Harlan Bennet Jackson

CASA BLANCA - Harlan Bennet Jackson Sr., 72, of Casa Blanca died on May 11, 2016, at home.

Mr. Jackson was born on March 23, 1944, in Sacaton to Violet (Davis) Jackson and Abraham Jackson Sr., the sixth of 11 children. He was called Booboo by his family, Holly by many friends and H.B. by many others. He attended Casa Blanca Day School, Pima Central and Casa Grande Union High School. He then transferred to Santa Fe Art Institute in New Mexico and completed high school at Stewart Indian School in Nevada, where he participated in band, basketball and quartet.

He was a member of the Goodyear Church choir along with his mother, brother Larry and sisters Ruby and Loretta. His greatest joy was singing baritone with his uncle Leonard Jackson. He also played baseball with both the Stotonic Rebels and Casa Blanca team, where he was the catcher for his brother Richard. He was a member of the Blue Devils basketball team along with several relatives and friends. He took training from the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs in Oakland, California, then enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam, then became a drill sergeant at Camp Pendleton in California before returning for another tour in Vietnam. Injured by a land mine, he was sent home and received the Purple Heart Medal. He then worked for the BIA Police on the Gila River Indian Community as an officer, detective and finally as a coroner.

He married Phyllis Lewis, and they had five children. He loved cheeseburgers from McDonald’s, driving around visiting and watching his grandkids play. He would do anything for them.

Survivors include three daughters, Harlana Jackson of Sacaton, Holly and Traci Jackson of Casa Blanca; three brothers, Larry Jackson of Casa Blanca, Spencer and Abraham Jackson Jr. of Sacaton; four sisters, Claudina Jackson of Sacaton, Ruby Rhodes and Latricia Whitman of Goodyear Village and Loretta Jackson of Santan; 16 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sons, Lyndon and Harlan Jackson Jr.; a brother, Richard Jackson; two sisters, Shirley and Rosemary Jackson; and three grandchildren, Ronald, Roger and Phyllis Jackson.

The wake will be from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday at the District 5 Service Center. The funeral will be at 6 a.m. Saturday at Goodyear Presbyterian Church, with the Rev. Irvin Terry officiating. Burial will be in Snaketown Cemetery.

J. Warren Funeral Services, Cole & Maud The Gardens Chapel is in charge of arrangements.