Richard (Dick) Allen Jackson, a lifelong resident of Humboldt County, died unexpectedly on January 2, 2019 of heart failure while visiting his sons and grandchildren in the Sacramento area over the New Year’s holiday.

Richard was born on July 20, 1945 to Gerald (Jud) and Claire Jackson at the old St. Joseph Hospital in Eureka. He was the third born of what finally ended up being eleven children. He attended St. Bernard’s Elementary and High School and later Eureka High.

Richard loved to hunt and fish. In his early years, he regularly hunted for ducks in his scull boat on Humboldt Bay with his friends and brother John. He was an excellent waterskier and enjoyed camping at Trinity Lake with family and friends.

Richard’s first real job was delivering the morning Times newspaper in Eureka. He then went on to log old-growth redwood with his father, who worked for Twin Parks Lumber Company in Arcata. Richard was a master at equipment. Watching him operate any piece of equipment was like art in motion. He was also an expert timber faller and accomplished millwright. Richard’s extensive knowledge of the lumber industry enabled him to travel to Indonesia with his family to supervise the logging and milling of hardwood. He joined the Operating Engineers Union when he returned to Eureka. He worked on many impressive projects such as the Island Mountain Tunnel, the massive Helms Creek Hydro project, rebuilding the Humboldt Bay jetties, and the Redwood National Park Bypass. In 1986 he started R.A. Jackson Logging. He traveled up and down the California coast dredging harbors in the winter and logging in the summer.

Richard shares four boys — Richard, Jay, Nathan and Michael — with his first wife, Gwen. He was proud of his boys and their accomplishments in their own careers, and the boys have very fond memories of working in the woods or on the ranch with their dad.

In 1991 Richard met his fiancée, Christine Barkdull, the only woman who was able to tame him. Richard and Christine were inseparable. They had a loving relationship, one that we all dream of, enjoying life while they worked and played together. Richard joined Christine in her Bar W cattle operations, and Christine joined Richard in his logging operations. Family and friends meant everything to them. They had many birthdays, holidays and working parties at the ranch.

Richard was one-of-a-kind. He had a friendly personality. When it came to work or partying, not many could keep up. He would always come to the aid of his friends and family without hesitation. We all knew you could count on him. His boots will be hard to fill and his memory will live on for generations.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents Jud and Claire Jackson, brother-in-law Terry Vallee, nephew Preston Vallee, first cousin William (Bill) Jackson, and his good friends Bill Pinches and John Pasquini. He is survived by his fiancée Christine Barkdull, four sons: Richard and Cheryl of Rocklin, Jay and Nancy of Roseville, Nathan of Rocklin, and Michael and Sherri of Tacoma, Washington. He is also survived by his 10 siblings: Linda and Joe Williams of Kneeland, John Jackson of Arcata, JoAnn and Rick Rossen of McKinleyville, Jerry and Patty Jackson of Eureka, Diane and Richard Heinl of Roseville, Mary Vallee of Blue Lake, Sharon and Dave Simpson of Redding, Daniel Jackson of McKinleyville, Donna and Mark Gervase of Crooked River Ranch, Oregon and Carolyn and Doug Griffith of Tigard, Oregon. Richard also leaves behind five grandchildren; Jasper, Terah, Morgan, Jami, and Jessica, three great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and cousins and special friends — Bob Johnson, Dennis Katri, Brian Stinger, Steve Eskara, among many others.

Arrangements are under the direction of Goble’s Fortuna Mortuary, 560 12th Street, Fortuna. Friends and family are invited for visitation/viewing to begin on Thursday, January 10th at 2 p.m., followed by a rosary at 7 p.m. at the mortuary. A memorial mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 11th at St. Bernard’s Church in Eureka, located at 6th and H St, with a Celebration of Life to follow at Redwood Acres Fairgrounds Home Economics Building. Those who wish may make memorial contributions to the Redwood Region Logging Conference Education Program, CASA, or the charity of their choice.

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The obituary above was submitted on behalf of Richard Jackson’s family. The Lost Coast Outpost runs obituaries of Humboldt County residents at no charge. See guidelines here.