Hiram “Hi” E. Jackson, 85, died on Oct. 30, 2009, in Hurricane, Utah. He was born July 15, 1924, in Dillonvale, Ohio, to Hiram E. Jackson and Emma Jane (Kimble) Jackson.

Jackson was 14 years old when he joined the Civilian Conservation Corps, serving six months.

On April 25, 1943, he married Ellen Anderson in Seattle. It was only four days later, April 29, 1943, that Jackson began serving his country in World War II in the U.S. Army in the Philippines, until Oct. 31, 1945.

Jackson worked his whole life in construction, including building a few of his own homes for his family. He and Ellen lived on Vashon Island for 29 years, where their children were raised; they then moved to Kanab, Utah, in 1983.

Jackson was proud of his Indian heritage (Chero-kee), family members said. He enjoyed going out in the hills and mountains, always wanting to explore and learn all he could about petroglyphs, caves and artifacts, they added.

Over the years Jackson collected thousands of items, and he had a story for each and every item. He loved telling stories and jokes, playing cards, dice, and throwing horse shoes, family members said.

Jackson is survived by his wife Ellen of Kanab, Utah, and four children: Hy Jackson of Kanab, Utah, Roger Jackson of Kanab, Utah, Deanna Carman of Fredonia, Ariz., and Juanita (Travis) Arnold of St. George, Utah.

He is also survived by 13 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, including one to arrive in March 2010, and his sister Margaret “Peggy” Jack of Sun City, Ariz.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brothers Thomas and Owen, sisters Geneva, Eunice and Emma Jane, as well as three grandsons. Services were held on Nov. 6, 2009. Jackson was buried in the Kanab, Utah, cemetery.