reunite with his Vietnam Army buddies. He loved their reunions and the time they were together. A lot of healing was done at this time.

His other joys were fishing, farming and raising cattle, but by far his greatest joy was when he could spend time with his grandkids. He was saved and baptized and is a member of the First Baptist Church in Helena. In the last weeks and months his faith has grown beyond measure. It is that faith that has seen him through the worst days of his life. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Maryetta Jackson; one infant sister, Glenda Ann; and one older brother, Glenn Ray, who was killed in an accident by a drunk driver.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Jackson of the home; his oldest son, Alton Ray of Helena; his youngest son, Kevin Wayne and wife, Monique, of Fargo, North Dakota; and a niece who was the daughter he could never have, Mindy Adams and husband, Jay, of Mustang. He was blessed beyond measure by his grandchildren, Kimber, Kedric and Kashen of Helena, and Dylan, Colby and Bryson of Fargo, North Dakota; one sister, Tina Hawkins and husband, Jerry Don, of Cordell; and one brother, Bobby Jackson and wife, Mari, of Minco. Some people are lucky to have one true friend but Bill is survived by four: Jerry Nelson, TomEd Eberhardt, Brent Fatkin and Mike Pattison, along with a large host of other family members and friends.

Funeral services for Bill will be Wednesday, August 31, 2016, at 2 p.m. at the Timberlake High School Auditorium in Helena with burial at Square Cedar Cemetery. Arrangements are by Lanman Funeral Home Inc. of Helena. Online condolences may be made at www.lanmanmemorials.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Helena Lions Club or the First Baptist Church of Helena for youth camp through the funeral home.

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