Danny Harold Jackson

Danny Harold Jackson, 73, of Amarillo, Texas passed away on April 27, 2023.

A celebration of Danny’s life will be at 2:00 P.M., Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in the Boxwell Brothers Ivy Chapel at 2800 Paramount Boulevard, and officiated by Glen Switzer. Arrangements have been made by Boxwell Funeral Directors.

Danny was born in Wheeler, Texas to Bette Laverne Warren Jackson and George Freal Jackson on September 12, 1949. During his formulative years, he was raised on a farm outside of Kellerville and later, in Pampa. He lived most of his adult life in Amarillo.

Danny was an athlete in his early years. All through grade school to high school, he played basketball. When he tried out for the basketball team at then West Texas State University (WT), he looked around and realized everyone towered over his 5’9″ frame at the time. So, he played on the WT soccer team and eventually grew to 6’2, but still short in basketball standards. He graduated from WT with a bachelor’s in psychology.

During the summers, Danny worked for his tuition at Cabot Corporation in Pampa. It was during the Viet Nam War, and at the time, Cabot built some sort of munitions. A favored story was how he was tasked to remove peace symbols that mysteriously appeared on the gun barrels. That begs the question if they ever realized that he was the culprit.

Danny worked for the State of Texas for more than 40 years with Child Protective Services. In fact, he retired twice from the agency. His life’s goal was to save the children. He learned it was not an easy task and even bureaucracy was often a roadblock. Heartache was a common thread. Yet, he persevered.

He shared a story about an encounter with an attorney he had faced in court several times. The biggest mistake a lawyer could make was to ask a question of which they didn’t know the answer. Full of bluster, the attorney asked who won; to which Danny responded, “The children lost.” End of questioning.

You wouldn’t find a bigger Dallas Cowboy fan than Danny. Nor a father who didn’t fiercely love his children, Jeremiah and Jessica (Spike) more. His granddaughter, Celsie, captured his heart completely. The family is saddened he will miss her wedding next month.

Danny was one who didn’t mince words. To his friends, he was quick-witted and funny. He always had a good story to tell. The embellishments and exaggerations were his own for a little bit of added flavor.

Danny will be dearly missed by those who loved him, and his memory will be carried in their hearts. He lived his life on his own terms. He died at home after a short illness.

Danny was predeceased by his parents, George and Bette Jackson, and his older brother, Charles Wayne Jackson. He is survived by his daughter, Jessica Jackson, by his son and daughter in law, Jeremiah and Brandy Jackson, his granddaughter and her fiancé, Celsie Jackson and Taylor Atkins, and his two step-grandsons, Gage and Dylan Kaye-Lindsey, and Elijah Austin Crawford.