While searching to find my lost friend I came across this website, to my shock it was my friend Roger... My heart is pounding, surely this can't be true... I wondered why I could not find you why the calls went unanswered. Our time was short together but during that time we shared alot of good conversation and helped each other thru a difficult time. I will forever be grateful for the time I had with you and those long conversations we shared. Now I understand why the last time we talked you were so brief with me and said you would call me back... you never did! May you rest in peace my sweet friend.

My condolences to Rogers family and friends, especially Claire and Blake he spoke of you often and loved you so very much, you were truly his world. May the Lord hold you in arms and forever give you strenght to continue thru this life while your father watches you from heaven.  

Spent the Weekend w/Tony Scotka & Family; & of course talked about the times the 3 of us were roommates; & he mentioned something you once said "it's all about making memories"; well remember the time you and A.J. went to California, & the airline [I forget which one] kept bumping you, in exch for Freq Flyer miles?  And then you use those mile to fly the 2 of us to Florida?  We landed in Ft. Lauderdale, but drove all the way across the state, visited an Ex-girlfriend [Marci], went on an Airboat ride in SW Florida, then went back across the state back to Isla Mirada [North of Key West], and then back up to Ft. Lauderdale to visit another ex [Mary Scott] and to also party in that city.  I remember on the 1st day driving the rental car, and taking a wrong turn or missing an exit on the Fl. turnpike, for which we had to drive like 30 miles in the wrong direction just to turn around; I was kind of annoyed w/myself for doing that - & you said "don't worry baby, I'm on vacation, & I will not suffer stress over going out of the way a few miles"; Just another one of those "memories" that make me smile when I think of you.  Happy Birthday in Heaven my brother; I still feel the love, and hope you do too!

Well RJ,  just 2 short years ago we were finishing up a skiing trip in Durango, CO; I was unemployed at the time & really couldn't afford to go, but just like several other dirt bike trips, Roger would just ask me to show up & bring the kids, & he would take care of the lodging and/or meals or whatever I might need.  He knew I'd pay him back, but it was unconditional. Maureen Ann Kenney, aka M.A.K., who was our skiing buddy in the 80's flew in from Vancouver, WA & shared her room w/the girls, while Roger, Grant, Alec & I crammed into another; & along with the Wallace tribe [Mike, Kate, Reagan, Savanah, Bobby & Cassie] we enjoyed some of the best skiing conditions, and the best get together with friends and party conditions that a man could ever hope for. What a memory to have.
I am also attaching a poem that my daughter wrote in your memory, like so many others, she was touched by you as well.  May God bless you, your family, friends and loved ones;
Bill Slawson & Family

I wanted to share this video with all of the people that knew my brother, Roger Jackson.

Roger went dirt bike riding in Colorado every year with his sons, his friends and their sons, and my husband (I didn’t’ get included until 2009 as it was a “guys” trip).  As a tribute to Roger, the group of his riding buddies and their families and my family made the annual trip to Colorado in July, where we had a memorial service on the top of Flag Mountain (13,500’ elevation), one of Roger’s favorite riding destinations.  Eulogies were done by Roger’s longtime friends, Bill Slawson, Mike Wallace (& family), his girlfriend, Joanne Jennings, and myself.   Bill Slawson ended it with a prayer, then we all scattered some of Roger’s ashes and placed a memorial stone.  Reagan Wallace, the son of Roger’s close friend Mike Wallace, was kind enough to take the time to put together a video of the memorial ride. 

Click this link to watch it:
http://www.lee-associates.com/elee/dallas/cindy/Rogervideo.m4v
It will take a few minutes to start.

I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did and that it brings back fond memories of Roger.

 

On the eve of you 57th birthday, I think back to last year. I can't remember all the little gifts I gave you, but a remember the one gift I hated to give: The wheelchair.

I rented one from Trinity Pharmacy and brought it over. I was so worried you would see it as a symbol of defeat, but you didn't. Instead, as always, you seized the opportunity to get your mobility back. We used that chair to get you off the couch, out to the pool, out to restaurants, the movies, and  even the lake. We took "rolls" around the grounds of Legagy and created memories I'll cherish forever.

