William F. "Bill" Jackson, Sr.
In the company of his loving family Bill Jackson, Sr., a loving husband,
father and grandfather passed away at 9:30 am on Friday, March 24, 2006, at
Mad River Community Hospital in Arcata, California. Bill Jackson, Senior,
leaves a legacy of, a loving family and years of service as a professor of
Business Administration in Accounting at Humboldt State University and
practiced as a local CPA for most of his life.
Most often noted for a quick wit and ingenious problem solving, Bill Jackson
was a true public accountant. Accounting services offered by Bill Jackson
often involved or included his family. His wife, Peggy, was the office
manage, children served as clerks and staff accountants while clients often
drove east past Blue Lake, up a long and winding dirt road to his hilltop
home office to have their tax returns done. In fact, he was often paid in
kind with prune pastries or firewood. He operated accounting businesses
through the course of his career and many of these concerns included family
and friends.
Bill Jackson, Sr., is survived by his wife of 52 years, Margaret (Peggy)
Jackson; children, Margery Young of Eureka, Bill Jackson, Jr., from Blue
Lake, George Jackson of Chico, Agnes Bailey from Santa Rosa, Leonard Jackson
of Blue Lake, Stephen Jackson from Windsor, Catherine Bond from Watsonville,
and David Jackson of McCall, Idaho. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren,
Christopher Young, Peter Jackson, Jillian Feeser, Garrett Jackson, Dane
Jackson, Jace Jackson, Nicolas Jackson, Emily Jackson, Rachel Jackson,
Michael Bailey, Anna Bailey, Matthew Bailey, Mark Jackson, Kevin Jackson,
Monica Jackson, Tessa Jackson and Daniel Jackson. His sister Berle Herres of
Walla Walla, Washington, and Gerald Jackson of Arcata along with numerous
nieces and nephews also survive him. Preceding Bill in death were his first
wife, Betty C. Parton Jackson; his brothers, John Jackson and Dale Jackson;
and his sister, Lois Pooler.
Bill Jackson was a prominent local resident serving in the community in
several service-oriented groups such as Mad River Rotary, the Eureka
Historical Society, Blue Lake Museum Society, the California State Employees
Credit Union #20, and the Kiwanis Club. He also served on the Board of
Trustees at St Josephs Hospital as Treasurer and Clerk of the Blue Lake
Elementary School Board. He also served as Chairmen of the Humboldt County
Committee on School District Reorganization and served as President of Blue
Lake Midget and Babe Ruth Baseball League.
Bill Jackson was born to John and Agnes Jackson in 1919 in Walla Walla,
Washington, a ranching family. After his family lost their ranch in the
Depression, they moved to Eureka where he graduated from Eureka High School
and attended Humboldt State College. He earned his Bachelor of Science
degree and an MBA in Business Administration from the University of
California at Berkley where he graduated with Phi Beta Kappa honors. In
1949, while working on his Ph.D, he was summoned by Dr. Homer Balabanis to
Humboldt State to establish the Business Department where he served as the
Chair of the Business Division from 1954-1970. While teaching accounting and
several other courses, Bill earned his Certified Public Accounting
certificate in 1951 and began to practice as a CPA while continuing to teach
full time throughout most of his life. He operated accounting firms
including Jackson and Eklund Accountancy Corporation with an office on
Guintoli lane in Arcata.
