Willis Edwin “Bill” Jackson, age 87, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Monday, Feb. 17, 2014, at Briarcliff Health Care Center in Oak Ridge.
Mr. Jackson was born Sept. 23, 1926, in Chevrolet, Ky. He and his family moved from Kentucky to Coalfield in the early ’30s. In 1934, the family moved to Loudon, and in 1937 they moved to Oliver Springs where they continued to live.
Bill was a retired heavy equipment operator who worked in the strip mining industry. His first employment was at the Oliver Springs Brick Yard when he was 14 years old. He later worked as a heavy equipment operator during the construction of the K-25 federal plant in Oak Ridge.
Mr. Jackson was preceded in death by his loving wife, Hattie Lee Braden Jackson; by a son, Danny Paul Jackson; by his parents, Johnny Frank Jackson and Laura Wilson Jackson; by a granddaughter, Lorie Johnson; and by a great-granddaughter, Megan Dunn.
He is survived by a daughter, Joy Gail Johnson and her husband Pastor Kenneth Johnson, of Clinton; by a son, Edwin L. Jackson and wife Annette, of Harriman; by grandchildren, William E. Jackson of Oak Ridge, Cristy Martin and husband Max of Oliver Springs, and Lisa Dunn and husband Sean of Clinton; and by great-grandchildren, Shaun Jackson and Ian Jackson of Harriman, and Lauren Elizabeth Dunn, Christan Dunn, and Xavier Jordan Johnson all of Clinton.
He is also survived by a sister, Kathleen Parten and husband Don, of Oliver Springs; by his stepmother, Dimple Smith Jackson of Wartburg; by a stepbrother, Ronnie Smith and wife Patty, of Troutsville, Va.; and by several nieces, nephews, extended family, and special friends including a longtime friend, Kenny Loy.
The family received friends Friday, Feb. 21, between 6 and 8 p.m. at Sharp Funeral Home. The funeral followed at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Kenneth Johnson officiating. Burial and graveside services were held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Oliver Springs Cemetery with Pastor Garvan Walls officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Oliver Springs Cemetery Fund, C/O Oliver Springs City Hall, 717 Main Street, Oliver Springs, TN 37840.
Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.sharpfh.com.
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