On the evening of March 5, 2016, our beloved husband, father, son, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and bishop peacefully and unexpectedly slipped into the next life with his family by his side. He suffered complications from a recently diagnosed liver problem.
Richard Justin Jackson (Rick) was born in Salt Lake City on March 13, 1949 to the late Richard Lars Jackson and Grace Black. He grew up in Murray, Utah, the oldest of four children. He attended Arlington and then Grant Elementary, Riverview Junior High School and then graduated from Murray High School in 1967 where he played basketball and football. He also attended University of Utah and built a successful career as a draftsman. For the last 20 years he worked at L-3 Communications where he made many lasting friendships.
President David O. McKay called Rick to serve as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the North Central States Mission (1968-1970). He remained a faithful member of the church his entire life and held many callings. At the time of his death, he was serving as the Bishop of the Ridgeland Ward, the members of which he loved with all his heart.
Rick first met his sweetheart, Beverly Burton, when he applied for a job as a bus driver at the Garfield School, a school for special-needs children, where she worked as secretary to the principal. A red rose on her car seat started their courtship and on June 22, 1972, they married and were sealed for time and eternity in the Salt Lake Temple. They raised their five children, Rick, Angie, Mike, Lisa and Chris in their current home in West Valley City, Utah where they've lived since 1979.
Rick was an athlete and loved sports of all kinds, particularly BYU Football. A season ticket holder since 1974, he loved taking Beverly and his children not only to the home games in Provo, but also to many away games. One particularly special and memorable away game was in 2009 when Rick traveled with his sons to the newly completed Dallas Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas where No. 20 BYU upset No. 3 Oklahoma (14-13). He enjoyed spending time with his kids and grandkids at these events and was always the master of BBQ and tailgating parties.
Rick was very grateful for his rich pioneer heritage, and was a member of the National Society of the Sons of Utah Pioneers. He loved to cook, to read, to travel, to spend time with his family and was always learning new things. Rick was extremely hard working and despite always having a beautifully manicured lawn, he spent the last several years sculpting the yard so there was less and less grass to mow.
Rick possessed numerous Christ-like attributes: humility, kindness, patience and unconditional love. He was a truly selfless, hard-worker who always thought of others before himself. He was never comfortable in the limelight. We will miss his wisdom, creativity, his wit, good sense of humor and his big hugs. We will cherish his example and do our best to carry on these noble characteristics and his legacy, to show our gratitude and love to him for being such a strong, positive force in our lives.
He is survived by his wife; Beverly, five children; Rick (Tanya), Angie (Greg), Mike, Lisa (Matthew), Chris, (Melissa), his mother; Grace Jackson Krebs, sister; Eileen Nielsen (Randy), brother; Randall Krebs (Maureen), and eleven grandchildren; Emily, Erin, Natalie, and Nathan White, Katya and Sam Jackson, Ivy, Zonie and Jones Jackson, Zach, and Ryker Jackson.
Beverly and her family wish to extend sincere love and appreciation to friends, family, and in some cases, complete strangers, for their love, prayers, and generosity during this difficult time.
A viewing will be held Friday, March 11, 2016 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Larkin Sunset Gardens, 1950 E Dimple Dell Rd. in Sandy.
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, March 12, 2016, at 11:00 a.m. at the Ridgeland Ward, 4251 S 4800 W in West Valley City with a viewing that morning from 9:30 to 10:45 am, at this same location.
