William Richard Jackson

William Richard Jackson (Bill) of Gun Barrel City, Texas passed away on December 12, 2021 at 79 years old. He was a graduate of Brownsboro High School and Sam Houston State University, where he was an ATO brother. His life and heart revolved around three things. Foremost was his wife and daughters (“his girls”), who never doubted that he was there for them. He also enjoyed being a commercial airline captain and the many wonderful friends he made in the air, along with motorcycle riding around the country with Brenda on the back and often brother Reg and buddies all around.

Bill was born in Brownsboro, Texas to Clarence W. and Morea Bass Jackson. While he traveled around the world, he was always an East Texas boy at heart. It was there that he met the love of his life, Brenda, when they were 14 years old. Brenda’s family was a bit leery when they first started dating as Bill was a bit on the wild side, but their 50 plus years of love and marriage proved they were meant to be. They are now joined together again, which brings joy to those they left behind.

Bill had many dear friends and was making new ones even during his last years at Walnut Place in Dallas. If you were his friend, you knew he had your back. His daughters knew he was a net that would never let us fall too far. The family is so very grateful to his friends who called and visited to enrich his life and to the staff of Walnut Place Assisted Living and Three Oaks Hospice who provided a wonderful home once Bill could no longer live alone.

Bill was preceded in death by his wife Brenda. He is survived by brother and sister-in-law, Reginald B. Jackson and Janese Sampson; daughter and son-in-law, Dena L. Jackson and Bob Kersey; and daughter and son-in-law, Kristal and Rueban Booth.

A memorial reception will be held at Cochran’s Chicken on Main Street in Gun Barrel City on December 29 from 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. to celebrate his life and share stories, of which there are many. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Humane Society of Cedar Creek Lake; 10200 County Road 2403, Kemp, TX, 75143, www.hsccl.org, where Bill adopted Ginger and Bella, who brought such joy to his life.