Curtis Lee Jackson, Sr., 54, passed away in his sleep on Monday, Jan. 21, 2013.

He was born in Marysville, California on Sept. 1, 1958 and moved with his family at a young age to the Escalon area, where he grew up and attended local schools.

He was a 1977 graduate of Escalon High School.

Showing a strong work ethic, he enjoyed dog training, which was one of his first jobs while he was still in high school. He continued working with dogs for many years in addition to holding a variety of other jobs, including sales, and he previously worked in maintenance and delivery for The Oakdale Leader, Riverbank News and Escalon Times newspapers. He also enjoyed antiquing, garage sales and excavating arrowheads, bottles and other ‘finds’ whenever and wherever he had the opportunity.

He had become a fan of gardening and canning in recent years and shared the fruits and vegetables he had grown with family and friends.

Survivors include his wife, Marg (Bilby) Jackson; sons Robert Austin and Curtis Lee Jr.; daughter Allison Leigh; five sisters, Patricia Nydahl of Oakdale, Debbie Frank of Escalon, Linda Sousa of Escalon, Ladina Cobarrubia of Oregon and Christenia Patterson of Riverbank; stepfather Robert Rebideaux of Escalon; second family, the Chasteen family of Escalon; and multiple nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Christina Rebideaux.

Services were Friday morning, Jan. 25 at Deegan Funeral Chapel in Escalon with a reception following at Trinity Assembly of God Church.