Patricia Jackson

Patricia Rudd Jackson was born September 24, 1929 in Belpre, Kansas. She grew up in Tribune, Kansas in a wheat-farming family that valued respect, thrift, loyalty, and patriotism. Like her older sisters Ruhe and Shirley, she was her high school's valedictorian. In 1948, Pat submitted an essay titled "I Worked in Wheat," to Seventeen Magazine. She described feeding both the farm animals and the farm hands. The article, for which Pat was paid $35, was published in the June issue. \r\n \r\nPat began college studies at The Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia. In 1949, she transferred to Baylor University, where she met her husband, William Maurice Jackson Jr., in a German class. She earned a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in English in 1951. \r\n \r\nAfter graduation, Pat taught Jr. High English in Lovington, New Mexico, and in Houston. After they married in 1954, Pat and Maury had a nomadic life, with Maury, who completed residency as a surgeon at Walter Reed Army Hospital in Washington, D.C. He was an officer in the Army, with posts to Fort Sam Houston, TX; Fort Benning, GA; Fort Wainwright, Alaska; and Beaumont Army Medical Center in El Paso, TX. When Maury left the Army they lived in Fort Worth briefly, then moved to Kerrville in 1967, where he practiced general surgery until his death in 1981. \r\n \r\nThey joined First Presbyterian Church. Pat was a staunch Presbyterian, supporting church initiatives and helping with many facets of church life, such as teaching Sunday school, driving others to Circle meetings, and serving as a member of the Session. \r\n \r\nShe reared four children, emphasizing Christian values in action. As the designated parent-chauffeur, she drove four kids to sports, piano lessons, scouting, school clubs, and church activities. Pat was a great mom who put her own interests aside to help the kids succeed. This was her full time vocation.\r\n\r\nAlthough she did not particularly enjoy sewing, she loved listening to the Astros and Spurs as she sewed; and thus she fashioned many garments for gangly, ungrateful girls.\r\n \r\nPat had a charitable spirit. She volunteered at school, even after her kids had graduated. Pat raised money for the Band Booster organization, helped with PTA, the League of Women Voters, and Scouting. She coached school children in reading. She was active in the Women's Medical Auxiliary. \r\n \r\nPat loved to sing. Music came to her; she sang out loud to convey life lessons. She and her friends wrote satirical lyrics to show tunes, which doctors wives performed to raise money for medical aid projects. She volunteered for the Point Theater and acted in some of their shows. She supported other arts organizations through attendance and ticket drives. \r\n \r\nPat relished travel, and assisted physicians on medical mission trips to Haiti, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic. Later, she visited China, Peru, and many European countries. She and a friend taught English during a trip to Poland. \r\n \r\nShe was a great cook who excelled in baking. Fans begged her to make apricot granola bread, and the English Muffin Bread she baked in coffee cans. Family members argued over whether her peach or cherry pies were the best. At Christmas she baked and gave away Swedish Tea Rings. She experimented with exotic recipes, such as curries, fondues, and stir-fries, before ethnic food was popular. She shared these delicacies with friends at a dinner club for thirty years.\r\n \r\nShe taught kindness by example. She sponsored a Vietnamese refugee family. She invited Iranian students from Schreiner College for meals, and hosted exchange students from Finland and Colombia. These actions encouraged her own children to travel, and so they did.\r\n \r\nShe was well read, and a strong writer. She recited favorite poems and clever sayings she had collected in her memory. She harbored many pet peeves regarding grammar, and lovingly insisted on correcting those who split an infinitive, turned a verb into a noun, or accidentally said "her" instead of "she." \r\n \r\nOriginal stories were composed and hand-illustrated for grandchildren. She wrote "Mo-Ranch My Ranch," a book about the Presbyterian Camp where our family had many memorable experiences. \r\n \r\nShe was tall for her generation, which made it difficult to obtain dresses and shoes. She wore flats she described as "herring boxes without topses." In spite of this she managed to dress appropriately, standing head and shoulders above peers in every photo. \r\n \r\nIn 1992, Pat married Verner Lee Karr. They were married for 10 years. Her friend, Finley Meehan, was a loyal companion for many years. \r\n \r\nPat is survived by her children: Elizabeth Jackson-D'Ambrosi (Fred), Sue Alice Shay (Gordy), William Wingate Jackson (Rhonda), David Rudd Jackson (Cristina), grandchildren Cameron Jackson D'Ambrosi, Julia Lorenza D'Ambrosi, Nathaniel Jackson Shay, Ian Alexander Shay, Nicholas Austin Shay, William Maury Jackson, Liam Alexander Jackson, Robert Masami Jackson, and William Shintaro Jackson.\r\n \r\nGraveside services will be held 2 PM, Saturday, April 22, 2017 at Garden of Memories Cemetery. A memorial service will follow at 3 PM at First Presbyterian Church of Kerrville officiated by Rev. Dr. Rob Lohmeyer and Rev. Vicki Yates.\r\n \r\nIn lieu of flowers the family would appreciate support for the W. Maury and Patricia Jackson Endowed Scholarship Fund at Schreiner University, 2100 Memorial Blvd. Kerrville, TX 78028, or First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville, TX.\r\n