Obituary of John Jackson

Memorial services for John M. Jackson, Sr., 68, Van, are scheduled for 1:00 pm, Friday, December 14, at the Cottle Funeral Home chapel, Troup with Lester Reagan and Reverend Wayne Hargraves officiating. Mr. Jackson died Tuesday, December 11, in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born January 21, 1939, in Orange to the late John Knox Jackson and Bertha Pauline Meacham Jackson. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran. He received his bachelors degree from Sam Houston State University. He received his masters from the University of Texas at Tyler in its first graduate school class. He married Rita Obar in Cook Springs, Texas May 22, 1964. Mr. Jackson was a teacher and a coach for 38 years. He taught in the Halletsville ISD, in 1968; Judson Elementary, San Antonio from 1969-1972; Arp ISD from 1972-1976; Rusk ISD from 1976-1977; Leverett's Chapel ISD 1977-1984; White Oak ISD 1984-1986; Mount Enterprise ISD 1986-1993; West Rusk Consolidated School District, 1993-1994; and Creede Consolidated Schools, Creede Colorado 1999-2004. Mr. Jackson had been a resident of Van for the past two years where he was a member of the First United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife, Rita Obar Jackson, Van; a son and daughter-in-law, John Milton Jackson, Jr. and Amanda Jackson, Ozona; a daughter and son-in-law, Cynthia Reneé and Thanh Nguyen, Van; a brother and sister-in-law, John Knox Jackson, II and Madolyne Jackson, Mesquite; three grandchildren, Megan Holder, My Linh Nguyen, and Nathaniel Thomas Jackson. The Family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm, Thursday, December 13.