Freddie E. Jackson, 74, Missouri

Nov. 10, 1936 - May 21, 2011

    Freddie Eugene Jackson, 74, of New Hampton, Mo., passed away at his home, with many loved ones at his side, May 21, 2011, after a long illness. Family will be present to meet and greet and to celebrate Fred’s life at Memorial Chapel in Bethany, Mo. A visitation will be held from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 26, 2011, followed by a memorial service. The family welcomes everyone to a meal following at the Masonic Building. Cremation and burial at Penn Center Cemetery in Earlham, will be at a later date.
    Fred was born Nov. 10, 1936, in Kansas City, Kan., son of Fred Jefferson and Stella Marie (Coverdell) Jackson. He was a 1954 Northeast High School graduate in Kansas City, Mo., and a member of the Belmont Christian Church in Kansas City. Fred retired from the Glenwood State Hospital School in Glenwood, in 2000, as a member of the State Union Local 2991. Fred said working with the special needs was the best job he could have asked for. Fishing, dancing and a pickin’ were just some of the loves of his life. He always said he was a jack-of-all trades and a master of none.  Fred could always put a smile on everyone’s face with jokes and pranks. Sitting by a fire, cooking a hot dog with his brother and sister-in-law from Iowa was a treasured moment for him. He might have told a few stories along the way and of course, one or two might have stretched the truth.   
    Survivors include his wife Diane, sons Jeff Jackson, who has taken leave from the military to help care for his beloved father; Jerry (Anita) Jackson of Kansas City, Mo.; Harold “Pete” Coverdell, who is on his third tour of duty, and wife Connie Coverdell of Council Bluffs; first wife Donna; daughters Terri Kramer of Bethany; Kathy (Bob) Carter of Weatherby Lake, Mo.; Patti Jackson of Kansas City, Mo.
    His grandchildren include Andrew, Samantha, Wyatt, Tyson, Peter, Piper, Justin, Nicole, Matthew, Mark, Aimee and Nathan. He was blessed with great-grandchildren, Reece, Drew Allen, Tyler, Drew David, Alliagla, Mariece, Chole and Miley; nephews Harold, Dale and David, and niece Violet, along with a host of other relatives.