Thomas Griffin Jackson was born on February 7, 1931, in Cullowhee, NC, to Walter and Ila Jackson.  He grew up in the Hills of the Great Smokey Mountains with his siblings William, Edith, Louella, Hazel, and Robert.  In 1953 Tom joined the U.S. Air Force and embarked on a new adventure.  While traveling in the U.S. Air Force, Tom met the love of his life, Helga, in Denver, CO.  After a short courtship, Tom proposed to Helga and recently celebrated 60 years of marriage on August 27, 2022.  In 1968 they welcomed their beautiful daughter Andrea. In the years after, Tom was stationed in Colorado, Greece, and Texas and settled in Washington State.  When he retired from the U.S. Air Force with 21 years of service, Tom wasn't ready to hang up his hat just yet and went to work for the Department of Commerce – NOAA where he spent another 20 years in the Federal Service.  After his second retirement, Tom and Helga traveled the country in their RV, visiting all 48 states.  In 2003 their daughter blessed them with one of the greatest gifts of all, their granddaughter Saige who has been the apple of his eye.  As a family, they took several Disney cruises sitting on deck 4, and explored the Caribbean, along with more trips to Disney parks than they could count.   Tom lived a full and active life tending to his yard, friends, family, church, and tinkering around his home.  On September 29, 2022, when he left to be with God he was surrounded by the family he loved with all his heart.  Tom is survived by his wife Helga, daughter Andrea (husband Scott and stepsons Tobin and Bryce), granddaughter Saige, and his brother Robert.