Merle Everett Jackson, 100, died on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, in Vero Beach.
Born on May 7, 1911, in Bradley, Maine, he was the second son of Irving and Edith (Merrill) Jackson.
Merle rose above significant challenges in youth to graduate at the age of 15 from Old Town Academy, then The Maine School of Commerce (now Husson University).
He also attended the University of Maine.
He led a varied and successful business career which included work for Packard Motor Car Co. and F.W. Woolworth Co.
During World War II, he became a CEO of J.T.Wood Co., a parachute and gun brush manufacturer followed by work in industrial engineering as V.P. of Krippendorf Calculator Co.
In 1970 Merle retired and moved from Marblehead, Mass., to the Treasure Coast, residing first in Ft. Pierce and then Vero Beach.
He spent many happy hours playing tournaments in the “Florida Pro” circuit.
For his 100th birthday on May 7, 2011, Merle had a grand celebration attended by four generations of family and friends.
Surviivors include his daughter Linda Jackson and his close friend Rosemary Callahan, of Vero Beach; sister, Dorothy Mapes, of Calabash, N.C.; grandchildren, David Bee (and wife Heather), of Groton, Mass., Laurel McGlinchey (and husband Dan), of Woburn, Mass.; and five great grandchildren, Kyle and Allison McGlinchey, Jeffery, Victoria, and Catherine Bee; special friends Mae Connolly, now of Manassas, Va., and Aurleen Campbell, of Vero Beach.
He was predeceased in death by his brothers, Lawrence and Donald Jackson; his wife of 30 years, Eleanor Lorain (Marland) Jackson; daughter, Marcia Reid (Jackson) Bee and his second wife, Ann Davies (Morrissey) Jackson.
No services are planned at this time.
Interment and a graveside service will be held at Aspen Grove Cemetery in Ware, Mass., this October.
Memorial contributions in his name may be made by check to Schepens Eye Research Institute Massachusetts Eye and Ear, 20 Staniford St., Boston, MA, 02114 or online by credit card at Schepens. Harvard.edu or by calling the development office at 1-877- 724-3736.
Arrangements are under the direction of Thomas S. Lowther Funeral Home & Crematory, Vero Beach.
A guestbook is available at www.lowtherfuneralhome.com.
