David Melvin Jackson, loving husband of Marie Jackson, father, grandfather and friend (Eagle scout, sailor, pirate, astronaut, fisherman, champion whistler, faithful FSU fan, race car driver and cowboy) died peacefully Saturday, February 4, 2023 in his longtime home of Cocoa Beach, FL.

He was preceded in death by his father Charles Marcellus Jackson, mother Mary Lee Jackson and little sister Carol Lee Jackson.

Out of sheer stubbornness and undoubtedly to the surprise of many of Brevard County Florida’s finest medical professionals, he made it 81 years and a couple of months.

Dave was born on October 4, 1941 in Malden, MA. He spent his youth in Pee Wee Valley near Louisville, KY then headed to Peoria followed by a short stint in the US Naval Reserves and finally to Cocoa Beach where he settled in 1966. It was there in a small standard cement block beach house on Mckinley Avenue that he became the founding father of the high-flying, show stopping 5-ring CRKAS otherwise known as his daughters Carol Abel, Rosemary Todd, Katie Temkit, Ann Swann and Sarah Rosario.

On top of his full-time ringmaster gig, he also spent 40+ years working as an Electronics Technician at Kennedy Space Center. His tenure there began during the Gemini Program at the height of the space race, continued into the 21st century and ended along with the US Space Shuttle program’s final mission. During his time there he worked with numerous aerospace companies (General Electric, RCA, Lockheed and USA Space Alliance to name a few) until his retirement in 2011 at the age of 70. He received several recognitions from NASA for his achievements and it was a career he took great pride in (as well he should have, ’cause it was super cool).

In 1997 he met his beloved wife Marie. They were married in October of 2003. He welcomed her and her children Taunia Uzee, Becca Johnston and Toby Tober with characteristic warmth and open arms. Hence the CRKAS became CRKASTRT (a legitimate traveling show with acrobats, daredevils, mystics, fortune tellers and a menagere) He did a pretty good job of keeping up with us all as ringmaster and showman over the years.

In addition to his wife and all his children, Dave is survived by his sister Susan Cossey, his brother John “Jack” Jackson as well as his ‘adopted-by-marriage’ sons Bill Abel, Scott Todd, Hamy Temkit, Bruce Swann, Michael Rosario, Jason Uzee and Mark Johnston along with all of his nieces and nephews (and can’t forget Miss Priss). He loved them all unfailingly (along with some old boyfriends and girlfriends who came and went over the years). His best (and perhaps brightest) legacy is his 20 grandchildren, and 1 great-grandson all of whom he adored and was immensely proud of. To them he is Papa now and forever.

Dave Jackson was a friend to those he knew and to many he didn’t. He loved deeply and dreamed big. Sail on Jackson! Set up the boat, the big top, the ranch, the space station! Get the pig smokin’, the steak grilling and the oysters shucked! Turn on the race and queue up the Jimmy Buffet! We’ll see you when we get there!