Keith Allen Jackson

Keith Jackson was born in Portland, Maine on September 27, 1955. His family moved to southern California where he spent most of his childhood. After graduating from Webb School of California, in 1973, a prep school, Keith didn’t settle on a college. While visiting a friend in Boston, he met Martina Thoma under the Citgo sign, in Kenmore Square. He moved to Boston a year later and spent the rest of his life with Martina, marrying her in 1978. Following his strong sense of loyalty to his country, Keith joined the army in 1980. He served four years, but realized the military life was not for him. The army did send him to El Paso, Texas, and his first daughter, Carly Rose, was born in 1982 at Beaumont Hospital. After he was discharged from the Army, Keith graduated with a degree in business administration from UTEP in 1987. His second daughter, Lara, was born in 1986, at Providence Memorial Hospital where Tina worked as a physical therapist. Keith spent his professional life at small businesses around El Paso, training bookkeepers, advising owners, contributing his strong work ethic and integrity to plumbing, security, and real estate industries of El Paso. Keith occasionally gave off the impression that he was an introvert with no friends, but he never hesitated to help a person in need. Over the years, he and his wife, Tina, helped many people, extending their home and love to a troubled 11-year-old when she had no where else to go. Mary Kristen Haddock lived with the Jackson family for seven years and called Keith “Dad.” Keith was especially proud and supportive of his two daughters. When Lara showed promise as a swimmer during her youth, he encouraged and supported her. Both Tina and Keith were permanent fixtures at Lara’s high school and college meets. When Carly decided to move to Boston after graduating from college, Keith loaded up a borrowed motor home and drove his daughter across the country from El Paso to Boston. Keith was Arizona Swimming’s most avid supporter. He never turned down an opportunity to attend a meet whether it was a championship or just a duel meet. He proudly wore an Arizona shirt bearing Lara’s star tattoos, superstitiously planning which color and style of shirt would help Lara’s performance. Keith passed away on April 9, 2009 while on his favorite possession: his motorcycle. He was probably listening to talk radio. He would appreciate the irony of not needing to meet this year’s tax deadline. Survived by his loving wife, Martina Jackson; daughters, Carly Rose Jackson and Lara Marie Jackson; adopted daughter, Mary Kristen Haddock; parents: Richard and Rosalie Jackson; sister, Karen Phillips (James), and brother, Kurt Jackson (Liwan). Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 15, 2009 at Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. A memorial service will be held at the Marriott Hotel El Paso, 1600 Airway Blvd., Salon E (by the airport) on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be sent to New Hope Lutheran Church. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-Northeast. Please visit on-line register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net