Marching Mizzou family celebrates member Alex Jackson, who died of cancer on Thanksgiving

Alex Jackson loved Mizzou and Marching Mizzou and his sense of humor touched everyone he met.

Those were among memories shared Wednesday at a candlelight vigil at the Marching Mizzou practice field to honor and celebrate Jackson, who died on Thanksgiving at age 20 of stomach cancer. His band was in New York, performing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on the day he died.

His final performance with Marching Mizzou was at the Kansas City Chiefs home opener on Sept. 15.

Jackson's parents joined Marching Mizzou members, alumni, faculty members and friends for the vigil.

"We want to remember and to grieve but also to celebrate a life well lived but far too short," said Julia Gaines, director of the MU School of Music.

When Jackson auditioned for the Mizzou Horn Studio he wore a French horn pin, impressing assistant professor Amanda Collins, she said. Jackson played the French horn in the horn studio and horn choir.

"Every teacher wants a student like Alex," Collins said.

In his final weeks, Collins said she reminded Jackson of a conversation they had about his desire to help young people. He was a music education major.

"You have taught me more in your brief time here than I've learned in all my years as an educator," Collins said.

In a strange way, she said it seemed like Jackson was comforting her when she visited.

We should all live our lives as Jackson did, she said.

"I love you, Alex," Collins said. "I'll never forget you."

Collins directed the Mizzou Horn Choir, of which Jackson was a member, playing the hymn "Be Thou My Vision."

Jackson was in Kappa Kappa Psi, a fraternal organization for university band members and other members joined on the practice field to sing the Kappa Kappa Psi hymn.

"He was a shining star in the darkest of hours," said Brandon Merritt, MU Kappa Kappa Psi president.

Alexis Waltrip was in the 20-member mellophone section with Jackson and lived across from him in their residence hall, she said. He gave her rides to practice every day.

She referred to mellophone section members as "mellos."

"I know that Alex loved Mizzou and more than that, he loved Marching Mizzou," Waltrip said.

In describing his sense of humor, Waltrip talked about the dinosaur costume he wore to some practices and wore for a Halloween parade with elementary students.

He told "really intense" cancer jokes to freshman band members without revealing to them he had cancer, she said.

Waltrip's talk was interrupted occasionally as she struggled to hold back her back tears.

"He still showed up from every single rehearsal because he wanted to" even while undergoing treatments, she said.

He won't be forgotten, she said.

"Alex, you did it," she said. "You changed my life and the lives of everyone here. The mellophones will miss our dear friend greatly."

Candles were lighted and the vigil concluded with the group singing the alma mater.

Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9.

This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Here's how friends honored Marching Mizzou member Alex Jackson