Ferry Darrell Jackson

Darrell was born in Tompkinsville, Kentucky on January 1, 1938 to the late Ferry Jeff Jackson and Aileen Avery Jackson, both educators in Monroe County.

Darrell was a precocious student and graduated from Tompkinsville High School in 1954 where we was voted “Best All Around Boy” and “Most Courteous” by his classmates. He began college at age 15 and graduated from Western Kentucky University with duel degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics.

After college, Darrell served in the Kentucky National Guard in 1961. He joined Barton Distilling Company in Bardstown, Kentucky working from 1961-63 as the bottling house chemist. He then began his long career at Corhart Refractories, a subsidiary of Corning Glass, serving as their analytical chemist from 1963-1992. Throughout his years at Corhart, he had many scientific articles published. He worked in research and development and on the marketing of products used in high heart furnaces such as those used to make steel. He later became a consultant and one of the leading experts in the country on glass products.

Of all his accomplishments in life, what stood out most about Darrell was his authenticity, intellect, honesty and kind nature. He wasn’t a man of many words but there was never a challenge he couldn’t meet. He was a voracious reader throughout his life, often reading up to ten books a week on subjects ranging from science and technology to history and literature.

In addition to Darrell’s passion for acquiring knowledge, he loved working with his hands and was an accomplished woodworker and artist. He hand-made beautiful and intricate toys and furniture for his family from trees on his own land. On his farm, he built an elaborate bridge and numerous masonry projects. He created breathtaking needlepoint portraits and images that hung in his home. He had many hobbies and interests including collecting rare coins and stamps, military memorabilia, historical artifacts and even musical instruments.

In retirement, his biggest project was writing a book that his family hopes to publish in his honor. He also taught his family a deep love for animals which has continued through several generations. He is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 58 years, Margaret Homan Jackson, his daughter, Rebecca Jackson Brown, her husband, John Y. Brown III, and his two grandchildren, John Y. Brown IV and Margaret Sarah Brown, his brother, Harold Ray Jackson of Seattle, Washington and many nieces and nephews.

Service to be at New Hope Baptist Church in Springfield. A private burial is planned.

Donations to the Humane society of Louisville