The story of Eddie Jackson & Fay Romano

Fay & Eddie

The magic day was to be June 30; the tragic day was March 17.

Eddie Jackson ran a successful business in Dallas. On a trip to East Texas he met the lady he called "the love of my life," Fay Romano, an employee at Valero in Chandler.

After much planning, a beautiful ring and a gigantic florist bill on his part, and a trip to East Texas every week, Fay agreed to marry Eddie. He bought a gazebo for the ceremony, replaced the flooring and discovered the gazebo was too heavy to erect on her lawn by himself.

On March 17, the couple planned a cookout and invited friends, including the best man, to come help set the gazebo upright. Early that morning Eddie was mowing the lawn. Fay summoned him to come eat; however, Eddie had passed away from heart failure within a few feet of the gazebo.

EMTs quickly arrived as did officers from Athens, but nothing could be done. God had made His decision and Eddie was called home.

Soon the friends started arriving, some from Arlington, Irving, Grand Prairie and a lot of local friends. Each tried their best to help Fay with her shock.

THE GAZEBO-- Pictured with the finished gazebo are (L-R) Billy R. Jenkins of VFW Post 8561, Arlington; Fay Romano, John R. Davis, VFW Post 5073 Frankston; Supervisor John Michael Davis and George Warringer, VFW Post 5073 Frankston all helped in the erection of the gazebo.

Friends of Eddie through different Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Posts looked at each other and said, "Let's do what we came here to do."

It was no small feat, however among these men there was plenty of muscle, an engineer, the equipment, knowledge and determination. The gazebo went up.

The couple attended Martin Springs Baptist Church and Rev. Johnson was going to be asked to do the honors. Eddie's family made sure Fay attended the McAlester, OK service, and they call her daily.

Fay wants to humbly thank so many people. She didn't want to name them for fear of leaving one out.