HERMON and PANTON, Vt. – Eric Jackson died peacefully Dec. 26, 2011, surrounded by his loving family at home, after an extended battle with melanoma. He was born Jan. 14, 1970, in Panton, Vt.
Eric graduated in 1988 from Vergennes Union High School, where he played championship basketball for the Vergennes Commodores. He later attended Eastern Maine Technical College, Bangor. After graduation, he began a 21-year career at General Electric, Bangor, where he retired in September 2011. Eric had a profound love for life and all that it had to offer. He will always be remembered for his love of golf, whether winning tournaments or spending a Sunday afternoon enjoying nature while his daughter, Maddy, drove the cart. Born a Vermont farm boy, he enjoyed every outdoor sport one could imagine, including four-wheeling, fishing, snowmobiling and hunting. Eric was also an avid card player and loved his Friday night poker games with friends or pinochle with family. His laughter, quick wit and mischievous pranks were his trademarks. Eric was a proud father and could be found at every field hockey game, cheering competition, horse show, band concert or any other activity his daughter took part in. He especially loved playing “shoot ’em up” games with Maddy, despite the fact that she had begun to beat him on a regular basis.
He leaves his high school sweetheart and beloved wife of 18 years, Audrey (Valz) Jackson; his cherished daughter, Madalyn; his parents, Lynn and Michael Donnelly and Richard and Jeanne Jackson; paternal grandparents, Dean and Alberta Jackson; maternal grandmother, Myrle Jackman; a brother, Stephen and his wife, Dianne, and their children, Andrew, Kristine and Anne; extended family, Rita and Robert Smith, Joe and Jan Valz, Veronica Valz, Jennifer and Jason Hatch and their families; a special aunt, Janice Jackson; many much loved aunts, uncles, cousins, stepbrothers and stepsisters, and his many dear, treasured and supportive friends. Eric was predeceased by his maternal grandfather, Ralph Jackman; and his uncle, Wendell Sessions. Special thanks to the staff and doctors at CancerCare of Maine, especially Dr. Sigrid Berg, who gave us honesty, compassion and humor.
Relatives and friends are welcome to call 1-4 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at Brookings-Smith, 133 Center St., Bangor, and 4-7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, at Brown and McClay Funeral Home, 48 South Maple St., Vergennes, Vt. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012, at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Vergennes, Vt. Interment will be in the spring at Prospect Cemetery, Vergennes, Vt. Those who wish to remember Eric in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Make-A-Wish Foundation of ME, 87 Elm St., Camden, ME 04843. Condolences to the family may be expressed at
www.BrookingsSmith.com.