Larry Jackson

Larry Bruce Jackson, 85, of Houston, Texas passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday, December 24, 2016.

Larry was born February 1, 1931 in San Antonio to Joe L. and Vera Walker Jackson, grew up in the Heights and graduated from Reagan High School in 1949, having played on the basketball and baseball teams, served on the cheerleading squad and been voted most popular. He attended Sam Houston State University on a baseball scholarship and graduated with a B.S. in History in 1952. After receiving his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Houston in 1955, Larry began his career with Tenneco, Inc. and related companies, from which he retired after 33 years of service as Vice President and Senior Council of Philadelphia Life Insurance Company.  He was authorized to practice law in all Texas Courts, the Federal District Court in South Texas, the Fifth and Eleventh Courts of Appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court.  In his later law career, Larry was associated with Larry Littleton & Associates and Victor Branch & Associates, retiring for the third time from Houston Title Company.

Larry is predeceased by Leona Losack Jackson, his wife of 52 years. He is survived by his children: Linda Jackson Fox, Kevin J. Jackson, Keith A. Jackson and Kelly J. Jackson; his sons-in-law: Bryan Fox and Ray King; his grandchildren: Kylee Jo, Bruce and Macy Jackson; his sister: Jeannine Smith & husband Lee Smith; and by many cherished relatives and friends.

Larry loved sports and was a devoted family man. He liked the water, sailing in his younger years and teaching all his children to water ski. He coached his daughter’s soccer team and sons’ fun football and little league baseball teams. He served on the parents’ booster club of the Westbury High School Marching Band, in which his children were members. In addition to assisting his daughter in securing her Girl Scout Senior Cadet Badge, he was Cub Scout Master and, later, Scout Master for Boy Scout Troop 197 for 13 years, assisting his three sons in obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout. He found great joy in hiking the mountain trails of Philmont Boy Scout Ranch in New Mexico on 3 occasions. After his first retirement he played 22 seasons with the Harris County Senior Softball League. Larry also liked cars and travel, and combined the two on numerous family road trips, most often visiting the National Parks.

A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, December 29, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 10330 Hillcroft St., Houston TX 77096. After the mass, a reception will be held at the church, followed by the graveside service at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery, 6900 Lawndale St., Houston, TX 77023. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to either The Wounded Warrior Project or the American Heart Association.