Frankie "Frank" Junior Jackson

Frank died at Confluence Health Hospital after an extended stay. He was the youngest of eight children born to Jack B. and Hesther O. (Marker) Jackson, in Neosho, Missouri. He was raised on a farm. Under his dad’s guidance, he learned many useful skills. He attended grade schools in the area. In late 1949, he and his mom came to Wenatchee to visit family. They returned to live in 1951 when a sister and her family wanted to move to the valley. Frank started working at the Keokuk Silicon Smelter in Rock Island in 1951. He worked there for forty-one years under five ownerships. He retired in May 1992. When the plant had shutdowns or was on strike, he helped a local carpenter acquaintance build houses and a few others build apartments and hotels in town. He served in the army from January 1953 to January 1955 in the Armored Infantry H. & S. at Ft. Hood, Texas. He met his wife, Maxine L. Sharp after she began corresponding with him. While visiting family with her grandma in Pateros, she saw his name and address in the local paper to write to servicemen. While serving in Texas, he would hitchhike to see her in Arkansas. They were married on May 2, 1955, in Wenatchee. Their daughter, Brenda was born in May of 1958, and their son, Vernon, in May of 1959. In earlier years, Frank enjoyed camping and day trips to the mountains, scenic drives, and going to his son's scouting and little league events. He especially had a good time hunting and fishing with his son and other relatives and friends until the late 1980s. He tied flies to see what worked best where he fished and reloaded bullets and shotgun shells to test their distance and accuracy. He liked to draw up plans when he built things. He and his daughter had fun times going on short hikes and four-wheeling on one vehicle in the mountains, birdwatching in the NCW area, identifying butterflies with nets that he made, and going to yard sales and thrift stores. He enjoyed being around animals and watching them on television. The family had many types of pets over the years, but he was closest to the three dachshunds they had over forty years. From the time he was a young man until he went to the hospital, he laughed watching cartoons but only the older ones were funny to him. Frank was preceded in death by his parents, two infant brothers, Issac and Jay, an infant sister, Neady Hope, siblings and their spouses, brother, Addrean (Ruby) Jackson, sister, Dorothy (Clarence) Jobe, Rosalee (Cecil) Collier, and Lila Mae (Griffon) Hively, his wife, Maxine (2007), and son, Vernon, (1986). He is survived by his daughter Brenda Jackson, a special niece, Susan Jacobucci, and nephew, Ritch Hively, all of East Wenatchee, along with many generations of nieces, nephews, and cousins. Arrangements by Chapel of the Valley, East Wenatchee.

Frankie "Frank" Junior Jackson

October 19, 1929 - December 29, 2023