SEPTEMBER 10, 2021, KEIZERTIMES, PAGE A5
obituary
Walter Carl Jackson
June 22, 1934 – September 3, 2021
Walter Jackson passed away suddenly
at his Keizer home on Friday, Sept. 3 at
age 87.
He was born in Hastings, Neb. on
June 22, 1934 to Glenn and Gladys
Jackson.
As a boy, Walt and his younger
brother Roger spent many hours
together trapping muskrats and hunting
jackrabbits for their fur pelts which they
would sell to a local furrier. They also
enjoyed spending time on their Uncle
Don and Aunt Helen's farm. From his
early school years until his death, Walt
had impeccable penmanship.
Walt graduated from Hastings
High School, home of the Tigers in
1953. He was very popular with the
cheerleaders as he was one of the few
guys with his own car. He was proud
to have participated in track with fellow
Hastings classmate Tom Osborne, who
later became legendary football coach
at the University of Nebraska. Walt
made numerous trips back to Hastings
to attend high school reunions and visit
family.
After high school, Walt’s parents,
brother and sister-in-law moved to
Oregon for better fi shing and hunting.
However, Walt stayed behind for a
year and worked in Lincoln, Neb. In
1955, he made the move to Salem. He
decided to volunteer for the draft and
was accepted into the Army in 1956.
After basic training, he was stationed at
a guided missile base in Playa del Rey,
Calif. where he also worked part-time
as a dishwasher at a local restaurant. In
his later years, he enjoyed telling people
that he acted as a loan shark by making
loans to fellow service members, which
helped with starting the family’s auto
body business.
In 1958 upon discharge from the
army, Glenn, Walt and Roger established
Jackson’s Body Shop on Silverton Road
in Salem. Glenn ran the front offi ce
while Walt worked as the body man and
Roger as the painter. After his father's
retirement, Walt moved into the offi ce
to take on estimating and running the
offi ce. He was a well-respected longtime
member of the Autobody Craftsman
Association (ACA), Independent Garage
Owners (IGO) and Automobile Services
Association (ASA). He was very proud
to have been one of the fi rst three shops
in the country and the fi rst in Oregon to
earn I-CAR Gold Class distinction. He
earned and maintained good working
relations with other shop owners and
insurance industry members alike.
In 1960, Walt married Joyce Wiser
and started their family. The couple
welcomed their fi rst son Randy, followed
by Brian and then Larry. They bought
their fi rst home on 8th Ave. in Keizer.
The family enjoyed camping, hunting,
and fi shing of all kinds. Joyce passed
away in 1981 after an extended battle
with cancer.
Walt enjoyed attending his son’s
sporting and scouting events, especially
WALTER CARL JACKSON / Submitted Photo
McNary High School football games
which he continued to attend long after
his children graduated. He passed down
his love of boating and angling to his
sons and spent many years fi shing for
salmon out of Newport.
Sons Randy and Larry worked
alongside Walt at the body shop in their
teens and twenties. The now fourth
generation, 63 year-old family body
shop business continues to this day with
Larry and Walt's nephew Jerry taking
over ownership after Walt and Roger's
retirement.
In 1983, Walt married Doris Dezotell
Lindsay and adopted her two sons
Matthew and Andrew. Walt and Doris
met at church after being introduced
by the pastor's wife. The new Jackson’s
were soon indoctrinated by Walt into
ocean salmon expeditions, RV trips,
various sports, scouting and many
Memorial Day and Fourth of July
holidays spent trout fi shing at Diamond
Lake with extended family.
He was a weekly attendee and
longtime deacon of First Christian
Church in Salem until his passing. Walt
loved his Ambassador Sunday School
class and made many lifelong friends
through that association.
Growing up during the Great
Depression, Walt was an accomplished
bargain hunter and an avid coupon
clipper. Walt loved traveling with his
favorite destinations being Hawaii, the
Oregon coast, and Palm Springs as well
as two cross country road trips in the
RV that included the 1996 Olympics.
Walt and Doris enjoyed extensive
international travel and cruises. Walt
was a life member of the Keizer Elks
where he and Doris would often go to
dance on Saturday nights.
Walt and Doris moved to McNary
Estates in 1993 and took in the golfi ng
and social scene. Walt liked attending
and watching sports of all sorts:
Mariners, Beavers, Ducks, Blazers and
PGA golf. In later years, he looked
forward to his weekly coff ee outings
with his friends and tending to his yard.
Walt was preceded in death by his
fi rst wife Joyce, father Glenn and mother
Gladys.
Walt is survived by his wife Doris;
brother Roger (Joanna); son’s Randy
(Vickie) of Keizer, Brian (Raeann)
of Hillsboro, Larry (Tina) of Keizer,
Matthew (Pamela) of Anchorage, Alaska,
and Andrew of Keizer; grandchildren
Tyler (Miranda), Nicholas, Travis
(Lacey), Cody (Emily), Elliott (Megan),
and Olivia; great-grandchildren Colton
and Kashton.
Walt will be remembered by his
family as a generous and caring man
who had a good sense of humor. He
instilled a hard-working mentality that
his son’s and grandchildren adopted.
A celebration of life will be held
Monday, September 13, 2021 at 1 p.m.
at First Christian Church, 685 Marion
St. NE in Salem. A live stream of the
service will be available at facebook.
com/SalemFCC.
Cats of the Week
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HISTORY:
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Name: EMMIE
Age: 15
PREFERRED HOME:
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Ins Agcy Inc
Sam Goesch CLU, Agent
3975 River Road N - Keizer, OR
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