Gary Don Jackson

Gary Don Jackson 

Born Jan 3, 1956 at Valley View Hospital in Ada, OK. He lived 24,820 days full of life in every way possible, as calculated by his granddaughter Emma. 

He married the love of his life, Stacie Jackson, on 9/6/1996 in Marietta, GA. He leaves behind 3 children, Christa and husband Jarod, Ashley and husband James and Bryce and his significant other Jordan; 6 grandchildren Daunoven (preceded him in death), Kaylei, Blak, Autumn, Emma and Stella; 1 great grandchild Catherine; 2 sisters Connie Morris and Mary Inman; along with countless aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces and cousins. 

In high school Gary was a star on the Asher baseball team playing under Meryl Bowen, winning several state championships and metals. This is where his love of baseball began. Upon graduating high school he briefly attended Seminole State College before joining the Navy. He was stationed in Tennessee, Oaknoll Naval base in Oakland, CA as well as in Hiroshima, Japan during his service. After his discharge from the Navy he relocated to his hometown of Ada, Oklahoma. During his time in Ada he attended ECU, earning his bachelors degree in US History and Education.

 He then joined the Ada Fire Department. While serving the department he was on the search and rescue team as a certified scuba diver. In his free time, he began driving race cars which quickly became a passion of his. He was a fixture in the number 13x at Ada Raceway for several years. This passion carried throughout his life as all his children have fond memories of the race track. His son, Bryce, even following in his footsteps racing for several years. Gary was always down to race or go fast, as his grandson Blak quickly found out while they were riding his sister Kaylei’s dune buggy when visiting. They were going fast when PaPa took a turn too fast and snapped the axel.

 He also enjoyed tournament bass fishing and hunting. Many don’t know that he was also an amazing cook. He made the best caramel corn you’d ever eat. One of his granddaughter Kaylei’s fondest memories is of him cooking her and Catherine , his only great grandchild eggs and pancakes for breakfast. After meeting the love of his life, Stacie, they made a wonderful life in the Merit, TX/Princeton, TX area. During this time he reignited his passion for baseball and began coaching Select Baseball teams. Helping young men learn to play and love the game he so passionately played for many years, gave him an abundance of joy. He was honored several times with an invite to join his players when they signed with colleges and/or accepted scholarships. During this time he also made sure to spend quality time with his granddaughter Autumn when she was young watching the Rangers on tv. When she would fall he would become the animated umpire announcing her “safe” to teach her falling was okay and that she wasn’t hurt. Later in life he rekindled his love for being on the water as he began tournament fishing again. Something he also enjoyed in his younger days. 

On September 7, in Plano, TX, surrounded by friends and family, our dear friend, Gary, GJ, Dad and Papa raced his last race, cast his last rod and stole his last base.