June 7, 1936 —August 25, 2024
John William, “Sonny” Jackson II of Marble Falls Texas, passed away on Sunday, August 25, 2024. John was born in San Pablo, New Mexico on June 7, 1936 to L.P. and Opal Waldie Jackson. At a young age, he moved with his family to Possum Grape, Arkansas. John learned the values of hard work picking cotton at a young age with his family. He recalled many fond memories running through the hollers of Arkansas.
John enlisted in the U.S.
Army at the young age of 17.
After serving his initial term of enlistment in the Army he joined the U.S. Navy. He proudly served his country 21 years before retiring as a E8 Senior Chief in the Navy.
While stationed in Okinawa, Japan, John met and married the love of his life Haruko “Holly” Itomura Jackson and there they began their family. He was later stationed in Key West, Florida, San Diego, California, Beeville, Texas and Austin, Texas. After retiring from the U.S. Navy John started a second career with the ROTC at The University of Texas. At the end of his career John retired with 51 years of retirement at the age of 62, of which he was quite proud.
After retiring John and Holly moved to Marble Falls, Texas.
John was devoted to his family. He enjoyed spending time with his beloved wife, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. John was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing.
He enjoyed playing his harmonica, writing poems and working on projects in his wood shop. John had a passion for building and creating things out of wood, and spent many hours in his shop alone or with his grandkids building cabinets, picture frames and bird houses. He built so many birdhouses that he created a backyard birdhouse trail. John never met a stranger and he enjoyed visiting his friends at local establishments where he would make people smile by share quotes from cards carried in his shirt pocket. After Holly’s passing, John enjoyed taking daily drives through the countryside to visit the Cemetery and a donkey that he befriended. He was a proud member of the Masonic Lodge.
He is survived by his daughters, Janice Leamons and husband Michael, Cynthia Leamons and husband Greg, son, John Jackson III; brother, David Jackson, 17 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
John was preceded in death his wife Haruko “Holly” Itomura Jackson; daughter, Joyce Jackson; grandson, Nathan Leamons; sisters, Winnie Rose Burns, Billie Sue Williams, Lois Osborn, and Betty Clevenstine; and brother, Edward “Buddy” Jackson.
A graveside memorial service with military honors was held on Saturday, September 14th at 11:00 am at the Mount Zion Cemetery located at 601 CR 330A, Bertram, Texas.
