Obituary of William Jackson

WILLIAM "KENT" JACKSON A celebration of Kent's life will be held on Thursday, May 3, 2012 from 3-6 p.m. at the Clubhouse at Northwood Commons. It is accessible from W. Lassen or Henshaw Ave. Kent passed away on Saturday, April 28, 2012 in Chico. He was 77. Kent was born on May 21, 1934 in Berkeley, CA to Cecil and Dorothy Jackson. Kent attended Chico State College, where he earned his B.S. Degree in Engineering in 1959. While attending Chico State, he met his future wife, Conita "Connie" Sue Wood. They were married on May 13, 1959. Kent earned his Engineer in Training certificate in 1959. Kent began his career with the County of Butte, where he was a Junior Engineer for the Department of Public Works designing roads from 1959-1961. One of his first projects was designing the race track at the Silver Dollar Fairgrounds in Chico. He received his Professional Engineering License in 1963. From 1961-1974, he worked for Ringel and Associates, where he was the Principal Engineer working on subdivisions and public works projects and the Consulting Engineer for the City of Orland. From 1974-2003 he was the Principal Engineer and Partner with Landon Engineering and Surveying in Willows, CA, where he worked on municipal engineering projects in Chico such as the Downtown beautification and the bike paths and bridges in Bidwell Park as well as several irrigation and canal projects on the West side. Kent's memberships include the American Society of Professional Engineers, an active member in Rotary International in Durham, where he worked with a great group of life-long friends, raising money for scholarships and various worthwhile projects in the Durham area. He was on the City of Chico Advisory Board for Capital Improvement and the Employment Review Board. Kent was also on the Butte Community College Engineering and Technology Advisory Committee and donated much time to the Chico YMCA. Kent and Connie loved to travel throughout the world and they were able to visit the Middle East, Europe, England, Ireland, Italy, Greece, and South America, as well as many cruises to Alaska and the Carribean. He also loved to sail and belonged to many local sailing clubs, where he competed in many races. Kent was very proud of both granddaughters, and watched them participate in their basketball, softball and volleyball games. Kent donated much time and help at Windsor Chico Care Center. Kent was a lifelong learner who continually enrolled in the Osher Life Long Learning Institute at CSU, Chico. He is survived by his wife, Connie Jackson of Chico; sons, Mike and his wife Julie of Paradise, and their daughter, Kent's granddaughters, Jennifer Jackson, attending UC Davis and Jessica of Paradise, and Todd Jackson and his wife Debbie of Walnut Creek, CA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made in Kent's Memory to Durham Rotary High School Scholarship Fund, in care of Brusie Funeral Home.