Joseph Andrew Jackson Jr.

Joseph Andrew Jackson, Jr. "Big Joe" Big Joe passed away Sunday, April 5, 2009, peacefully at El Papalote Ranch in Encinal, Texas after a courageous fight against melanoma cancer. Joe was born July 31, 1943 in Austin, Texas and was raised on the Jackson Family Ranch in South Austin. Joe founded Asphalt Paving Co. of Austin, Inc in l977. He was committed to the business and serving the industry. Joe's company paved most of the major roads in Austin and the surrounding area. Joe and his son, Little Joe ran the company together and built the company on hard work and honesty. Joe's long term service as chair of the rodeo committee, helped establish the success of the Austin Travis County Livestock Show & Rodeo. Joe committed himself to building the Texas Exposition and Heritage Center, and was instrumental at getting the show moved to the new location. Joe was on the Board of Directors of the Austin Travis County Livestock Show & Rodeo and was committed to the youth livestock auction. Joe often raised money for youth whose animals did not make the show. Joe had lived for the past 20 years at the El Papalote Ranch in Webb County, Encinal, Texas. The "ranch" was his passion. He was instrumental in quail habitat conservation and ran a successful cattle operation for 15 years. As an avid outdoorsman, he loved "making rounds" on the ranch with friends and family. Big Joe loved to hunt and collect arrow heads with his grandkids, feed deer, and hunt quail with his bird dogs. Other loves were spending time at his house in Rockport and bay fishing with friends and family, especially his grandchildren. Joe was preceded in death by his parents, Jodie and Cecilia Jackson. He is survived by his wife, Frances Jackson; children, "Little Joe" Jackson and wife Leslie; Jill Shackelford and husband Sam "Muy"; step-son, J.C. Teal; grandchildren, Joseph Kyle Jackson, Elisabeth Marie Jackson, Andrew James Jackson, Jordan Brooke Shackleford and Jackson Ridge Shackelford; sister, Alma "Sis" Schnautz and husband Robert "Robbie" and brothers, Don Jackson and wife Velna; Bill Jackson, Terry Jackson and wife Joyce, Andy Jackson and wife Debra; Tommy Jackson, and numerous nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be Bill Knolle, Jimmy Evans, Jay C. Evans, Mike Freeman, Larry Friedman, Verlin Callahan, Jimmy Callahan, Rodney Jones, Faustino Garcia, Dan Kinsel and Kathleen Dawson Joe was a Christian who believed that he would be reunited with his family in Heaven. Joe recently was at peace knowing he would be healthy and be with his mother in Heaven. A Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. at Bannockburn Baptist Church with Dr. Logan Cummings, officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to Joe Jackson, Jr. scholarship fund at Star of Texas Rodeo, www.staroftexas.org, or The Skin Cancer Foundation (www.skincancer.org). Family would like to thank Dr. Judson Sommerville of Laredo, TX for his special care.