Raymond Rickard Jackson

Raymond Rickard Jackson, age 88, drew his last breath on August 30, 2022, several minutes after his son told him goodbye. 

 
Ray is survived by three children, Cynthia (Raymond) Gentz, Candace Smith, and Raymond Jackson Jr., and their mother Constance Jackson; 10 grandchildren, Brandon, Justin, and Michelle Gentz, Kelly, Carrie, Julie, Kristy Smith, Kara, Joseph, and Abby Jackson; nine great-grandchildren, Katie, Lexus, Logan, Lily, Alexander, Joshua, Andrew, Oliver, and Piper; and a great-great grandson, Greyson. One grandson, Jason Gentz, preceded him in death.

Also surviving him are his wife of 26 years, Priscilla Ruesink Jackson, her sons Michael (Tammy Ball) Laidlaw and Matthew Laidlaw and many nieces, and nephews and their families.

Born on a farm in Tipton, Mich. to Fannie Tuckerman Jackson and Rickard Jackson, Ray was the youngest of six children. Predeceasing him were his parents; his brothers, Wayne and Clifford; and sisters, Lillian, Helen, and Juanita.

Ray walked or rode his bike to attend a one-room country school through the 8th grade. In the 9th grade he attended Tecumseh High School and graduated with the class of 1952 who recently celebrated its 70th class reunion. Upon graduation he served his country in the Army National Guard.

Having a great love for nature, family and friends, Ray worked hard and played hard. An avid hunter and fisherman, he could be found on a river in Alaska, in a camp in the Upper Peninsula, or in Colorado on a big hunt. He might also be on the golf course, teaching gun safety classes to the youth in 4-H, at a casino that he happened upon, at the Tecumseh Club, in his winter home in Tavares, Fla. or with friends and family around the kitchen table or in the yard barbequing chicken. Ray logged many hours on his motorcycle, and later his motorhome, traveling throughout the United States and Canada and to the Michigan football games.

Always industrious, Ray worked at Tecumseh Products for more than 43 years while sometimes working side jobs of selling real estate, driving school bus, and farming to support his family, or to pay for a family vacation, or his next adventure.

Another of Ray’s lifetime passions was politics. He served as Franklin Township supervisor and as a Lenawee County Commissioner. He was elected president of the United Products Workers at Tecumseh Products and proudly served workers there for 20 years. This led him to be elected as vice-president of the National Federation of Independent Unions where he had the opportunity to meet with President Ronald Reagan and others in the Oval Office to discuss union business.

Visitation for Ray will be held on Friday, Sept. 16 from 4-7 p.m. at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Tecumseh. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 11 a.m. at Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Tecumseh. Burial of cremains will be held in Tipton-Franklin Cemetery.

Condolences may be sent to the family at andersonfuneralservices.com. Memorials may be made to Tecumseh Department of Parks and Recreation to honor Ray’s love of nature and the people of his community. Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson-Marry Funeral Home, Tecumseh.