Edward “Ed” Keith Jackson, age 77, died on Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2017 in Mesa, Arizona.
Left to honor and remember Ed are his wife, Cherilyn Jackson; their three children: Jonathan Tyler Jackson (Suzi), Melanie Jackson Brazzle (Rich) and Daniel Jackson; and six grandchildren: Allen Jackson, Kurtis Jackson, Anna-Marie Jackson, Austin Brazzle, Sydney Brazzle, and Brock Brazzle.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, William Foster and Maggie Lou; and his brothers, Jack and Bill.
Ed was born on May 6, 1940 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children. After graduating from high school, he attended Oklahoma State University obtaining bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering. He began his career in construction engineering with the State of California Bridge Department, which led him to Santa Barbara to work on the Cold Springs Canyon Arch Bridge. Here he met Cherilyn “Cheri” Boehning, his wife of 54 years, with his sweet, gentleman ways. Ed and Cheri eloped on July 2, 1963. Ed continued his career with Lyles Diversified, eventually leading their Kaweah Construction subsidiary in Visalia, California. Here, he raised his three children and was an active participant in the United Methodist Church, Rotary, the United Community Youth Center, Boy Scouts, Indian Princesses and all of the kids’ sports. In 1982, he and longtime friend Dick Watson started their own firm, Conejo Constructors, building potable water and sewage treatment plants in the Central Valley of California. Retiring in 2001, he and Cheri settled in Lynden, and they traveled via motor home visiting kids, grandkids and sites throughout the U.S. and Canada, as well as continuing their world travels.
Ed will be remembered as a bright, shining light in the various communities and churches in which he served. His volunteerism led to the construction of many Habitat for Humanity homes and the Million Smiles Park in Lynden. He enjoyed his travels with his faithful wife Cheri, puttering around the house and church, woodworking, early morning gym, and walking his dog, Marshmallow.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 30, at noon in the United Methodist Church of Lynden, 500 N. 14th St.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Ed’s name to Holt International Children’s Services at http://www.holtinternational.org; or to the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church at http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission.
