Curtis Jackson

KELSO, Mo. -- Curtis Holland Jackson of Kelso died Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2015, at the Missouri State Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau. He went peacefully to meet his Lord and the many friends and family who had gone on before him.

He was born Aug. 15, 1920, in Saltillo, Mississippi, son of James Andrew and Ada Myrtle Brooks Jackson. He and Margaret Helen Klingel Jackson were married July 14, 1951, in Chaffee, Missouri.

He enlisted Sept. 4, 1942, and served in the U.S. Navy during World War II in the South Pacific aboard the USS Independence and was honorably discharged Dec. 5, 1945.

Curtis was a farmer in addition to being employed by the Missouri Department of Transportation 30 years, retiring in May 1985. He had been a resident of the Missouri State Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau for the last three years.

Curtis was a member of Hooe Missionary Baptist Church for over 40 years. He served as deacon, Sunday-school superintendent, Sunday-school teacher and a member of several pastoral search committees until his health failed.

Survivors include his spouse, Margaret, of the home; two daughters, Elaine Jackson of Fruitland and Martha (Vincent) Cook of Scott City; one son, James (Deanne) Jackson of Rolla, Missouri; two grandsons, Bo Cook of St. Louis and Kristopher Cook of Washington, D.C.; three granddaughters, Vanessa Cook of Oxford, Mississippi, Jamie Taylor of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Casey Jackson of Ozark, Missouri; one precious great-granddaughter, Reece Nicole Huffman of Ozark; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, six sisters, one brother, several nephews and nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces and many friends.

Friends may call after 5 p.m. today at Ponder Funeral Home in Sikeston, Missouri.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Aaron Cornman of Hillsboro, Missouri, officiating. Don Joliff, pastor of Faith Family Church of Oran, Missouri, will present the eulogy. Burial will be in New Morley Cemetery in Morley, Missouri, with full military honors. Graveside rites will be conducted by Ken Shoemaker, pastor of Hooe Missionary Baptist Church in Oran.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Curtis' name be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, where Curtis and Margaret have faithfully sent a monthly donation. Memorials may also be sent to the Missouri State Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.