James Jackson

James Arthur Jackson, 62, passed away peacefully in Waco on September 28, 2014. Visitation will be between 5:00 and 7:00 on Thursday, October 2 at Grace Gardens Funeral Home in Waco. Burial and a private graveside service will be held at the Burketown Cemetery in Apple Springs, Texas.
James was born on September 5, 1952 in Texarkana, Texas to Betty Jo Clark and Doyle Jackson, and graduated from Texas Senior High School in 1970. He received his Associate of Science degree at Texarkana College; his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at East Texas State University; with post-graduate studies at Baylor University. At East Texas State University, he met Janis Lynn Odom and on May 18, 1974, they married in Pasadena, Texas.
James began his career in industry as a laboratory technician with M&M Mars, Inc. in Waco in 1976. He then took the position of Quality Assurance Manager at Plantation Foods in Waco and later at Cargill Incorporated in Jacksonville, Florida. He returned to Waco and joined the Texas Water Commission, now TCEQ, as a petroleum storage tank inspector. Later, he served as the Waco region industrial section manager and as the regional enforcement coordinator. From 1986 to 2004, he was an adjunct instructor of Biology and Environmental Science at McLennan Community College. He taught environmental science labs as an adjunct instructor at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, and later was hired as the full-time chemistry stockroom manager.
James enjoyed playing and refereeing basketball, camping with his family, woodworking, and ranching. He also took great satisfaction in designing and building structures on his farm, including a horse barn, greenhouse, aviary, along with several hay and implement sheds.

James is preceded in death by his father Doyle, and his brother Michael. He is survived by his wife of forty years Janis, their daughter Megan, son-in-law Jonathan Salinas, grandson Ian, and soon-to-arrive granddaughter Emma, all of Waco; his mother Betty and stepfather Ralph Bullard, brother Gary and wife Linda Jackson, sisters Carla Gillenwater and Sandra Arnold, all of Texarkana; brother Clois of Linden, Texas; and sister in law, Evelyn, several cousins, nieces and nephews.
Memorials may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, American Diabetes Association or the charity of your choice.