LAFAYETTE, La. — A mass will be celebrated for Russell Parker Jackson, who died peacefully surrounded by his family, Sunday, Oct. 9, 2016, after a courageous battle with cancer, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Lafayette. 
Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery under the direction of Martin & Castille Funeral Home in Lafayette.
Visitation will be from 8 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home’s downtown chapel.
Immediately following the burial, the family invites all to attend a celebration of Russell’s life at Nash’s Restaurant in Broussard, La.
With God’s help, human virtues acquired by education and perseverance forge character. The virtuous man is happy to practice them.
Russell Jackson was such a man. Born in Minneola, N.Y., Russell found his way to Lafayette and made it his home for the majority of his life. He was prudent in his moral principles as a devoted husband and father of five. As a young man, his path was never easy as he provided for his family by taking jobs as a door-to-door salesman, butcher, roofer, roughneck and then progressing to become a teacher. In 1966, while teaching high school, he opened a humble gun shop in his garage. He practiced fortitude by continuing to evolve and expand his business, even in the face of adversity. Now, more than 50 years later, it has prospered into Lafayette Shooters, which embodies his robust passion for hunting and the outdoors. Still he was a temperate man, and even in his zeal for hunting, he was perfectly satisfied if the only thing he got on a hunting trip was peace and quiet.
Russell had a vibrant, colorful personality and was an animated storyteller. It was once said that if you asked him what time it was, he would tell you how to make a watch. Perhaps one could describe him as resolute, honest, candid, authentic and enterprising. Yet, he was also a man of justice as he practiced consistent adoration to God, who he loved with all his heart and soul.
The virtues of prudence, fortitude, temperance and justice were his lighthouses and they guided him through his journey of life. He was a remarkable man by all accounts.
Throughout his strife with cancer, Drs. Frank Bacque, Joseph Brierre and Kemp Coreil and Eric Buller, PA, were enmeshed in Russell’s fight to survive. They offered compassion, counsel, empathy and friendship. We are forever grateful to them and all the doctors and medical staff who treated him with such beautiful benevolence.
Survivors include a large and loving family.
Pallbearers will be Daniel Jackson, Victor Credeur, John David, Jake Cormier, Dillon Jackson and Andrew Poussan.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital or to a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be sent to mourning.com.