Merle Nay Jackson

Let Us Pause To Honor the Memory of Mr. Merle Nay Jackson Mr. Merle Nay Jackson, age 90, of Madison, Indiana, entered this life on January 11, 1924 near Canaan, Indiana in Shelby Township. He was the loving son of the late, Harrison Henry and Hazel Lula Stewart Jackson. He was a life long resident of Jefferson County and was a 1942 graduate of North Madison High School. Merle was a 1946 graduate of Western Kentucky University where he received his Bachelors in Education in 1946 and other post graduate work. He later received his Masters in Education from Indiana University. Merle was inducted into the United States Army along with four of his brothers on December 12, 1942 at Fort Benjamin Harrison in Indianapolis. He rose to the rate of Technician Fifth Grade during World War II serving the 1877th Engineers Aviation. Merle fought in the battles and campaigns in the China, Burma and India Theater. He was honorably discharged on January 7, 1946 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana receiving the Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon with two Bronze Service Stars; the American Theater Ribbon; Good Conduct Ribbon; the World War II Victory Medal and the Presidential Unit Citation. Merle served as a principal in Clarkton, Missouri for one school year. He then worked at the Charlestown Ammunition Plant in Charlestown, Indiana. Merle then taught and was a principal at Belleville Grade School in Hendricks County, Indiana. He later served as a principal at Stark County School System in Northern, Indiana. Merle was united in marriage to Delores M. Heckathorn on August 24, 1957 in Hendricks County, Indiana. This happy union of fifty six years was blessed with one son, Gregory. Merle was employed with Muscatatuck State Development Center in Butlerville in Elementary Education for several years. In 1963 he began a career with the Scott County School System District Two as Supervisor of Elementary Education retiring in 1989. Merle also owned and operated with his wife M & D Jackson Realty in Madison during the 1960's and 1970's having help to develop a subdivision in Vevay. Merle held membership in the Hanover Masonic Lodge No. 652 F. & A.M.; The Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Indianapolis; the Murat Shrine; Jefferson Post 9, of the American Legion; the Madison VFW Post 1969; Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association; the Indiana State Retired Teachers Association; the Jefferson County Historical Society and the First Baptist Church in downtown Madison. Merle was proud to have been baptized on July 12, 1976 with his beloved wife and loving son in the creek near Canaan. Merle believed in exercise daily and enjoyed walking and swimming. He loved to read, work on his computer, the outdoors, gardening, flowers, bird watching and raising rhubarb. He found enjoyment in raising sheep, chickens, cattle and his pony on his gentleman's farm. Merle will be greatly missed by his family. He was a devoted husband, beloved dad and grandpa. His sisters in law and brother in law stated he was a great person and will be missed. Merle died on Thursday, May 8, 2014, at 2:05 a.m. at the King's Daughters' Hospital in Madison, Indiana. Click Here for Funeral Service or Tribute Video A LOVING FAMILY Merle will be missed by his loving wife of fifty six years, Delores M. Heckathorn Jackson of Madison, Indiana; his son, Colonel Gregory Jackson and his wife, Esraa of Springhill, Tennessee; his grandson, Ahmed Jackson; his sister, Betty June Firth Brown of Vevay, Indiana; his sisters in laws, Mildred R. Jackson of Madison, Indiana, Wilma Hart of Plainfield, Indiana, Effie Burke and her husband, Bobbie of Mooresville, Indiana, Carolyn Sanders of Franklin, Indiana, Wanda Sisk of Elkmont, Alabama, Beth Heckathorn of Monrovia, Indiana; his brother in law, Joe Barger of Elizabethtown, Kentucky; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harrison Henry and Hazel Lula Stewart Jackson; his brothers, Carlysle, Alois, and Raymond, Harold "Hickory" Jackson. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Monday, May 12, 2014, at 1:00 p.m., by Pastor Mike Hamby at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana, VISITATION Friends may call Sunday from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. and Monday from 12:00 Noon until the time of service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. MILITARY HONORS A final salute will be conducted on Monday at 1:30 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Full military honors will be conducted at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Chapel, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison by the Fort Knox Ceremonial Unit and Jefferson Post 9 of the American Legion MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the Madison Jefferson County Public Library or the House of Hope. Cards are available at the funeral home.

To send a flower arrangement in memory of
Merle Nay Jackson, please click here to visit our sympathy store.