Stoney James Jackson

Stoney James Jackson was blessed with an abundance of leadership qualities. It would be accurate to say that this man was an outstanding luminary and that his natural abilities served him well. He knew with certainty how he wanted to set priorities in all aspects of his life. He struck those who knew him as the kind of person who awoke in the morning with a clear sense of exactly what he expected from his day and how to set about accomplishing those goals. Stoney was a man who definitely liked order and was most comfortable with an organized and structured lifestyle.

Stoney was born on March 19, 1932 at home in Amarillo, Texas. His parents were Sarah Octavie and James Stony Jackson Sr. Stoney was raised in Amarillo, Texas. Stoney was brought up to be reasonable in his actions and was taught to use his intellect wisely. He was an honest and straightforward child, traits that reinforced his self-confidence. Even at a young age, Stoney was credited with having a positive influence on those around him.

Stoney's enthusiasm for learning and the personal energy that enthusiasm generated led to his exhibiting leadership qualities early on in his childhood. He liked to see things executed properly and showed a skill for taking control of situations that were drifting out of control. At the same time, he was willing to experiment with different approaches as he worked a plan towards a solution. As a young boy, he took part in football and boxing. In his spare time he liked drawing and fishing.

In a group of friends and acquaintances, Stoney was typically the first person to take the initiative to go up and greet someone new. That quality made him very approachable by others throughout his life. This same quality brought Stoney the reward of many friends. Maintaining loyalty to those friends was a trait that came naturally to Stoney. He believed that he should treat others in a fair manner, in the same way he wanted to be treated. Stoney also showed a great deal of appreciation for the accomplishments of his friends. Later in life, he became friends with Judge Earle White, Sly Smith, Al Wiggs, David Barker.

As Stoney knew in other aspects of his life, he had a clear vision of what he sought in a relationship and worked hard to achieve it. On August 22, 1986 Stoney exchanged wedding vows with Carolyn Denise Truss at Department 4, District Courthouse in Las Vegas, Nevada. Carolyn was a significant part of his life, and it wasn't necessary for Stoney to be overly sentimental or expressive about it for others to be aware of their mutual devotion. Stoney's secret to success was that he always kept the lines of communication open in the marriage and applied the important skill of being a good listener.

Family and children were important to Stoney, even if he didn't always show it. Stoney was blessed with five daughters, Shamiko, Kerrye, Candice, Jamila, Jasmine. They were also blessed with seven grandchildren and one great grandchild, Tymika, Alexander Jr., Tatyana, Trey'van, Kierra, Jaida, Zamora and Alexis.

Stoney was able to keep order in the family by using the same efficient and straightforward methods with the family as he did at work. Stoney rarely made a scene when it came to discipline. Instead, he was subtle and patient in his dealings when teaching the children right from wrong.

At work Stoney was viewed as a natural leader. He could marshal all of the available resources, including personnel and materials, in order to meet virtually any objective. He was great at developing strategies and made maximum progress with little wasted effort. Stoney was also adept at uncovering new and more efficient ways of getting things done. He was able to establish and meet objectives and schedules through long range planning and was always able to keep the big picture clearly in sight. Although Stoney might have been described by some as an overachiever, he was without question a dedicated and diligent employee. His primary occupation was as a Policeman and Deputy Sheriff. He was employed for 30 years with the Clark County District Courthouse and 27 years for Potter County Sheriff's Department.

Not only did Stoney find pleasure in pursuing his various hobbies, he also enjoyed the discovery and research involved in learning about them. His skill at problem solving had a positive influence on these activities as well. His favorite pursuits were fishing, shooting and family time.

No matter what the activity was, Stoney had the ability to motivate others. This talent influenced his participation in sports, too. He sought out the possibilities in a competitive situation, and he stayed cool and calm under pressure. He relished the stimulation of the action and energy associated with sports. In high school, Stoney boxed and played football. Recreational sports included shooting and fishing. He was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were football and baseball and boxing.

Stoney's ability to motivate, direct and organize others made him a valuable asset to the organizations to which he contributed during his lifetime. Stoney was one who could be counted on to work hard to implement goals and required little to begin work on a specific task. Once a project was begun, Stoney had a definite methodology for seeing it through to completion. Throughout his later years, Stoney was an active member of the FOP, a Deacon, and a Mason.

Stoney was a man who took pride in upholding his beliefs. When he became active in community affairs, he did so in the same determined and forthright manner that he applied to other aspects of his life, serving on committees for the NAACP, PTA.

Stoney lived his life guided by a well-defined set of beliefs. His faith and religion were important aspects of those beliefs. During that time, he was a Deacon in his church.

There were occasions in Stoney's life where he would find himself involved in a cause or leading an organization and event where his drive to complete the project or meet the established goal was more important than his concern for the philosophy behind it. It was this kind of commitment and drive that earned him praise and honors throughout his life. Some of his most prestigious awards included various awards given by the City of Las Vegas, City of North Las Vegas, Henderson and Clark County as well as Potter County.

Traveling, especially vacations, was another way for Stoney to apply his exceptional leadership and organizational skills. Favorite vacations included San Diego, Universal City and Buena Park, California.

Stoney was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. His family was rounded out by his dogs, frogs, fish and birds.

When Stoney's retirement finally came in 2007, he was well prepared. He had worked out all of the details well in advance and knew exactly what he was going to do. His new life involved working at the District Attorney's office. Always a well-informed person, Stoney enjoyed adding to his wealth of knowledge. Retirement afforded him the time to enjoy that experience and provided one more opportunity to look ahead at what life might offer him.

Stoney passed away on November 30, 2011 at Nathan Adelson Hospice in Las Vegas, Nevada where he fought a brave battle against Renal Failure and Pancreatic Cancer. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Jackson; his children: Shamiko R. Truss-Mathews, Kerrye D. Jackson, Candice M. Jackson, Jamila S. Jackson, Jasmine D. Jackson; his grandchildren: Tymika R. Truss, Alexander Mathews Jr., Tytana I. Mathews, Trey'van J. R. Truss Mathews, Jaida J. Jackson, Kierra J. Jackson-Manson, Zamora D. Jackson and his great grandchild: Alexis R. Highshaw. Services were held at Palm Northwest Mortuary. Stoney was laid to rest in the Palm Northwest Cemetery.

Arrangements under the direction of Palm Northwest Mortuary, Las Vegas, NV.