A Memorial Service is scheduled for Jo Wilson Jackson, 88 year old Leonard resident, for Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at 7:30 P.M. at the First United Methodist Church of Leonard. Rev. Joe Gist will officiate. Family visitation is scheduled from 6:30 P.M. until service time Tuesday, April 2, 2019 at the Fellowship Building of the First United Methodist Church of Leonard.
Jo Wilson Jackson passed away on March 16, 2019 after a short illness. She was preceded in death by her grandparents, her mother Deta and step-father Will Greenlee, father Claude Wilson, 2 brothers, Claude & Robert, a sister who died shortly after birth and her beloved twin daughter Marian E. Jackson who died in 2005 at age 53. Survivors include her loving husband of 69 years James Jackson, her daughter and son-in-law Margie & Larry Shelton and numerous other relatives.
Jo was born on January 22, 1931 in Boswell, Oklahoma. She was poor but remembered her childhood as "happy" over all. As a child, Jo loved spending time with her grandmother Alice who was 100% Choctaw Indian. Jo was proud of her Indian heritage, her mother & grandma often called her "Chuckma", her Indian name. Grandma Alice & Jo had a special bond. Alice would go to the cellar & get her home canned peaches so she could make Jo’s favorite peach cobbler when Jo visited.
Jo was a fun-loving child who enjoyed climbing trees and riding horses. She learned to be a great cook from her mother and grandmother. She was smart and a good student.
Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Jo was 12 years old. She was run over by an 18 wheeler while walking home from school. Her mother could have sued the company and easily gotten a substantial financial judgment but Jo’s mother who was a strong Christian decided to pray. Deta prayed that if Jo would live, she would not sue. Eventually Jo did recover but suffered with back pain throughout her life.
Jo & her family moved to Texas later in her childhood. They lived close to Pike and Jo went to Leonard schools. She was active in school sports. She was known to be a dedicated basketball player. A former classmate laughingly recounted that while a freshman, senior Jo taught her all the "dirty tricks" in playing basketball. The freshman learned quickly these plays were not allowed after getting thrown out of the games when it was her turn to play.
After Jo graduated from high school, Jo had plans to go to college and be a history teacher. However, love changed her plans. Jo had known James Jackson and his family for many years. James often said Jo was the "prettiest girl he had ever seen". Jo & James eloped on January 21, 1950 when Jo was 18 years old; the next day Jo turned 19. The young couple was living in Morton, Texas when their twin babies Margie & Marian were born in 1952. They eventually settled in Dallas.
Jo was a devoted wife and mother. When the twins were young, she volunteered for the PTA. When the twins turned 4 years old, Jo & James got them identical policeman tricycles and Jo made 2 cakes- one with pink icing and one with blue icing.
Jo often worked as a waitress. One year she worked at Sears at Christmas as part-time help. This led to her fulltime job of more than 20 years as a "timekeeper" and secretary. Later after she and James moved back to Leonard, she helped run a volunteer used clothing store for the Methodist Church.
As they raised their children, Jo & James went on family camping trips where they fished, boated and water skied. James & Jo were also avid bowlers in a league. Jo & James loved to entertain and socialize. They spent many weekends playing cards and dominoes. Jo especially enjoyed the poker machines at the area casinos and was often lucky. Jo & James loved traveling: cruises to Alaska, Mexico and flights to Hawaii and a special trip to Ireland.
Jo loved walking or jogging or getting a suntan. She loved nature, always commenting on birds or flowers, saying "it feeds my soul".
Jo loved animals and she & James had many dogs during their marriage. When their dog Rags fathered puppies, Jo had a birthday party when they turned 1. The table was set outdoors, replete with individual small "cakes" for the dogs made of ground beef topped with blue or pink colored mashed potato icing and the dogs wearing party hats.
Jo was always there for her husband James, her twin daughters Margie and Marian, and other family or friends whenever they needed help. She and James offered their home for respite on many occasions and Jo was quick to cook for someone in need.
The world will never be the same without Jo’s lively spirit, her love and laughter.
The family would like to thank the doctors and nurses at Hunt Regional Medical Center for their supportive care of Jo during her final illness.