Obituary of Larry Avard Jackson

Jackson, Lawrence (Larry) Avard , CMA, CFP Upon reading this you will know that I have passed away to that better place I call heaven, where I am united with my mother Marjorie L (Black) Jackson, my father Avard L Jackson, my grandson Jackson D Murray and my brother-in-law David McGinnis. I was born in Saint John on December 20, 1948 and passed away on July 12, 2013. I’ve only seen this once in my life where a person wrote their own obituary, and it was an accountant like myself. Sometimes people say that accountants are a little different and maybe we are. I am survived by my loving wife Lourdes M (Wallace) Jackson and my three lovely daughters Krista D Murray (Jeff) of Vanderhoof BC, Shelly L Hicks (Scott) of Terrace BC, and Tara L Richard (Pete) of Quispamsis. I also leave my five beautiful grandchildren Hudson, William, Russel, Henry and Brooklyn. Surviving me are my four brothers Robert (Bob) Jackson (Judy) of Quispamsis, Glendon Jackson (Cindy) of Saint John, Wayne Jackson (Lillian) of Orange Hill and Karl Jackson of Fort Saskatchewan AB, and my five sisters Marilyn McGinnis of Saint John, Darlene Wilson (Doug) of Bains Corner, Marcia Floyd (Charles) of Rothesay, Sandra Gillcrist (Paul) of Orange Hill, Heather Morin (Larry) of Saint John and my many, many nieces and nephews. It is with a heavy heart that I leave my best friend John Fullerton of Quispamsis. I was born in Saint John and later moved to St Martins where I graduated from St Martins High School as valedictorian. I put that on my resume and at one interview I was asked how many students were in my class. I replied, "five, but they were all very smart." I then attended Saint John Community College and graduated with a Business Administration Diploma and began working at JD Irving 1967-1978. I started as a junior accountant and was promoted to Woodlands Controller. I completed my CMA degree while being employed at JD Irving in 1975. In 1978 I started working for Norman W Francis Ltd, my first job was Contract Administrator at the Point Lepreau Nuclear Generating Station and was on site until the plant was completed and in full operation. I returned to the Saint John Head Office where I was Chief Financial Officer for Norman W Francis Ltd. and affiliated Companies. I then joined Investors Group in 1997 as a Financial Planner. I completed my CFP and also become a Commissioner of Oaths. I loved working with my clients, helping with financial planning and tax returns. So enough about my work….having moved to Quispamsis I built my own house and then I became involved in community affairs. We had a volunteer group of local residents who organized a Recreational Association and I was the Treasurer. In 1982-1994, I was Director of the Quispamsis Community Center Inc – Quispamsis hockey rink. The Quispamsis Recreational Association was instrumental in convincing the Mayor and council to build a rink in Quispamsis. In 1985-1988 I was a Member of the Planning and Advisory Committee Town of Quispamsis, 1989-1991 I sat as Chair of this committee, 1987-1992 Director of NB Liquor Corporation, 1992-1994 Treasurer of the Kennebecasis Rowing Club, 2000-2001 Vice Chairman of NB Liquor Corporation and from 2002-2010 Chairman of NB Liquor Corporation. It was in 1979 that I got involved in politics and worked for John BM Baxter. I started out going door to door during elections and worked my way up the ladder. In 1987 I was appointed to the PC Party of NB Head Office as Financial Officer. I maintained this position until 2012 where I received the Richard B. Hatfield Award for "Making A Difference". Besides doing all of the above, I also played Old Timers Hockey for 24 years stopping at age 59. I also played for the Quispamsis Moosehead Old Timers Hockey league and I was known as "Elbows Jackson". I also enjoyed weight lifting and fishing, and my biggest passion was dancing. I attend the Quispamsis United Church. During my life time I am known as a story teller, so I will tell one final tale and this is a true story. My Mother was married at 31 and my Father at 34 and they had 10 children in 13 years. As a young boy of 12, I asked my Dad "why did you wait until you were 34 to get married and have 10 kids? Why didn’t you get married in your 20’s?" Dad looked me in the eye and said "well Larry, it’s like this. I had a lot of fun before I got married but a lot more after I got married." And so he did. As you can see from my notes above, accountants are very attentive to detail. God Bless you all. I will be resting at Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, (634-7424). Visitation will be on Monday, July 15, 2013 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm and Tuesday, July 16, 2013 from 2:00 to 4:00 pm and 7:00 to 9:00 pm. Funeral service will be held at the Quispamsis United Church, 372 Hampton Road, Quispamsis on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at 11:00 am. A time of fellowship and light refreshments will follow the service and interment will take place immediately following the reception at St Martins Community Cemetery. For those who wish donations may be made for Colon Cancer Research, Quispamsis United Church or Bobby’s Hospice. I wish to thank Dr. M Burnell, Dr. James Mowatt, Dr. J Attard, Staff at the Oncology Dept as well as Dr. P Maloney, Hospice - Hospital Outreach Program and KV Extra-Mural. A special thanks to the staff of Bobby’s Hospice of Saint John.