Tomorrow, in honor of your birthday, Cindy and I will give you wings instead of wheels. As we float through the air, thousands of feet above the ground, you'll be right there with us, in our hearts, in our minds, in our shirts, my tatoo, and of course in that spirit of adventure that never failed you, even when your body did. I love you Roger Jackson. You will always be my Superman.

And, of course, if things don't go as planned tomorrow, I may see you sooner than I thought 

The Measure of a Man
Author Unknown/Anonymous

Not “How did he die?” But “How did he live?”
Not “What did he gain?” But “What did he give?”
Not “What was his station?” But “Had he a heart?”
And “How did he play his God-given part?”
Not “What was his shrine?” Nor “What was his creed?”
But “Had he befriended those really in need?”
Not “What did the piece in the newspaper say?”
But “How many were sorry when he passed away?”
Was he ever ready with a word of good cheer,
To bring back a smile, to banish a tear?
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man, regardless of birth

How do you walk through life?  What do you measure and how do you measure up?

I hope we can all try to measure up to you Superman. 

His name was Roger Jackson, the most important man in the world. He never had a fear or “no” in his heart.  When things got tough, he got tougher. When things were good, he would fill the air with his joy and laughter.  Though his time was taken early, another man needed him dearly, (such a grimacing fate for a man of such character).  One would only be human to ask why. Now he spends his time gazing from above; his body’s gone, but his mark remains.  He speaks to me now more so than ever.  His voice felt so bold, almost as if his words were set in stone.  Such a man cannot be replaced.  A void still lingers, a constant reminder of lessons left to learn.  Words will not suffice to explain the strength he gave me, my family, and us all. That sincerity is truly indescribable and can only be truly understood by experience.  A glance at the shoes he filled would shake a lesser man. It takes a man of true character to remain selfless when all fails and all chance of hope have been washed away.  Lying in a bed, knowing what he knew, he told us not to cry and that everything would be okay; if he didn’t cry, then we must hold back our tears.  He was truly experiencing the pain to the fullest extent; he had a limit on his time left on earth.  Through it all, he stayed strong as he watched his family’s pain and sorrow, and he would never show a glimpse of doubt.  To watch a man so enabled by his own drive and ambition become physically and mentally restricted is devastating.  He had all of his passions and hobbies ripped out of his hands without a say or choice.  Towards the end, things got harder, the situation declined, time was dwindling.  Though he could not reply I spoke and I spoke.  Knowing that this was the only time left I was faced with a gruesome truth. I had to speak, say all the things I wanted my father to hear.  Even though he couldn’t respond, we had many conversations, including talks of old times when things were good, memories we shared of my childhood and our lives brought me joy.  I thanked him so much for all he had done, all the things he fought for, and how blessed I was to have known him, let alone call him dad.  I don’t get to see him anymore, but we talk all the time; anytime I have a problem or question, he is there to give me guidance.  He was a man of faith, not scared of death for his faith could not be shaken. I understand now his time had come, he unknowingly prepared me for this day.  “I’m not scared of death.  When God says it’s my time, it’s my time.”  On October 15th,  I lay next to my sleeping father, withered from his battle against cancer.  I had to tell him to let go.  “Dad, it’s okay.  Don’t be scared.  You have fought a long and hard battle; you’ve given your all. I know you don’t want to let go, but you must.  You have to go be with your family and with God; it’s always what you wanted.”  The last words I shared with him will never leave my mind “we will be alright, you have taught us well but now it’s your time to rest, God needs you now. I love you dad, I’ll talk to you soon.”

By:  Cameron Blake Jackson

 I am standing upon the seashore.  A ship at my side spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and starts for the blue ocean.  She is an object of beauty and strength.  I stand and watch her until at length she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where  sea and sky come to mingle with each other.  Then someone at my side says:  "There, she is gone"
"Gone where?"
Gone from my sight.  That is all.  She is just as large in mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side, and she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her destined port.  Her diminished size is in me, not in her.
And just at the moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"  There are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices ready to take up the glad and shout:  "Here she comes!"
And that is dying.

-Anonymous

John 16:22  So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

I know we've all been thinking about Roger, missing him, and shedding many tears for the terrible emptiness we feel without him. But, after reading a beautiful essay Roger's oldest son, Blake, wrote and posted on Facebook yesterday, his words reminded me to be grateful for all the wonderful family and friends I've been blessed to have in my life. This verse from James kind of sums up what Blake's message means to me.

