Lois Audrey King Jackson 1935 ~ 2011 On July 18th we bid a
heartfelt farewell to a special lady. She bravely faced the
insidious challenges of A.L.S. (Lou Gehrig's Disease) for almost
a year. She died at home with family near. Audrey was born
on April 25, 1935 in Murray, Utah the 8th child of Thomas and
Mabel King. Eventually her family settled in Mesa, Arizona
where she spent most of her growing up years. She attended
Brigham Young University where she met and married her
husband, Edward William Jackson. A few months after their
wedding in the Mesa, Arizona temple, they moved to
Washington, D.C. where William completed his degree at George
Washington Medical School. After medical school, Audrey,
Bill and their three young children relocated to Southern
California. Three more children followed and they spent the
next 25 years raising their family in the beautiful Ojai Valley.
During this time Audrey opened her home and became mother
to children from Afghanistan, the Navajo Nation, Bolivia,
the Philippines, Australia and the United States. Being around
family and friends was one of Audrey's greatest joys. Movie night
with popcorn and milkshakes was a family favorite! Audrey was
deeply committed toThe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints. She served in many ward/stake callings. From 1986-1989,
Audrey served as mission "mom" to over 600 missionaries in the
Manila, Philippines Mission. Few could pull off such an
assignment with equal flare and enthusiasm. Over the last
few weeks, she has been so happy to receive loving messages
from her missionaries representing every corner of the world.
Shortly after her mission Audrey moved to Provo and was
quickly put to work leading the Young Women and then Relief
Society organizations in her ward. Audrey absolutely loved
music and the joy and inspiration it provided to others. For
six years she was honored to conduct music at the M.T.C.
and spent over twenty years performing with Medical Melodies
dancing and singing at rest homes throughout the county.
Her spark for life was truly contagious. Together with her
husband, she helped establish the Deseret International
Foundation. For the past 25 years Deseret has performed
over 300,000 charitable surgeries throughout the world for
the lame, the blind, and the disfigured. Always willing to
travel wherever the need was greatest, Audrey successfully
made temporary homes in such places as Algeria, Ghana,
Honduras, Kenya and Afghanistan. She was not only an angel
of mercy to thousands, but she was the "heart" of the foundation.
Her caring for others was sincere and personal. Thousands
honor her name and look to her as a role model. Audrey is
survived by her husband of 56 years and her six children:
William King Jackson (Ann) - New Delhi, India;
Laura Lee Reay (Kelly) - Springville, Utah;
Karen Johnson (Greg) - Provo, Utah;
Pamela Johnsen (Jeff) - Ojai, California;
Douglas Fell Jackson (Sharon) - Provo, Utah;
Bret Weston Jackson (Rebekah) - Beijing, China.
She is also survived by 30 grandchildren, eight
great-grandchildren and her sisters Norma Atwood (John)
& Dorothy Pace.
AND WHEN SHE PASSED I THINK THERE WENT A SOUL
TO YONDER FIRMAMENT SO WHITE, SO SPLENDID AND
SO FINE IT CAME COMPLETE TO GOD'S DESIGN.
EDGAR GUEST
Funeral Services will be held Saturday, July 23, 2011 at
12:00 noon at the Hobble Creek Stake Center: 495 S. Canyon Rd,
Springville, Utah. A visitation will be held prior to the service at
10:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. at the same location. Interment at
Provo City Cemetery.
Donations to Deseret International Foundation,
1282 E Cambridge Ct. Provo, Utah 84604
(www. desint.org)
Online condolences may be given at www.premierfuneral.com.
No comments:
Post a Comment