LaVerne Jackson of Sedro-Woolley passed away after a short illness on Tuesday, December 30, 2014 at the age of 87.

   Mom was born in Mount Vernon, Washington June 3, 1927 and was the middle sibling amongst four brothers.  She grew up on and around Fir Island learning how to raise farm animals, grow & harvest crops, fish the Skagit (She caught some impressive kings & steelhead!) and help her family get through tough times after the great depression.  She attended Skagit City School (her 1934 class picture is in ‘Skagit County Grows Up 1917-1941’, page 71), Conway Grade School and graduated from Mount Vernon High School with the class of 1945.  Skagit County was always her home and in 1953 she married Bernard Jackson, who was born and raised in Sedro-Woolley, where they bought 35 acres in 1959 and built a ‘Pan Abode’ log home, mostly by themselves.  In 1962 Mom gave birth to me, their only son, and I couldn’t imagine a better childhood than the one they gave me growing up on the “ranch”.

   Mom had a variety of jobs over the years: the poultry plant in Mount Vernon (until it closed), candling eggs for Merle Miller and dishwashing at Scotty’s & the Knotty Pine.  The job that gave her the most satisfaction and fondest memories was cook for the Sedro-Woolley School District at Cascade Middle School, where she made sure the kids ate their lunch, until she retired in 1992.

   Mom and Dad had over 36 years together spending their free time fishing, dancing on Saturday night, camping at Baker Lake (the hot springs!) and Hood Canal, digging for geoducks & shucking oysters.  They enjoyed playing bingo and the company of their many good friends.  They went to Wenatchee to visit relatives and get apples & peaches  as often as they could and took the occasional road trip to Reno.  Mom enjoyed her craft projects, decorating wedding cakes, raising her chickens and taking care of her garden, flowers and fruit trees.  She loved to sew and everyone looked forward to her cookies, cakes, blackberry pies and preserves that she gave away on a regular basis.

   After Dad died in 1989 Mom continued to live independently at home until shortly before her passing.  She still played bingo and took up oil painting with horses being a favorite subject.  She spent lunches at the bakery with friends, looked forward to the class of ’45 reunions and listening to The Old Time Fiddlers at the senior center.  Mom continued driving (without an accident or ticket) until she turned 87 and decided not to press her luck.  She enjoyed making banana bread, visiting on the phone with friends, pampering her cats and watching her many “pet” deer that called her place home, even when they pruned her roses.   She rarely missed her animal shows, favorite westerns, Wheel of Fortune and The Price is Right.  She could swear like a logger when “breaking news” interrupted one of them!

   Mom is survived by me, Brett Jackson, three sisters-in-law, many cousins, nieces & nephews and several close friends whom I’m sure will miss her as much as I will.  She was preceded in death by my Dad; her brothers “Cap”, Harlan (Claudine), Donny (Jody) and Marvin (Betty) Hansen; nieces Kay Rodgers & Joan Green and nephew Leonard Hansen.  Per Mom’s wishes there will be no funeral.  A gathering for friends and family  will be scheduled when the weather warms up later in the spring.  In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Mom’s name to American Legion Post 43 or the Senior Center in Sedro-Woolley, or the Humane Society of Skagit Valley.