Marshall Jackson

Marshall Jackson, 84 of Dahlonega, GA. Passed away May 28, at 4:25pm, with his wife, son, daughter, son in law, grandson, Shihtzu, and kitty by his side. He had suffered for 5 years with Parkinson’s disease and complications from radiation for prostate cancer.

Marshall was born in West Palm Beach, FL on March 4, 1934, the son of Wesley Benjamin Jackson and Nellie Clark Jackson. He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother Donald Jackson, and by his dearest friends Roy Sanders, David Wolcott, Larry Christensen, Bob and Virginia Pickelseimer, and John Stockard. He is survived by his wife, Jenni, son Dan (Donna) Jackson of Dahlonega, his daughter Kelley (Harry) Henderson of Lumpkin County, sister Margie (Bill) Funk of Fl., sister Mert (Eddie) Hall of Fl., sister Crystal (Brent) Wenkstern of Fl., as well as grandchildren Shawn Fink, Melonie (Matt) Stanton, Dani Carter, Jasmine (Jerry) Young, Jordan Jackson, Jack Jackson, Cody Jackson, great grandchildren Levi Carter, Wesley Marshall Stanton, and Ellie Stanton, a host of nieces and nephews, and a huge extended family in Vermont.

Marshall enjoyed growing up in West Palm Beach, his young years being a time when the area was peaceful, and uncrowded. He spent many days in the swamp with his friends, the Swamp Demons, hunting and trying to find Nyoka, the swamp ghost. He was flying his airplane almost before he could ride a bicycle. He enjoyed fishing, sailing, diving, camping, The Florida Keys, Everglades National Park and the beach. He was an avid catamaran sailor, and served as Commodore of Hobie Cat Fleet 34 in Palm Beach County. His love of critters lasted all his life until his last breathe.

Marshall attended the University of Florida, worked as a commercial pilot, then for many years as an aerospace design engineer at Pratt-Whitney Aircraft until his retirement in 1994. His brilliant mind led him to be a member of Mensa. He spent many happy hours solving mechanical problems at Commercial Pictures, a professional photography studio owned by his friend, Roy Sanders in West Palm Beach. Many of those sessions he called “a two and two”-two cigars and two bottles of Mateus. He could anything that needed fixing. If he didn’t have a tool to fix something, he would make a tool to do the job. He proudly passed that on to his son Dan.

It seems that WINGS were always a part of Marshall’s life, from flying airplanes, to working in avionics to building and flying remote control airplanes. After his retirement, Marshall and Jenni raised exotic birds in Loxahatchee, Fl. Where he also enjoyed chickens, turkeys, swans, and peacocks-all of them peacocks of course. For the past 3 ½ years being confined to his bed, he spent his days watching the many dozens of birds feeding on the back deck. He got his own wings on Memorial Day.

There will be no services in Dahlonega, following his cremation by Dahlonega Funeral Home, his ashes will be spread as he wished-from a burlap bag into the Palm Beach inlet in the out-going tide.

In his memory, please adopt a rescue pet. Enjoy every sunrise. Think of him when you hear an airplane flying overhead. Live each day with a sense of humor. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you. Hold tight to the ones you love, and treasure every moment you have with them.

Online condolences may be expressed at www.dahlonegafuneralhome.com

Arrangements by the professional staff of Dahlonega Funeral Home 20 Gibson Road Dahlonega, GA 30533 706-864-DOVE (3683)