Ronnie Devell Jackson

Ronnie Devell Jackson departed earth on January 11, 2024, at the age of 78, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s. Originally from Epps, Louisiana, Ronnie was a long-time resident of El Dorado, Arkansas. He graduated from LSU with a B.S. degree in Chemical Engineering. His career was mainly in oil and gas, along with consulting in renewable fuels and power generation. He fulfilled roles in design, management, and consulting, most notably with Lion Oil Refinery. He held a patent in treatment of sodium hydrosulfide gas. He was a registered professional engineer, and he served in various capacities with the National Petroleum Refiners Institute.

Ronnie had a creative mind that was full of ideas. In addition to his oil and gas career and in effort to secure "mailbox money", he had many entrepreneurial pursuits that ranged from alligator farming to sand mining to owning an Alaskan guide service. He even produced a record album for his good friend, Betty MacFarland. Above all else, he loved to teach. He didn’t want people just to "do", he wanted them to understand "why". In the words of Dr. Matthew Callaway, "Ask Ronnie what time it is, and he will tell you how to build a clock." In his personal life, Ronnie was married to Linda Geneva Stogner for 57 years. They had two daughters. Ronnie was a long-time member of Marrable Hill Chapel and attended First Baptist Church with his family in his later years. He served on the boards of the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, the Share Foundation, the Medical Center of South Arkansas, United Way of Union County, the El Dorado Boys and Girls Club, and the South Arkansas Symphony, in addition to board positions of several professional organizations both local and nationwide.

Ronnie was an avid sportsman. He travelled extensively in pursuit of game, fishing for salmon and hunting bear in Alaska. He went on safari in South Africa and fished for peacock bass and piranhas in Venezuela. However, those who knew him well would tell you that some of his biggest adventures were in the duck fields of Arkansas and Louisiana, where one of his buddies nicknamed him "McGoo". Ronnie found adventure at every turn. If no adventure was found, he had a knack for creating one. Not allowing his illness to cramp his style, he designed and built an adaptive cart so he could navigate difficult terrain while elk hunting in his final years. He spent countless hours in local crawfish holes, on the lakes of Felsenthal, and floating the cool waters of the White River with friends and family.

Ronnie was preceded in death by his parents William and Mary Alice Jackson. He is survived by his wife, Linda and their daughters, Stacey Elizabeth Haines (m. Warren) and Amanda Jackson Pitard (m. Toddy). He has seven grandchildren, Brette, Brennan, Briley, Brooklin and Braeden Pitard and Grant and Garrett Griffith.

Ronnie’s family would like to extend a special thanks to the caregivers who made it possible for him to be at home until the end. Lennie Fairchild, Cody Goodman, Mary Garris, and Charlene Minor were so kind and attentive. Lastly, the entire LifeTouch Hospice staff were a God-given blessing.

The funeral will be at First Baptist Church in El Dorado on Thursday, January 18th at 11:00 a.m. Visitors who wish to pay their personal respects to Ronnie are welcome one hour before the service. A private family interment will be at Arlington Memorial Park immediately following.  The family will receive visitors on Thursday, January 18th from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. in the executive board room on the roof of the old Murphy Building, 200 N. Jefferson.  Burial services are being provided by Young’s Funeral Directors.

Memorials to West Side Christian School are appreciated.

Condolences may be expressed at www.youngsfuneralhome.com.