Kenneth Irvan Jackson, 82, passed away May 14, 2008 at the V. A. Medical Center in Muskogee, OK. Kenneth was a former resident of Wellington. He retired from Boeing as a tool and die maker after 21 years of service. He was also a hog farmer for 20 years. He had currently been residing near the lake in Eufaula, OK for the past 3 ½ years.

Kenneth Irvan Jackson was born on October 20, 1925 in Vici, OK to Ira A. Jackson and Leona M. (Young) Jackson. He joined the United States Army and served during World War II from September of 1944 to November of 1946.

Kenneth Irvan Jackson and Nina Marie Thompson were married April 17, 1953 in Huntsville, Arkansas. They had celebrated 51 years of marriage before Nina's death in August of 2004.

Family and children were very important to Kenneth. Together he and Nina were foster parents to more than 73 children. They raised and cared for many of their nieces and nephews through the years, including Jannett Moser and Jeannie McDivett, loving them just as they loved their own children.

Kenneth was an avid fisherman. He loved spending time with his family and thoroughly enjoyed family reunions. He enjoyed working in his garden and mowing his lawn.

Kenneth was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Nina Marie; one daughter, Faye Dean, one grandson, Dalton Dakota Jackson; brothers, Johnny, Lemuel, and Lloyd Jackson.

Survivors include children, Kenneth Eldon and his wife, Roxanne of Wellington, Phillip Dale of Wichita, KS, Christal Carol Jackson of Eufaula, OK, Timothy Michael and his wife, Amy of Wellington and Charles Phillip and his wife, Rebekah of El Dorado, KS, and Scott Thompson and his wife Joanna of Caldwell, KS; one brother, Carl Jackson and his wife Ruth of Woodward, OK; two sisters, Mary Lou Bishop of Greeley, CO and Juanita Fothergill and her husband Vernon of Shamrock, TX; grandchildren, Rebecca Robbins and her husband, David, Chris Jackson and his wife, Victoria, Hunter Jackson, Josh Jackson, and Channity Farley and her husband, Tommy, Jacob Thompson and his wife Megan, Laura Matlock and her husband David, and Allie Thompson. Great grandchildren include Clint, Dane, Mercedez, Aja, Braydon, Shelby, Jason, Kaylah, Kenneth, Curtis, Jordyn, Taylor, Emma, Isabella, Megan, Elsie, Alyssa, and two more on the way.

Funeral services will be held Monday, May 19, 2008 at 10:00 A.M. at the First Free Will Baptist Church with Pastor Zane Brooks officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Rome, KS.

Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Sunday, May 18, 2008 from 1:00 - 9:00 P.M. The family will be present to greet friends from 6:00 - 9:00 P.M.

A memorial has been established in the name of "The Kenneth and Nina Jackson Scholarship Fund for Foster Children" in care of Wellington High School.

Frank Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.