Bobby Dean Jackson, 79, of Chattanooga, formerly of Decatur, TN, passed away on Saturday, February 28, 2015 at Memorial Hospital after a long battle with cancer.
Bobby was a member of Cottonport Baptist Church. He was retired from Combustion Engineering after 37 ½ years of service as a welder. He played banjo and sang base for the Corngrinder’s Band. He was a Mason, Hill City Lodge #603, 58 year member He was a Shriner, Alhambra Shrine Center for 44 years. He helped raise money for Shriners Hospitals and he raised more than $250,000 + for their transportation fund, and a charter member of Hillbilly Clan Unit 81 of Chattanooga since 1983, where he held various offices in each. Bobby was entertainment chairman 1979 and 1983 and a co chairman under various potentates. He is a double merit award winner for his support of Alhambra Shrine Center. He was also a York Rite Mason, Knights Templar and Commandery.
He was preceded in death by his son, Tommy Dean Jackson; parents, Lee and Lela Hicks Jackson; brother, Edward Lee Jackson; nephews, Timothy Jackson and David Hicks; and great-nephew, Brad Jackson.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Shirley Kyker Jackson, of Chattanooga; son, James “Rickey” Jackson, of Greenville; sisters, Betty Brown, of Chattanooga and Margaret Hicks, of Apison; 13 nephews; ten nieces; 23 great-nephews; ten great-nieces, 23 great-great-nephews; 27 great-great-nieces; and numerous cousins and special friends.
A Masonic Funeral Service will be held at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4 at Bowers Funeral Home.
The family will receive friends from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 4.
Interment will be Thursday, March 5 at 11 a.m. in Cottonport Baptist Cemetery. Nephews will serve as pallbearers with masons, hillbillies and shriners as honorary pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers please make donations to Hillbilly Unit Clan 81, 1000 Alhambra drive, Chattanooga, TN 37421 or by phone 892-0223.
A special thank you to Dr. Mary C. Hammock, her staff and nurses Carolyn and Tammy.