I'm gonna skip to some of the recent years.  Roger was the father of four children, Mandy (36), Blake (18), and twins Grant & Claire (13), and one grandson, Devon (16).  He was the BEST father ever.  I'm not just saying that.  I have never in my 55+ years seen any father be as involved in his children's lives as Roger.  He spent countless hours with them, teaching them to fish, swim, water ski, knee board, snow ski, race dirt bikes, ride 4-wheelers, and taking on leadership roles in the Boy Scouts of America, YMCA Indian Guides and Indian Princesses.  He was at the lake with his children every weekend that weather permitted, and in the pool with them almost every night between March and October.  He spent several weeks each summer with them at Orange Beach, Alabama, and winter vacations skiing with them in Colorado.  He also went to Colorado on a dirt bike riding expedition with his sons, his friends and their sons every summer for an annual father-son vacation. He was so devoted to his children and loved them so much.  He was fortunate enough to work from home, which allowed him to spend even more time with his children.  He was awarded the 2010 Coppell YMCA Father of the Year award, but in my mind he was the "Father of the Century".

Roger was also the best brother a sister could ever hope for.  I looked up to him for advice, guidance, support and friendship.  We were so close after I moved to Texas in 1992, and became even closer the last few year of his life.  Our families were always camping, biking, boating and 4-wheeling together.  He would always be there when I stopped by on the way home from work to have a beer by the pool, lend an ear when I needed someone to talk to, and never failed to let me know that I was important to him.  I miss him so much.  I not only lost a brother, but I lost a best friend.

Roger frequently threw pool parties and had his backyard full of live bands, margarita machines, volleyball games, and the grill fired up and cooking.  He surrounded himself with family & friends and enjoyed life to it's fullest.

Roger owned a 1967 Camaro SS/RS convertible that was his fifth "child".  He had owned it since 1970 and had put countless hours (and dollars) into keeping it in the best shape, souping up the motor, consistently winning car shows and even winning a Chevy Camaro 40 year anniversary show at the Texas State Fair.  He was also a member of the North Texas Camaro Club.  Less than a year before his death, he purchased a 1923 Ford T-Bucket, which he loved to get out and drive on nice days that didn't require a roof, doors or A/C (which are few and far between in Texas).

more to follow......

Roger was born on June 30, 1955 to Dorothy Jean Banister Jackson and John W. Jackson, in Atlanta, Georgia at Crawford Long Memorial Hospital.  John was a mechanic and Jean was a bookkeeper for Georgia Fireman's Pension Fund.  Becuase both parents worked full time, Roger had housekeepers that looked over him and his siblings while his parents were at work.  Roger was a cute, little baby with pudgy cheeks and the most beautiful smile, and I can't remember ever seeing a picture of him when he wasn't smiling.  Roger was a very rambunctious little boy and kept everyone on their toes.  From his older brother Terry, to his early housekeepers, Jo and Fannie, to his little sister Cindy.  He was always very mischevious, and frequently was in "trouble" with Dad.  On a regular occasion, Mom would send him out to pick his "own" hickory switch off a tree for his punishment.  He would pick the smallest, weakest one, and Dad would send him back out to get a more "acceptable" one.  He lived on Warren Street in Atlanta with a detached garage that his parents used to throw parties in, and Roger would sneak in early the next mornings to snag any snacks that were left.  We had a creek back behind our house that he spent a lot of time at with his older brothers and his friends, catching salamanders and bugs.  He would hang out in the clubhouse he and his friends and brother built down by the creek.  I remember one time, when Roger walked down to the Kroger store on the corner (we pronounced it like Roger but with a K in front), and climbed the ladder to the rooftop of the store and came back all excited because he had found pennies, nickels and dimes on the roof.  We had a community park & swimming pool not far from our house and Roger spend a lot of summers there swimming. His Dad built a house in Lawrenceville, GA and moved the family there when Roger was seven.

More to follow.......