“Grey Eagle” Kenneth M. Jackson’s spirit left to soar with the ancestors on the morning of Tuesday, March 4, 2008.
His passage was natural and peaceful – surrounded by love and loved ones in his winter home in Patagonia, Ariz.
Ken’s earthly body had endured a number of health problems in his last years, but kidney failure due to prostate cancer is listed as the cause of death.
Ken/Grey Eagle is survived by his loving wife, Anne Huggins; his three sons, Michael (Lynda) of Granite Falls; Erik (Diane) and Leif (Sarah) of Seattle and their mother Mari-Ann; stepdaughters Monica Huggins, of Santa Fe, N.M., and Jennifer Huggins Ruemping (Troy), of Seattle; as well as five grandchildren: Elizabeth, Matthew, Maya, Bella and Dylan.
Ken was born April 27, 1923 in Spokane. “Kenny” served in the Army Air Corps, seeing combat action in Europe during World War II. He survived a B-17 ditching in the Adriatic Sea, was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart.
Grey Eagle’s last years were largely devoted to helping war veterans, including himself, heal from emotional wounds suffered during times of service – work that will continue through programs that he helped establish.
Ken graduated from Washington State College (now WSU) before earning his doctorate’s degree from the University of Washington. Kenneth was a reporter at heart, working as a correspondent for the Associated Press in Seattle and Spokane and information director for NELPA. He then spent over two decades as a professor at the UW School of Communications before retiring in 1992.
Upon retirement, he devoted his energy to continuing the Native American oral tradition, and as Grey Eagle became a beloved and captivating storyteller and writer. Grey Eagle leaves a deep legacy of written and recorded work.
Ken/Grey Eagle had a gentle, caring soul, and he will be sorely missed.
A service will be held on what would have been Ken’s 85th birthday, Sunday, April 27, on Whidbey Island, where he was an honored elder and member of the community.
Remembrances are suggested to Veterans Family and Healing, Nature Conservancy, Enso House, or Friends of Friends. For information, e-mail leif@jacksonremodeling.com.
