David Shier Hackett, Jr. passed away on Wednesday, October 12, 2022, at the age of 87 in Jacksonville, Florida. David was born on July 13, 1935, to David Shier and Anona Viola (Braun). He was raised in Jacksonville along with his younger sister, Elizabeth Ann (Dunkley).
After graduating from Andrew Jackson High School, he married Shirley Marion Dobson on September 6, 1957, and together they had three children: Elizabeth Yvonne (Wilson), Richard David, and Deborah Lynn (Dell).
David was a hard worker who dedicated his life to providing and caring for his family. Shortly after his marriage to Shirley, he was drafted to the U.S. Army. He was proud of his achievements while in the service and felt that his training served him well later in life. Though he attained a high level of security clearance, David did not consider himself a veteran. He believed that type of distinction belonged to those who saw active combat.
While his children were young, David went back to school and became a master electrician, retiring from Jacksonville Electric Authority and then going on to work with Miller Electric Company. He later started his own consulting firm, Consolidated Electric and continued to enjoy working into his eighties. In a time where most people view everything as replaceable, he was the person always ready to make it work again. There was no need to replace something when he was sure he had a part at his house to fix whatever was broken.
David, or as his grandchildren called him, Grandad, was a wonderful grandfather. Education was important to him, and he wanted to be sure that that his grandchildren had the ability to attend college, so he gave the generous gift of a college fund to each one.
David was proud of his Scottish heritage and loved family history. He would spend hours recounting stories about his family. He was a man of many talents, who was always ready to drop everything to help when you needed him. He worked hard, loved his family, and left us with wonderful memories.
David leaves behind his two daughters, Yvonne Wilson and Debbie Dell (Michael); six grandchildren, Amanda (Michael), Kristen, Bradley, Katie (Jim), Justin and Jessica; two great-grandchildren, Kenzie and Damon as well as many nieces and nephews. He is pre-deceased by his sisters, Elizabeth Ann and Viola Ann, ex-wife, Shirley, with who he shared a deep friendship, and son, Rick Hackett. He is loved and will be greatly missed.
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