William, known by most as “Purlie”, was an example of what a loving earthly father and husband should look like. Mom called him her “Angel” that God sent to save her during the stormiest part of her life. There’s rarely a story of him ever losing his temper, only then it was when someone was threatening mom or one of us kids. He may have only had a 3rd grade education, and had been blind in his left eye since he was a kid; but he was one of the most intelligent inventor/creators of his time. He had a brilliant mind for mechanical things and could fix anything that had a “thingamabob”. He never had idle hands and never, ever wasted anything.
He mowed yards for a living, and loved to tinker on everyone else’s cars, trucks, trailers or lawn equipment, but then he felt bad if they gave him $10. (That’s why he drove mom nuts with his millions of lawn mower and weed eater parts… but he could name AND find every single one when he needed them).
He loved to go to Okeechobee & fish with mom; although, he often had to keep her from falling out of the boat. He also loved to build things: wood toys for the kids or cedar boxes for the others. Walk around his yard…you’ll find home-made bird houses, bird feeders, and windmills everywhere. He always had a kiss for the kids, even though most hated the scruffy whiskers, we learned to endure them… and when kisses were returned, we found that spot on the upper cheek above the whisker line. He may be known for having that scruffy beard, rough hands, and a greasy hat; but the kids will always remember him for his helping hand when our bike tires were flat, teaching us to think outside the box, to work on our own cars and to share with others. We will remember him for his gentle hug when we were sad (or got spanked) and for his ability to give Wise, Godly advice. A man of very few words… slow to speak, slower to anger. He could not read God’s word to us as kids… So he lived it in front of us! He attended 2 churches in his later years, House of Prayer Pentecostal Church of God and Samoset Church of God, both in Bradenton. He loved the people there. He will be greatly missed.
He is survived by loving wife, Savannah; Sisters: Addie Brown & Bonnie Tincher; 6 children: Virginia (& Pat) Hanners, Danny (& Tina) Friddle, Dale (& Sue) Friddle, Kathy (& Steve) Cydrus, William “Michael” (& Melissa) Jackson and Lana Marie Jackson; 21 Grand & 6 Step Grandchildren, 26 Great & 14 Step Great Grandchildren, and 2 Great-Great Grandchildren. Whether you were blood related, or “step”, you know you were accepted and deeply loved by him as if you were his very own. We could also include every kid who ever lived in our neighborhood… all called him Grandpa.
He is preceded in death by his parents Elvin & Georgia Byrd Jackson, Brother: Frank Jackson, Sister: Marie Ward; Great Grandkids: Caitlyn Jackson, & Brandon Friddle and Step Grandchild: Misty Hill.
Visitation will be held on Friday October 19, 2018 from 6pm to 8pm at The Robert Toale & Sons Funeral Home 1221 53rd Ave East, Bradenton.
Funeral Service will be on Saturday October 20, 2018 at 3pm at The Robert Toale Funeral Home, burial will be in the Manasota Memorial Park.
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