Carl "Roger" Jackson was born on June 30th, 1955 in Atlanta, Georgia, to Dorothy Jean Banister Jackson and John Wallace Jackson. He was a graduate of Dallas Baptist University and a 30+ year employee of Hewlett Packard.
Roger lived every day to the fullest. He was an active volunteer in YMCA Adventure Guides and Princesses Program and founder of the "Blackhawk" tribe of the Coppell YMCA Adventure Guides. He also actively volunteered in the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America. He was a member of the North Texas Camaro Club, TORO (Texas Off-Road Racing Organization) and The Highlands Neighborhood Home Owners Association, as well as the Tradewinds Home Owners Association in Orange Beach, AL. Roger was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Carrollton, Texas.
Roger loved riding and racing dirt bikes with his children, camping, 4-wheeling with his girlfriend Joanne and his sister Cindy and brother-in-law Chris, and traveling to Colorado every year with his riding buddies, Mike Wallace, Bill Slawson, Mike Vasily, Ron Minor and Bobby Hamilton (not to mention several others) and their sons. In warmer weather you would always find Roger on Lake Lewisville, relaxing in his boat with Joanne, hanging out with his kids, or tied up with Cindy & Chris at Party Cove. Roger loved water skiing, trick skiing and enjoyed pulling his children behind his boat skiing, tubing, kneeboarding and wakeboarding. Roger also loved spending time with his children and friends on the sugar white sands of Orange Beach, Alabama. He truly loved live.
Roger is survived by his daughter, Amanda Dawn Jackson of Lawrenceville, Georgia; son, Cameron Blake Jackson of Carrollton, Texas; daughter, Elizabeth Claire Jackson of Carrollton, Texas; son, Jonathan Grant Jackson of Carrollton, Texas; grandson Devin Darrell Jackson of Lawrenceville, Georgia; brother John Terry Jackson of Flowery Branch, Georgia; sister Cindy Jackson Black of Carrollton, Texas; and a host of loving in-laws, nieces, nephews, friends and work associates. He is preceded in death by his parents, Jean and Johnny Jackson.
The family suggests that donations be made to the Coppell YMCA, benefitting the Adventure Guides and Princesses Programs. Please make donations to The Coppell YMCA (Fund 9), 146 Town Center Boulevard, Coppell, TX 75019 (www.coppellymca.org).
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
