Francis Edwin Jackson, 90, of Desha, AR entered into Eternal Life on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at his home. He was born September 23, 1934, in Lake Charles, Louisiana to Henry Strong Jackson and Mildred Berry Jackson Moorefield.
In 1966, Mr. Jackson married Mrs. Jo Ann Carpenter Jackson at Winbourn United Methodist Church in Baton Rouge, LA.
Mr. Jackson graduated from Springhill High School in Springhill, LA, in 1952. After graduating from Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, in 1957 with a degree in mechanical engineering, he moved to Alliance, Ohio with his two oldest daughters for work. He later returned to Baton Rouge, where he worked at Dow Chemical and met his future wife.
He moved his family to Memphis in 1970, where he started a branch of Boiler Equipment and Controls. He later bought the engineering firm with his longtime partner George Brussard. Mr. Jackson was the owner/operator of BEACON engineering until he retired.
After retirement, Mr. and Mrs. Jackson spent twenty years as full-time RVers, traveling from Mexico to Alaska. Mr. Jackson joined his wife in her tradition of volunteerism while traveling. He and his wife volunteered as campground hosts and in other capacities at public facilities from local to State to National Parks across the country. Jo Ann was heard to say that they volunteered at 13 agencies throughout 18 states.
In 2015 Mr. Jackson settled in Desha with his wife. Since then he has been active at Southside United Methodist Church and enjoyed his hobbies of woodworking and gardening.
Francis is survived by his loving daughters, Kathy Burrow and husband, Jarry; Patsy Jackson; Jana Mead and husband, Jeffery; and Joy Jackson; 6 grandchildren: Shauna Burrow Byers (Branson Byers), Jackson Mead (Madison Carter), Noah Jackson (Faith Duchanoy), Cole Spivey, Hunter Spivey, Braden Mead (Taylor Dale Mead), Kathryn Mead Tharp (Keagan Tharp), Nathaniel Spivey, and Annaleigh Mead; and 4 great grandchildren: Ryan Ebarb, Kacen Whiseant, Riley Whiseant, Alina Byers and Wyatt Lane Spivey.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife Jo Ann, his parents, two children, Frances Elizabeth Jackson, David and Henry Strong Jackson, and granddaughter, Shelli David Ebarb.
Mr. Jackson’s service will be Monday morning, April 7, 2025, at Southside United Methodist Church at 10:28 AM, DON’T BE LATE!
Arrangements are entrusted to Willis Funeral Service of Batesville, AR.
