Charlie William "Charlie" JACKSON

1931 - 2024

June 26, 1931 - July 20, 2024

Charlie Jackson, 93, truly one of Spokane's, long time 'Good Guys', passed away peacefully on Saturday, July 20th, 2024, the 55th anniversary of man's landing on the moon. But if you were looking for Dad at that moment, you would've had to look way past the moon as he was meeting with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, probably trying to sell him a bigger cloud. Charlie was the ultimate professional real estate salesman, but even a better loving Dad, husband, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather, and to all his many friends, Charlie was a True Friend.

Charlie is survived by his wife of 39 years, Rhoda; his children, Dave Jackson, and grandchildren, Adam, Arianne, Lucy, and Henry; Don Jackson, and grandchildren, Amber, Ryan, and Ashley; and Patricia Jackson, and grandchildren, Chase, Kimberly, and Allie; and stepchildren, Michelle (Cliff) West (predeceased), and grandchildren, Cassie, Kyle, Brandon, and Danielle; and stepchildren, John Modisett and Sarah (Lewis) Lee, and grandchildren, Jordan, Brendan, Lindsay, Julian, Lucy, and Ryan. Along with their grandchildren, Charlie and Rhoda had 38 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Charlie was also a lifelong, connected loving uncle to Sue, Bill, Bob, and Tom, his sister Julia's children.

Charlie was born June 26, 1931, in Cape Girardeau, MO, to the late Horace Leo "HL" and Vera Anderson Jackson, a 50-year public school Principal and Superintendent and a 50-year Teacher, respectively; Educated by Educators! He was the youngest of two, predeceased by his older sister, Julia Kathryn Jackson. Charlie was preceded in death by his first wife of 25 years and mother of Dave, Don, and Patricia, Marilyn (July 27, 2023). Dad had so many genuine 'BFF's' over the years, but three of the longest and closest, Jackie Blayden, Bill Hallinan and Phil Thompson, preceded him in death.

Charlie graduated from high school in 1949 from Ste. Genevieve H.S. where his dad was the Superintendent and Principal. After being handed his diploma by his father, he walked off the stage and signed his first professional baseball contract with the St. Louis Cardinals with whom he played for two years and warmed up in the outfield with Stan Musial and the Boyer brothers. After a broken wrist cut ball short, Charlie enrolled at the University of Missouri, Columbia where he joined the US Army ROTC. Then graduating college as a commissioned officer, he served his country as an artilleryman until his honorable discharge a couple years later, just missing service in the Korean War.

After the military and newly married, and with his exuberant gift of gab, a sales career came naturally and Charlie went to work for Dixie Cup then General Cable until he joined the ultimate sales force, the Dale Carnegie organization where he taught and sold the course across the United States. While in Birmingham in the spring of '63, Dad received a call from Spokane Realtor, Bill Main who was impressed with Charlie's Spokane Carnegie presentations, and invited Dad into the real estate sales career where he remained from '63 until the day of his retirement, August 31, 1994, with the longest continuous license in Spokane County and every year at the top of the Spokane Realtor sales leaderboards.

Charlie continued his athletic endeavors after pro baseball, batting cleanup on men's softball teams for decades, then taking up racquetball, where he became a multi-year sponsored professional and Master's National Champion. After racquetball, Dad swung into golf for the next 30 years, playing Pacific Northwest courses with his huge group of Seniors and in Hawaii and California, along with artistically 'building' nearly a thousand full custom golf sets for half the west coast duffers and hackers. And continuing Dad's theme, of never letting the grass grow under his feet, he skydived with his feet in the air at 10,000 feet at age 85 and floated the Spokane River in an inner tube with his feet in the river twice, at ages 86 and 89. A Mississippi River-Missouri kid at heart forever.

Dad was so lucky to have married the calming force of his life, Rhoda, on June 25, 1985, one day before his birthday, so he'd never forget their anniversary, at the Hitching Post in Coeur D'Alene. Simple, thrifty and practical, three words that would sum up the next 39 years of their marriage. Not to say they didn't enjoy their retirement years though, with 30 winters in Maui, Palm Springs, and Homeland, CA, and a couple circumnational journeys in their RV. And they did all of this while always finding the best value meals and accommodations. (See: Tasty Crust, Wailuku-probably their best discovery).

Some of Dad and Rhoda's regular activities: daily bible reading out along the Spokane River looking at the peacocks, hours long drives through every neighborhood in Spokane remembering the thousands of homes they sold and to whom, church at Tyrannus Christian Fellowship followed by breakfast at the Skyway Café, Chaps Diner to listen to Bo Cooke and his musicians on Friday nights. But especially and most importantly, following and cheering for all their kids, grandkids, great-grandkids, etc. athletics, music, drama and birthdays with unfailing belief and support. And, for 25 years, the annual highlight for the huge family was Charlie and Rhoda's Christmas gathering with skits, gift exchange and the ceremonial t-shirts presentation.

Charlie and Rhoda were Union Gospel Mission volunteer fixtures and Board members forever with Dad wanting Executive Director Phil Altmeyer to keep giving him fundraising and real estate projects, especially 'The Cross' project along with Rhoda working in the medical facility. Dad's calling to the Mission began when he was regularly speaking at 'skid-road' UGM at the corner of Trent and Browne in the mid-60's, no doubt passing along a little Dale Carnegie advice as well. Recently, Dad and Rhoda's 'mission' is to spread the UGM word by handing out 'Tracks' with $5 bills and bus passes to anyone who looks in need on the streets of Spokane. Selfless, courageous and inspired by Jesus: Dad and Rhoda.

A memorial service including military flag presentation will be held for Charlie on Tuesday, August 13 at 2pm, at Union Gospel Mission, at 1224 E. Trent. Light refreshments to follow. To leave an online condolence to Charlie's family, please visit our website at www.HennesseyFuneralHomes.com.