Harley T. Jackson of Grand Junction, Colorado, passed away at Hope West Hospice on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. He just celebrated his 93rd birthday.
Harley Taylor was born on February 10, 1928, to Howard Taylor and Nettie (Stover) Jackson in Topeka, Kansas. He grew up on a farm in Topeka, graduating from Seaman High School and attending Kansas State College. He spent several years in the Air Force and was stationed in Denver when he met Ethel Fairlamb. The two married and had three children.
Harley moved to Delta in 1954. He owned an electrical contracting firm for 15 years (Delta Electric), and during that period, he contracted for two hydro-electric power plants (Blue Mesa and Marrow Point). In 1966, he formed a construction company (Jackson Development Company) in Delta. In addition to being a Deputy Regional Director for the Small Business Administration for Federal Region 8, which incorporates six states, Harley was a Special Assistant to Region 8 for Housing and Urban Development. He served on the Colorado State Energy Impact Advisory Committee for the Dominguez Water Project. He was the co-originator and past Board member of the Project 7 Water Authority (Ridgway Dam). Harley was a former Delta City Councilman and Mayor Pro-tem for one year. After moving to Grand Junction in 1986, he created and built Heritage Senior Homes - an assisted living community. Recently he served 16 years on the Ute Water Conservancy District Board. He was a former member of the Shriner’s, the Masonic Lodge, and Delta Elks Lodge. Harley enjoyed traveling, gardening, community service, problem-solving, and building things. He never knew a stranger. He could chat with practically anyone and made friends wherever he went.
On December 2, 2009, Harley married Susi Ana Kho in Moab, Utah.
Harley is survived by his wife, Susi Jackson of Grand Junction; a brother Dr. Wesley (Sharon) Jackson of Salina, Kansas; two daughters: Cathy Hall and Haley Jackson (Steve Blair), all of Delta; a step-son, Erick Febriyanto (Seanne Angelia Subagio), and two step-daughters: Vicky Jolania (Andri Tantono) and Novita Angyraeni (Ardhi Yansah), all of Java, Indonesia; and seven step-grandchildren.
Harley was preceded in death by his parents, four siblings, and a son, Charles Jackson.
Funeral services with Military Honors will be held this summer at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Western Colorado in Grand Junction.
Arrangements are under the care and direction of Taylor Funeral Service and Crematory.
View the internet obituary and sign the online guest registry at taylorfuneralservice.com.