William Edmond Jackson Sr.

William Edmond Jackson, Sr., known to all as “Eddie Jackson,” passed away peacefully in his sleep on Feb. 21, 2025.

Born in Cottonwood, Arizona, on Dec. 29, 1933, Eddie was the first child of James Jackson and Dorothy (Dickens). In 1923, James Jackson’s parents were the second family to homestead property in Grasshopper Flats, now called West Sedona. In 1948, Eddie’s uncle, Frank Jackson, purchased 33 acres of land in Oak Creek Canyon that included the skating rink at Indian Gardens, where he eventually built and operated a store and gas station. On his mother’s side, Dorothy’s parents homesteaded property in the Village of Oak Creek, owning land that is now part of the golf course at Sedona Golf Resort.

Eddie grew up in the Verde Valley and, as a young boy, delivered milk for the Jerome Dairy and set pins at the Cottonwood Bowling Alley.

In 1951, at the age of 17 and at the start of the Korean War, he joined the Navy, serving aboard the USS Florikan (ASR-9), a submarine rescue ship assigned to the U.S. Pacific Fleet and homeported in San Diego. He completed deployments to the Western Pacific and the Korean War Zone in support of U.S. and Allied naval forces, participating in submarine rescue and salvage operations during amphibious landings, shore bombardments, and blockades throughout the war. His service took him to ports in Korea, the Philippines and Japan. Whenever the ship returned to San Diego, he donned his crackerjack uniform and hitchhiked home to Cottonwood and back again as often as he could.

In 1952, while still in the Navy, he married Pauline “Polly” Heydorn. In 1954, he was granted an early discharge and returned to Cottonwood, determined to build a life for his growing family. Though he had no prior experience in construction, he convinced a foreman to hire him as a carpenter. He quickly learned the trade by watching experienced craftsmen, eventually advancing to foreman/superintendent. Over the years, he worked on building projects throughout Sedona and the Verde Valley.

Eddie was an avid hunter, which allowed him to share his love and knowledge of the Arizona wilderness with his wife and five kids. It’s doubtful there is a dirt road anywhere within a 200-mile radius of the Verde Valley that he hadn’t explored — and quite likely had a hand in making many of them. In the late ‘60s, he took up team roping, eventually earning cash prizes, belt buckles and a beautifully designed, hand-tooled saddle. He was also a founding member of the Verde Valley Rangers Sheriff’s Posse.

In 1999, he retired from his job as Maintenance Supervisor for the Cottonwood-Oak Creek School District and traveled to Honduras, where he volunteered for a year at an orphanage. After returning to the United States, he spent the remainder of his retirement years camping, four-wheeling and hunting horns, pursuits that allowed him to further explore the mountains and deserts of Arizona, Utah, Idaho and Montana.

Eddie was 91 years old when he passed and is survived by his five children: Jari, Bill, Suni, Jim and Bruce; eight grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and his youngest brother, Wayne Cannell.

May his spirit always be able to take him where his heart most wants to go.