Reed Jackson

Reed Jackson, age 54 of Fort Collins, Colorado died August 15, 2009 at Poudre Valley Hospital due to complications from surgery. Reed Francis Jackson was born September 14, 1954 in Denver Colorado to Robert and Mary Lou Jackson.  He graduated from North High School in 1972 and began working for the Union Pacific Railroad when he was 18.  He met, and eventually married Martha Bailey while "borrowed out" in San Antonio, Texas.  They were married in a beautiful outdoor ceremony on July10, 1993.  Though he worked out of the UP Rail yard in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Fort Collins was his and Martha's home for the past 16 years.  Reed loved traveling the country with Union Pacific's historical fleet of steam locomotives and executive passenger cars, and meeting people all over the Union Pacific System.  Reed had a passion for his job, and a better, more professional Conductor you'd never find, however, he went out of his way to show his friends that they meant the world to him. Reed had many passions and interests in his life. He had a 1970 convertible Volkswagon Bug he dubbed "The General".  In addition to his love of family, friends and the railroad, he was an avid Black Diamond snowskier.  Reed was known to friends and family as a lover of life. Kindness, acceptance of others and sense of humor were his tickets to friendships all over the world.  He had a great love of people and never met a stranger. Reed is survived by his loving wife, Martha, three daughters, Celeste Parker, Erin Jackson and Danielle Jackson, three grandchildren, Raquel Jackson, Preston Dempski and Jackson Parker, his parents, Bob and Mary Lou Jackson, and five siblings, Linda Jackson, Kent Jackson, Chris Taylor, Shawn Engelbert and Stacey Birkeness. Visitation will be held Thursday, August 20th from 5-7:00PM at St. Joseph Catholic Church.  Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 7:00PM Thurs.  Mass of the Resurrection will be held at 10:30 AM Friday at St. Joseph Church with interment at Grandview Cemetery following the mass.  His memorial luncheon will be at the Rio Grande Restaurant at 12:30. More can be seen through the Western Pacific website: www.wplives.org .  His family requests that any memorial donations please be made to the Reed Jackson Memorial Fund at United People's Federal Credit Union in Cheyenne, Wyoming. /* Font Definitions */ @font-face      {font-family:Calibri;      panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4;      mso-font-charset:0;      mso-generic-font-family:swiss;      mso-font-pitch:variable;      mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal      {mso-style-parent:"";      margin-top:0in;      margin-right:0in;      margin-bottom:10.0pt;      margin-left:0in;      line-height:115%;      mso-pagination:widow-orphan;      font-size:11.0pt;      font-family:Calibri;      mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";      mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";} p.ecmsonormal, li.ecmsonormal, div.ecmsonormal      {mso-style-name:ec_msonormal;      margin-top:0in;      margin-right:0in;      margin-bottom:16.2pt;      margin-left:0in;      mso-pagination:widow-orphan;      font-size:12.0pt;      font-family:"Times New Roman";      mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;} @page Section1      {size:8.5in 11.0in;      margin:45.0pt 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in;      mso-header-margin:.5in;      mso-footer-margin:.5in;      mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1      {page:Section1;} -->