Don Jackson

Don Jackson, 90-year-old retired Vernonia music teacher and Lions Club member, US Army Veteran, and longtime member of the Boy Scouts of America, passed away at his home in Hillsboro, Oregon, on July 20, 2023.

Don was born in Quincy, Massachusetts on August 27, 1932, to naval officer Charles Jackson and Ruth Benbow Jackson.

He received his education in such varied places as Pennsylvania, Virginia, Hawaii, California, and Mississippi, and finally graduated from Astoria High School in 1951. He interrupted his college education at the University of Oregon in Eugene to volunteer induction into the US Army where he served in Germany. He returned to graduate in 1957. He got his Master's in Music Education there in 1964. He loved to say "Go Ducks!"

Don first taught music in Yoncalla, Oregon where he met and married Margaret Abbott in August 1959. They moved to Valsetz and then to Prairie City, Oregon, and then to Vernonia in the fall of 1963. Vernonia was the first place he had ever lived for over two years. He taught elementary school music there and in Mist until PERS suggested he retire after 30 years in the classroom. (He received PERS retirement checks for the next 35 years!

For the next several years after retirement, he enjoyed working as a substitute teacher, eventually teaching not only in Vernonia and Mist, Forest Grove and Gaston, but in every school in Hillsboro School District, St. Matthews and Visitation School in Verboort.

Shortly after the move to Vernonia, Don joined the Oregon National Guard. In 1992 SFC Jackson finished his second military career as Oregon's senior chaplain assistant.

Don had enjoyed scouting as a boy. Moving around as they did, scouting was a logical way to fit in somewhere. He became an adult leader in Yoncalla, Webelos leader in Vernonia, and eventually scoutmaster. He really found his niche when he began going to camp during summer break. He served in various roles in the Boy Scout council camps - Meriwether, Clark, Baldwin, and Spirit Lake - long into his retirement years. Generations of scouts have heard his booming voice in the campfire bowl.

Don and Margaret had four children; Doug, David, Robert and Susan. The loves of his life were his grandsons, Tyler and Marty. He was looking forward to knowing great-grandson Rafi. In addition to his immediate family, Don is survived by his sister Margaret in Massachusetts and brother Charles, in Sacramento.

There will be no funeral. Instead, a small gathering of family and friends will take place at the family home in Hillsboro around 11 AM Sunday, August 27, 2023 followed by what would have been Don's 91st birthday party in the backyard! Friends are invited to "Bring Your Own Whatever" for cooking on the grill or (if possible) over the campfire. Come expecting a picnic. He would have loved it!