December 21, 1929 - January 30, 2025
In loving memory ~
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Neal Henry Jackson beloved husband, brother, brother in law, friend & neighbour. He died peacefully on Thursday January 30th 2025 at the North Island Hospital in Courtenay BC.
Neal was born and raised in the Fraserview area of Vancouver with his mother Dorothy Barnes and his two step brothers Ian Forbes of Courtenay & Brian Forbes of Kelowna BC. All deceased!
Neal has two children from his first marriage a daughter Sandra (Hawk) and a son David Jackson.
Neal was a Locksmith by trade and learned his skill at Fletcher's Lock and Safe on Cordova St. in Vancouver where he met his second wife and the love of his life Brenda. Shortly after dating they moved in together into the West End of Vancouver. Neal started his own Locksmithing business. Neal and Brenda enjoyed many plays, concerts and productions at the Orpheum & Queen Elizabeth Theatres. They also played Squash & liked to challenge each other & others to a good workout a fast game of Squash at the Denman Racquets Club. They took two major vacations to England hiking from coast to coast in their 50 years of life together. They joined a Bowling League with Brenda's youngest sister Denise who they took under their wings & into their home.
Over the years they purchased land on Vancouver Island in Courtenay to live closer to Neal's brother Ian. After a few years they had their land cleared and later building their dream home with "John" Ian's son overseeing the work being done. With their dream home finished Neal retired at 60 and they moved over to Courtenay.
Neal and Brenda adopted & rescued their first of fifteen dogs over the next 35 years living in Courtenay. Dogs were one of Neal's greatest passions as he was a kind, caring, gentle man with a heart of gold. Needless to say Neal never left home without a pocket full of doggie cookies, as he never met a dog that he didn't like on his long walks around the neighbourhoods. His home was his Castle & Brenda his Queen.
You know you were always welcomed into their home either for a friendly chat & a cup of tea, a meal or else you could just work on the jigsaw puzzle that they had on the go in the dining room. In 1998 Brenda's sister Mary and her husband Greg Brown bought a house in Courtenay. Neal & Greg became the best of friends and brother in law's. Over the years they spent many hours together talking or solving world problems. Not to mention all the Sunday meals or special occasions where they would have us over for dinners or meeting up at one of their (all of ours) favorite Restaurants Monte Cristo's or Bonds Fish and Chips for a meal together.
Neal was an intelligent/ knowledgeable patient man and a avid Bridge player and spent many happy/stressful hours playing the game at the D'Esterre Seniors' Center & the Lions den in Comox. In 2010 Neal & his partner Tom Thomson won Gold at the BC Seniors Games playing duplicate Bridge 751+ Master points. Neal was a gentle kind soul who fed the birds out of his hands in his backyard and who worried about mice and other animals being cold & hungry in the Winter. Heaven gained a Great man!
Thank-you to the ministering Angels from VIHA especially Steve, Wendy, Krissy, Lori and Jeremy who were always bright spots in Neal's day.
Thank-you to all their neighbors and friends in the Meadow Brook subdivision for your care, flowers, messages, food and cards.
Thank-you to the Dr.s Nurses and support staff in the ER and on the 3rd floor A for your care while Neal was with you.
There will be no service at Neal's request.
Dearly missed and Forever Loved!
"Your presence is missed, your memory treasured"
