Kirk Allan Jackson, 71, Crystal City
Kirk Allan Jackson, 71, of Crystal City died Jan. 12, 2022, at Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City. Mr. Jackson performed with several well-known musical groups, including The New Christy Minstrels. Then, he spent 32 years teaching choral music, musical theater and technical theater to students in kindergarten through 12th grade. He taught at the Simi Valley Unified School District in Simi Valley, Calif.; Dunklin R-5 School District; Ladue School District; and Grandview School District, retiring from the Dunklin School District in 2014. His loved performing in musicals, and he had roles in productions for Jefferson College and St Louis area repertory companies. He and his wife started a musical theater program that was recognized in California and Washington, D.C. Some of the students Mr. Jackson worked with went on to sing in Broadway shows and work in film and TV.
He also worked as a music director for several churches, including St. Paul’s UMC in Tarzana, Calif.; Toluca Lake UMC, in Toluca Lake, Calif.; Herculaneum United Methodist, First United Methodist, New Hope United Methodist and Webster Hills United Methodist, and for the past ten years, at Grace Presbyterian Church in Crystal City. Following retirement, he joined the Festus-Crystal City Rotary Club and served as president in 2020.
He graduated from Festus High School in 1968, Jefferson College in 1970 and University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music in 1973. He earned a master’s degree in music education from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1998. Born Aug. 15, 1950, in St. Louis, he was the son of the late Gertrude “George” (Lichty) and Herbert E. Jackson Jr.
He is survived by his wife: Candilee (Cagan) Jackson of Crystal City; a daughter: Yvonne Franz of Lincolnton, N.C.; a brother: Herbert E. “Tracy” (Jane) Jackson III of Fenton; five nieces: Angela (Frank) Ewers, Anita (Craig) Todd, Amanda (Jeremy) Bratton, Melissa “Missy” Robinette and Amy LaGuera; nephew: Jeff (Lisa) Jackson; five great-nieces: Elizabeth Todd, Rachel Bratton, Leigh Bratton, Victoria LaGuera and Mary Chandler; and seven great-nephews: Scott Ewers, Robert Ewers, Brendan Todd, Grant Todd, Carson Robinette, Chase Robinette and Evan Jackson.
He also was preceded in death by a brother: Gary Lawrence (Dinah of Canton, Ga.) Jackson, a sister: Carole George Jackson; and a nephew: Andrew Jackson.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday (Jan. 21) at Vinyard Funeral Home, 616 W. Main St., in Festus. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday (Jan. 22) at Grace Presbyterian Church, 105 Bailey Road, in Crystal City. Burial will be in Presbyterian/Methodist Cemetery in Festus. Memorials may be made to Grace Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 553, Crystal City, 63019, or EveryCat Health Foundation, 637 Wyckoff Ave. #337, Wyckoff, NJ 07481.