HENRY EDWARD JACKSON
Henry Edward Jackson, lifelong Texas rancher, unexpectedly went to his heavenly home with Christ our Lord early Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. He was 79 years young, born in Teague to Marian and Henry Jackson. His early years were spent farming with his grandfather, “Daddy Ben.” From an early age he was active in athletics and academics. Henry graduated from Mexia High School. He was football captain, basketball captain, all-district track, senior class reporter, sophomore class favorite, and vice president of the choir.
Henry graduated Sam Houston State College in 1968 with a Bachelors in Business Administration, as the proud Delta Tau Delta president, and with a commission as a first lieutenant in the United States Army. He served in Germany as a company commander of Company C of the 4th Armored Division.
Henry married his college sweetheart, Judy Berry, upon his return from the army in 1970. He went to work for Dashiell Corporation in Houston, a high voltage electrical construction and engineering company. For 55 years, he loved everything Dashiell and Dacon. At the age of 32 he became president and CEO of Dashiell Corp., spurring growth that turned Dashiell into an industry-leading company, and going public in 2007. Today Dashiell is the top producing company of Quanta Services. He was the youngest president of the National Electrical Contractors Association, serving from 1978 to 2004.
Henry loved to work, but he absolutely adored ranching! He was anonymously nominated for the 2011 Absentee Conservation Farmer/ Rancher L-F SWCD District 501 ranching award. He started ranching as a boy, bailing hay and delivering tractors for Jackson Tractor. He spent nearly every weekend of his cowboy life ranching in Limestone County.
In addition to ranching, Henry looked forward to annual bird-hunting trips, and was a champion golfer. He held the fondest affection for many friends, especially Ronnie Stewart, Jerry Stewart and Robert Ellisor. He is remembered as a scholar, voracious reader, confidant, advisor, historian, athlete, poker player, joke teller, sharp-shooter and an even sharper dresser.
His greatest joy was his family. He was married to Judy for 55 years and they had three beautiful children, Rhett, Jeff and Jenny. He was a steadfast and loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, and friend. He looked forward to noisy visits with his grandkids over the years, baking biscuits and helping to shape future Jackson generations to love cows, Texas country, buying irreverent birthday cards and belting out church hymns.
Henry was a fifth-generation descendant of the founding family of Mexia First Methodist Church. More recently, he became a faithful attending member of The Story Church in Houston, singing and praising Jesus every Sunday with Judy. Henry loved Christ as his savior.
Henry is preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, brother Walter, and beloved chocolate lab, Bubba. He leaves behind his greatest treasurers to remember his ethical and caring way of life; wife, Judy; children, Rhett Jackson and wife Wendy Jackson, Jeffrey Jackson, and Jennifer Jackson and husband Steven Miller; grandchildren, Davis Jackson, Bowen Jackson, Magnus Jackson, Clara Jackson, Anjali Jackson-Miller and Bodhi Jackson-Miller; sisters, Deborah Walton, Susan Caroll, Trisha Dillon; and loving nieces and nephews.
A memorial service in Houston will be held Saturday, Feb. 22, at 2 p.m. at The Story Church 3223 Westheimer Road, followed by a reception at The Briar Club.
Please visit www.blairstubbs. com to leave the family a message of condolence or sign the guestbook.