Norbory Eugene (Gene) Jackson, age 74, died peacefully at his home in Huntsville, AL, on March 9, 2018.

As Gene grew up, he became an avid ham radio operator. His call sign was K4NNR. He also built remote controlled airplanes, once building a Piper Cub with a 6-foot wingspan. Gene was an excellent guitar player, in the manner of Chet Atkins--finger picking. He also enjoyed riding motor scooters and was very proud of his Cushman Eagle.

When Gene joined the Navy in the early 1960s, he became a "Plankowner" on the USS Enterprise (CVAN-65), the country's first nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Reflecting his younger experiences, he was a radioman. He was with the Enterprise during the naval blockade of Cuba in 1962, usually referred to as the Cuban Missile Crisis.

After serving in the Navy, Gene worked for 40 years in electronics. The first 20 were with NASA at the Johnson Space Flight Center in Houston and the George C. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. During the last 20 years of his career, he worked in private industrial electronics, primarily in communications.



Gene was preceded in death by his mother, Mary Mae Parker Ingram of Huntsville, AL. Survivors include his wife Sue Jackson; his two daughters by his first wife--Marie Medley--Kelly Yates (Michael) of Columbia, TN, and her step-daughter Stephanie Luedloff (Christopher), and April Clutts (Darryl) of Ardmore, AL, and their son Daniel and daughter Brandi; and his step-daughter, Kathy Brooks (Wayne) of Alton, IL, and their three daughters. Gene has five great-grandchildren. Gene is also survived by his sisters, Sarah Jackson and Melrose Brooks of Huntsville, AL, and his brother Chester Ingram (Dawn) of Sterrett, AL.



Gene was baptized in the Seventh Day Adventist Church and was a deeply religious man all his adult life, following in the footsteps of his beloved grandmother Minnie Bell Parker. He was a quiet, gentle man with an acute sense of humor. He could usually be found working in his garden or reading the Bible. We love him and will miss him, but we know he is happy.



Gene's family would love to hear from friends and relatives. Berryhill Funeral Home in Huntsville assisted the family with arrangements. Please sign the guestbook for Gene at www.berryhillfh.com.