Martin Edward Jackson

Martin Edward Jackson, of Groesbeck, passed away Tuesday, September 11, 2012, at the VA Hospital in Temple. He was 68. Visitation will be Friday, September 14, 2012, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Groesbeck Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, September 15, 2012, at the Groesbeck Funeral Home Chapel, with Pastor Rodney Hargroves officiating. Burial will follow in Faulkenberry Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kevin Robinett, Kyle Robinett, Colton Robinett, Tyler Rader, Jordan Rader, and Wesley Bunch, with Kirk Brown serving as an honorary pallbearer. Martin was born May 2, 1944 to Silas Martin Jackson and Ruby Waunetta (Eggleston) Jackson at Purcell, OK. He grew up in Oklahoma and Colorado where his dad worked in the Climax, CO. molydbenum mines and they lived in the mining town of Climax near Leadville, Co. He went to work in the mines with his Dad when he was 14. After working for years in the mines, he joined the U. S. Navy, where he was an airplane mechanic on the aircraft carriers. He received several awards for his performance, and was honorably discharged in 1978. He went back to work in the mining industry, moving his family with him to many different states through the years, as he followed the job. He was a welder for the contractor building the draglines when the job brought him to Texas in 1987. He and his family moved to Groesbeck, and he worked for the next twenty-two years at Westmoreland Mine at Jewett on the maintenance crew for the big equipment, until his retirement in 2009. Martin had met Sheryl Hutchens Bunch in Groesbeck at a Christian singles group, and they were married February 1, 1997. Martin had enjoyed hunting and fishing and camping all his life, and especially enjoyed taking his grandchildren fishing and riding in his boat as long as his health permitted. He loved Western movies, spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, and his dog, Buster. Martin was preceded in death by his parents, Silas and Ruby Jackson; his stepmother, Robbie Jackson; brother, Loyal Jackson; daughter, Candy Brown; son, Martin Jackson, Jr.; and grandson, Cody Robinett. He is survived by his wife of fifteen years, Sheryl Jackson of Groesbeck; son, Bobby Jackson of Antlers, OK; daughter, Carol Robinett of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Missy and Robert Rader of Groesbeck; daughter and son-in-law, Tanya and Cory Knapp of Bryan; daughter, Carla Crenshaw of Kerens; son, Wayne Bunch of West Virginia; daughter and son-in-law, Marlena and Robert Burrows of Groesbeck; twenty-five grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, John and Mary Jackson of Rock Springs, Wyoming; niece and nephews, Stacy Jackson and Scott Jackson of Rock Springs, WY. and Chris Jackson and family of Commerce. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations may be made to Joy Ministries, Inc., 310 N. Leon, Groesbeck, TX 76642 - www.joyministriesinc.org