Billie Guy Jackson

Bill Jackson, age 88, died Thursday, November 18, 2010 in Temple, Texas. Family visitation will be on Sunday, November 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Dossman Funeral Home in Belton. Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 22 at Taylors Valley Baptist Church 2497 W. FM 93, Temple. Officiating are Rev. Bobby Ellis (brother-in-law and Pastor of Prairie Dell Baptist Church) and Rev. Jeff Loudin (nephew and Pastor of Taylors Valley Baptist Church) Bill was born on August 30, 1922 at Gatesville, Texas. He was the first of 8 children born to Nadine and Guy Jackson. He is preceded in death by his parents and the youngest brother, Willis Terry (PeeWee) Jackson. Surviving siblings are Ruth Hyden of Troy, Jewel Looney of Elkins, W. Va., Evelyn Harkin of Waco, Wade Jackson of Troy and Amelia Prescott of Gastonia, N. C. Bill served his country in World War II by enlistment into the United States Navy on December 12, 1941. He was honorably discharged after four years of service. Bill married Irene Whitson of Belton on June 29, 1947 at the First Baptist Church of Moffat, Texas. He was employed as a field agent for the Soil Conservation Department of Texas in Plano, Rosebud and Marlin. Bill and Irene made their home in Marlin in 1953 and became members of the First Baptist Church where Bill served as a deacon until they moved to Belton in 2003. After 34 years, Bill retired from the Soil Conservation Service and started a real estate business in Marlin.....Bill Jackson Real Estate. He remained an active broker and agent in Marlin until August 2010. He had a wonderful time when friends and clients would drop by the office just to share a good laugh and talk. His love of the Lord, family, the United States of America and life in general were inspirational to everyone who knew him. Bill loved baseball and football and had a special love for the Marlin Bulldogs football team. He took special interest in the players even when, of late, he was unable to attend the Friday Night games. For many years, his place was at the entrance of the games where he would great fans and hand out the night's program. He really enjoyed "dragging the chain" for his home town team. An active community supporter, Bill was a member in the Marlin Lions Club and holds the record for introducing new memberships. He also served as the President of the Marlin Little League Association in the 1970's. Bill is survived by wife, Irene of Belton; daughter, Beverly Drake of Belton; daughter, Linda Hopkins and husband, Charles of Austin; son, Tommy Jackson and wife, Madeline of Marlin. Grandchildren are Christopher Hopkins and wife, Nicole of Austin; Mary Kate Hopkins of Austin; Amanda Hopkins of Austin; Jeremy Drake and wife, Kristin of Enterprise, Al.; Jeffrey Drake of Belton; and Tyler Jackson of Marlin. Great-grandchildren are Tristin Drake, Jessie Tucker, Aubrey Tucker and Luke Hopkins.