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

 Merry Christmas to all those who were blessed with the gift of knowing and loving Roger.

I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below,
With tiny lights like heavens stars reflecting in the snow.
The sight is so spectacular please wipe away that tear,
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear,
But the sound of music cannot compare with the Christmas up here.
I have no words to tell you the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description to hear the angels sing.

I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart,
But I am not so far away, we really aren't apart.
So be happy for me dear ones, you know I hold you dear,
And be glad I'm spening Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

I send each of you a special gift from my heavenly home above,
I send each of you a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more pecious than pure gold,
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.

Now, please love each other as the Father said to do,
For I cannot count the blessing of the love He has for you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear,
Remember I am spening Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.

Author Unknown

I met Roger thru a mutual best friend, Ron Minor around 1978; shortly after that, I moved in with Ron & Roger in 1980, the same year that I joined Sony shortly after he joined Digital (which later merged with Compaq, & HP after that).  Great times with great friends, too many too mention here.

In 1984 Roger moved to Houston, TX with Digital, and I also moved to Houston, TX (or Spring, TX] to work with Sony.  At 1st we were on different sides of town, but a few years later (1986/87) we shared a 3-BR apt with Tony Scotka.  From Water Skiing & camping, to riding the Guadalupe, to chasing women at all of the finest night clubs in the Houston Metro area, there were so many great times, I couldn't list them all, and I’m afraid, they would not be suitable for family viewing...

Ron married Rhonda, Tony married Shelley, Roger married Michelle, and finally I married Pandora, and Roger was my best man at the wedding on 1/12/1991.  Roger moved to Dallas and my wife and I moved to Aurora, CO; and later to Richmond, VA so there were a lot of miles between us; but we were never far apart.  Whenever I needed advice, from personal to career, Roger was always available.  And since both of our careers involved a lot of travel, we found ways to get together, and it was always the same: always glad to get together, always having a great time.  As we both got busy with raising children, eventually we had sons that were both born in 1998, and later, as Roger would bring Grant to Colorado to go snow skiing and dirt bike riding, our sons became great friends as well.  I hope they always will be.

I really can’t describe how much this man meant, or rather, still means to me.  But when I look up “Best Friend in the World” in the dictionary; I see his picture.  If fact, when I look at all of my pictures, usually taken while doing something fun, he is usually there too, and I just have to smile when I think about all the fun we’ve had together, so many times, in so many different places.

To lose him this soon in life is truly sad, but to have had him as my friend for over 30 years is truly a blessing.  I thank God for knowing that there is a heaven, that he is there and that I will see him there again someday, and that we shared a few slices of it together while he was here.The last verse of !st Corinthians 13 is:  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

If you are reading this, you know that Roger was loved by many, but he loved us all back with a passion that is hard to measure, and that is what I’ll remember most; the father, the husband, the friend; a great man who lived life to the fullest, and loved life and all of us to the fullest.  Rest in Peace my brother, till we meet again…  Bill Slawson & Family

Often Roger and I went to the lake, and we worked together in the mid 70’s and had his boat hooked up to his 1967 Camaro in the parking lot and would go skiing after work every day that we could.  I remember him driving up Georgia 400 with the top down at 75MPH, I would climb into the back seat then down the trunk lid, up over the bow of the boat and into the old Underbird (it was a tri-hull Thunderbird but the T got broken off).  I would get us both a beer out of the cooler and climb back out of the boat, across the trunk, and back in the passenger seat.  When we got to the lake we would ski until it was just too dark and scary for us.  That took no moon and pitch black.  One time we stopped the boat just to yell back at Bonnie to see if she was still back there and she answered from way far away “Hell No, I’m way over here”.   We went to Daytona six or eight times one summer with just enough gas money to get there and back.  We relied on our charm to find girls to take us in and pay for everything but like I said we did it 6-8 times just in one year.  It was the fun we always had together that the girls wanted to be a part of.   Love you Roger.  Life is short.  You know it better than all of us but at least you made the most of it and didn’t waste  the time you had here with us .  I’m Sad with tears but still smiling because of the joys we had together.

Ron Miner, Lifelong Friend - Henderson, Nevada