Clarence Andrew "Jack" Jackson, 90, a longtime resident of Alamogordo, died Thursday, April 5, 2012.
Jack, as he preferred to be called, was born in Johnson City, Tenn., on April 24, 1921, to Eugenia and Arvel Jackson. He moved to Dallas (by freight train) at the age of 15. He was the youngest of five children.
Jack married Buena Mae Elliot on June 5, 1940, in Rockwall, Texas. He started working for North American Aviation Co. in Grand Prairie, Texas, in the early 1940s, building AT6 training planes and B-24 bombers. He was a lead man on B-24 wing section construction when his draft number came up in World War II. He was told by his manager that he could get a deferment since they needed planes more than they needed bodies. Since his brother and some of his friends had already gone, he decided it was time. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a radioman aboard the APA ship in the South Pacific.
Jack received an honorable discharge in 1946 and started working for Convair Aircraft Corp. in Fort Worth, Texas, building B-36 planes. These planes kept Russia at bay for eight years during the Cold War.
In 1954, he was transferred to Alamogordo on a special missile project. In 1957, he started working for Land Air and was transferred to Wendover, Utah.
Jack and Buena Mae had three wonderful little girls at this time: Shirley Lynn, Ava Jeanette and Donna Clarice. Then tragedy struck. Buena's family had a history of heart problems and she passed into the arms of God and was laid to rest in Dallas. Bless her heart. She was a wonderful wife and mother.
Jack later married Florence Stam. She was working as a babysitter for Jack while he was working. Clarice was only 2 years old. She helped the kids through a bad time and had three wonderful children: Florence Gayle, Jack Andrew and Cindy Karen.
Flo was a wonderful mother to all the children and never allowed any favoritism among them. She also was a great wife to Jack. She helped him build their home and worked at other jobs, including 20 years in the lab at Gerald Champion Memorial Hospital. She passed into the arms of Jesus on Feb. 15, 2009.
He also lost his daughter Lynn to cancer in 2005. Jack and Flo were married for 50 wonderful years.
Jack is survived by a sister, Ruth Jackson, of Dallas; brother Art Jackson, of Newport, Fla.; daughters Ava Jeanette Shaw and husband, Henry, of Brandon, Fla., Donna Clarice Francis and husband, R.C., of Las Cruces, Florence Gayle Beasley, of Brandon, and Cindy Karen Wallace and husband, Kenneth, of Alamogordo; and son Jack Andrew Jackson, of El Paso.
Jack is also survived by 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren. Jack took great pride in the fact that all of his descendants love God and none are involved in drugs. He always said that if he had any stars in his crown it would be due to a wonderful group of children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jack loved them all, biological, adopted and step.
Jack was a member of Cottonwood Christian Fellowship Church. It was his desire to be cremated and his remains be buried adjacent to his wife, Florence, in Monte Vista Cemetery.
Funeral services are under the direction of Alamogordo Funeral Home.
A memorial to celebrate Jack's life will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, April 9, 2012, by Pastor Robert Smith at Cottonwood Christian Fellowship Church, 7035 U.S. Highway 54/70 North, Alamogordo.
Inurnment will follow at Monte Vista Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the church of Bibles through the Gideon's.
To sign the online register book, please visit www.alamogordofuneralhome.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Emmett worked with Jack for many years; they were good friends. I was so glad that Jack was able to attend Emmett's services when I lost him. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Alice Miller
April 17, 2012
Cindy & family - I was very sad to read about Jack's passing. He was a sweet man and I enjoyed listening to his stories of the past. My mother, Karyl Smith, loved Flo and Jack so much.
Lisa (Smith) Braun (Portland, OR)
[email protected]
April 9, 2012
You will be missed, Jack. We will meet once again in heaven.
April 7, 2012
Jackson family - I am so sorry to hear of your dad's passing! He and your mom were such good friends from way back! Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Paula Dardin
April 6, 2012
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